Complaint Review: Xpress Lube #1018 - Stockbridge Georgia

I would be more worried of coolant flush from these places. We just got two cars with fresh oil in the coolant bottle ( very little coolant). from a fast lub place.

Their is another one like this if you put the battery on the concrete it will be dead in the morning. These wives tails started many years ago when Automatic transmissions were junk. They had a short life span and many times when you change the fluid (which was a lower Quality then also) it would fail because the transmission was on the way out anyway. Heat is the number one KILLER of Automatic transmissions Because it causes the fluid to fail and cause wear on the clutch packs It would fail even if you didn't change the fluid. I did a trans flush on a car with 200K its first one and the fluid was still golden like the new fluid. the car now has 50K more and no problems. the fact is if you abuse the fluids on your car it will cost you more in the long run.

The fluid on new cars is much better and you can get away with much more. The detergents are not going to be that much stronger that the older fluid (not every time). They had a problem years a go that the newer oil would cause your engine to smoke because the more powerful detergents would clean out the sludge that was holding you engine together.

Robert, I don't know what the deal is either but I've been told by several old-line mechanics that I trust not to change the transmission fluid in cars with 75-100,00 miles unless I know the fluid has been changed per the maintenance specifications.  I've followed their advice and although I'm a high mileage driver, (50K a year or more) I've never had transmission problems.

It really doesn't seem to make much logical sense as new fluid would seem to have better lubricating properties.  However, based on my experience and the advice I've recieved, I'm going to go ahead as I've been doing for more than 40 years.

Now, I'll give you another one to think about:  I once had a sticking lifter and was told to put automatic transmission fluid in the crankcase to free up the sticking lifter and stop the ticking.  I've done this with several cars and it always works.  How does it do this and is there any risk to the engine?

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Someone please explain to me EXACTLY what it is in new transmission fluid you think is going to destroy the transmission.

Automatic tranny fluid is nothing more than 5W oil with a lot of detergent/anti-oxident additives, and friction modifiers in it. Oh, and either red, blue, or green dye.

Do you use the same theory with coolant, brake fluid, engine oil, manual transmissions, transfer cases, differentials, other gear boxes, power steering fluid? 

Transfering the old worn out fluids out and the new good fluids in harms NOTHING.

If someone rebuilt your transmission, would you want them to reuse the old fluid? No? Why not? Apparently someone came up with the idea that new fluid is evil. Amazingly, the manufacturers have not learned of this. They still insist on using new fluid.

If you top off your fluids, do you use new fluid or do you have a supply of old worn out lubricants somewhere?

While you guys are trying to figure this out, also tell me how synthetic lubricants cause problems. Tell me how a better lubricant damages something that needs lubrication.

I have heard these crazy tales for decades.  

I use to work at a 10 minute oil change place back in 1996. These shops are in it to make money on selling you more products besides an oil change. None of them are ASE certified. So for them to tell you all your fluids need to be changed right now should raise a red flag.

Oil techs due a courtesy check on your other fluids and if the differential gear oil is black, then the oil tech sould come in and show you the customer what your fluid looks like compared to new gear oil.

As for the transmission fluid flush, I know from experience that if a vehicle has reached a certain mileage the oil tech will ask you if the transmission fluid was ever changed. If you so no it hasnt then they wont change it. The only way they will change it in a high mileage vehicle is by explaining to you that they dont recommend the fluid change and would have you sign a waiver stating they are not responsible if your transmission would go out.

As far as the PCV valve, you should replace that every 15,000 miles and only cost about $5. So if you bought that car a month earlier and the previous owner said the fluids were changed and was told not to change the transmission fluid, then why did you tell the oil tech to go ahead and do it? You could have said no and taken it to an ASE certified repair shop.

I would suggest you learn some basic mechanic skills so you wont get taken advantage in the future.

I brought in my vehicle for an oil change. Shortly, after its arrival the technician Bob, ran out to me stated, "You need transmission fluid, PCV valve, and differentials". He went on to say that I should not ignore any of these repairs because it would cost me more money later. I asked him again, if these repairs were needed immediately, he stated "yes" Under the belief the information provided to me was true and accurate, I authorized them to do the repairs without signing any paperwork. While the repairs were being completed, I am informed by the previous vehicle's owner that the fluids were just examined in the vehicle a month earlier before I'd purchased the vehicle. The seller went on to say that her mechanics specifically said that the transmission fluids should not be flushed on the vehicle due to the mileage, its history of never receiving a flush, and the age of the transmission. Per the original mechanic, flushing the transmission at this point could be more detrimental than benefical to my vehicle's maintenance. At this point, until I could verify the information I was receiving was true, I asked the Xpress Lube technician if the flush was completed on the car. The manager, Joey yelled, "Yea, its done and she go have to pay for it! I ain't go hear nothing about it cause she don't want to pay!!!" I was taken aback and shocked that he would automatically assume the reason for my delay was due to a monetary issue. My concern was my vehicle and issuring it was being serviced properly. I begin to question them about the information I'd just received regarding my transmission and flushing. I received no clear answers regarding the manner, they only wanted me to close the bill which had balloned into $209 and change. I immediately visted and called over 4 ASE certified mechanics, including 2 mechanics of my vehicles manufacture. All stating that the flush was not advisable or recommended for my vehicle at all. Again reinterating the fact that the transmission could deteroriate my transmission at a much faster rate. The manufacture's mechanics stated they would have refused to do the service. I returned to Xpress Lube questioned them on why they advised me to get a service performed that could actually damage my vehicle. Their response was, "well, you never told us you'd never had a flush, we recommend all services by mileage, there is no way we can tell if you just had the fluids serviced or not, plus you consented"  The obvious question to me was, why did they tell me that I needed fluids if there is no way they can confirm or deny if that is indeed true! If they'd disclosed this information earlier, do they honestly think I would have "consented" to the service. The answer is of course not! Their clear concern was making money minus servicing vehicle to the proper standards and providing poor customer service along the way. As a auto repair shop, you do not expect them to be doing costly guesswork laced with lies and inflated prices. Unfortunately, this is how they operate. I realized Xpress Lube duped me into consenting to pricey unnecessary repairs that were not advisable for my car and could actually damage the car. Please save yourself the time and aggreviation STAY AWAY from this business