01Standard
Drain & Fill
Pan drop, old fluid out, new fluid in. Replaces roughly 30 to 50 percent of the fluid. Right call for most vehicles on a regular service interval.
Transmission fluid done right.
Fresh fluid is the single best thing you can do for an automatic transmission. We use the exact spec your vehicle calls for (Dexron, Mercon, ATF+4, CVT, DCT), not generic universal fluid. Drain-and-fill or full machine flush depending on what your transmission actually needs.
More than just draining a pan.
Every transmission fluid service at M&K is matched to your vehicle and the condition of the fluid already in it. We do not upsell flushes on transmissions that should not get one.
02Recommended
Pan Drop & Filter
Same as a drain-and-fill plus a new internal filter and pan gasket. Required on transmissions with serviceable filters, usually every other fluid change.
03
Full Machine Flush
Connected to a flush machine that exchanges close to 100 percent of the fluid. Best on lower-mileage transmissions with clean fluid that is just due.
04
OEM-Spec Fluid Only
Dexron VI, Mercon LV, ATF+4, Honda DW-1 or ATF Type 3.1, Toyota WS, Nissan CVT NS-3, Subaru CVT, ZF Lifeguard. We do not mix specs and we do not use universal fluid.
05
Honest Condition Check
We pull the dipstick (or scan the level if there is no stick), check color and smell, and tell you what we see. Brown, burnt, or full of metal means we have a different conversation.
06
Leak & Cooler Check
Pan gasket, cooler lines, and external seals inspected on every service. A fresh fluid change is wasted if the fluid leaks out next month.
Which service does your transmission need?
Same question every shop hears. The honest answer depends on mileage, fluid history, and what the fluid looks like when we pull a sample.
If the fluid is clean and you are under 70,000 miles
Either service works. A drain-and-fill is cheaper and gets you back on the road. A flush replaces more of the fluid and resets the maintenance counter further out. We will lay out the trade-off honestly.
If the fluid is dark or burnt, or you are over 100,000 miles with no service history
Drain-and-fill only. A full flush on a neglected high-mileage transmission can dislodge debris and clog passages downstream. Better to do a drain-and-fill, drive 30,000 miles, and do another.
If your transmission has a serviceable filter
Plan on a pan drop every other fluid change. The filter catches clutch material and metal that the magnet does not. A clogged filter starves the pump and kills the transmission.
If you drive a CVT
Change only, with the exact OEM fluid (Nissan NS-3, Honda HCF-2, Subaru CVTF, etc.). Never flush a CVT. Most CVTs need fluid every 30,000 to 40,000 miles, not the 60,000+ that automatics tolerate.
If your owner's manual says lifetime fluid
It does not actually mean lifetime. "Lifetime" is the manufacturer's term for "longer than the warranty." We still recommend fluid service every 60,000 to 80,000 miles on sealed transmissions, because we have seen what happens to the ones that never get any.
We do not perform internal transmission rebuilds. If a fluid sample shows heavy clutch material or metal shavings, we will tell you straight: the transmission is past fluid service and needs repair or replacement.
Other transmission questions?
Symptoms, diagnostics, and CVT-specific guidance. Start with the one that matches what you are seeing.
01
Transmission Slipping
RPMs climb without acceleration, delayed engagement, gear jumping. Causes, what to check, and when to stop driving.
02
Transmission Diagnostic
What we check, what the scan tool sees, what fluid condition tells us, and how we isolate the real problem before quoting parts.
03
CVT Transmission Service
Continuously variable transmissions need different fluid, different intervals, and different rules. Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota CVT guidance.
04
All Transmission Repair
Warning signs, what we fix in-house, what we refer out, and how to keep a small problem from becoming a major one.
Frequently asked.
Call (336) 370-6710 for current pricing. Cost depends on fluid type (regular ATF vs CVT vs DCT vs European spec), capacity (5 to 14 quarts), and whether the service is a drain-and-fill, pan drop with filter, or full machine flush. We quote before we start.
Automatic: every 30,000 to 60,000 miles depending on driving conditions. CVT: every 30,000 to 40,000 miles. Manual: every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Stop-and-go Greensboro traffic, towing, and Carolina summer heat all shorten the interval.
A change (drain-and-fill) replaces 30 to 50 percent of the fluid by draining the pan. A flush uses a machine to exchange close to 100 percent. Flushes are better when fluid is still in good condition. On neglected high-mileage transmissions, drain-and-fill is safer.
On a healthy transmission with regularly serviced fluid, no. On a high-mileage transmission that has never had fluid changed, a flush can dislodge built-up debris and cause new problems. That is why we always inspect fluid condition first and recommend drain-and-fill on neglected units.
Usually no. Slipping means internal wear, and fresh fluid will not fix worn clutches. In some cases new fluid can briefly improve shift quality, but it is a temporary fix masking a real problem. Get the transmission diagnosed first.
Yes. CVT fluid service requires the exact OEM-specified fluid (Nissan NS-2 or NS-3, Honda HCF-2, Subaru CVTF, Toyota CVT FE) and a drain-and-fill (never a flush). Using the wrong fluid will damage a CVT in under 10,000 miles.
Lifetime is the manufacturer's word for the warranty period, not the actual life of the fluid. Sealed transmissions still benefit from a fluid service every 60,000 to 80,000 miles. Skip it long enough and you turn a fluid change into a transmission replacement.
Sometimes. If the fluid is dark, low, or contaminated, fresh fluid can restore proper hydraulic pressure and resolve mild symptoms. If the cause is a worn solenoid, valve body, or internal clutch, fluid alone will not fix it. Diagnosis first, fluid second.
Drain-and-fill: about 45 minutes to an hour. Pan drop with filter: 1 to 1.5 hours. Full machine flush: 1.5 to 2 hours including fluid condition check and leak inspection.
Due for fluid service?
Bring it in for a fluid condition check and an honest recommendation. We will tell you what your transmission actually needs, not what pays best.
1605 W Gate City Blvd
Greensboro, NC 27403
Mon–Fri · 9 AM – 6 PM
Sat · 9 AM – 3 PM
(336) 370-6710
Walk-ins welcome