[finch1750]

Originally Posted by Will BRZ

Also interested in this. Dealership is quoting $400 for everything since it's an automatic. I can get it a bit cheaper if I decline a couple things, but as mentioned above, it includes lots of services. I'm definitely declining tire rotation as I'm getting new ones next month. I know for a fact, however, that it needs most of the services.

Does anyone know how often (or if) automatic transmission fluid needs to be changed? I know it's at 30,000 for manuals, but I've heard automatics "work differently". I'm asking because it has to go in for the transmission pan gasket to be replaced (waiting on the part). Not sure if I should ask them to just go ahead and change the fluid in there as well. What do you guys think? Just want to get everything sorted out so I can put a damn catback on or something lol

ATF interval is 60k miles. If you do any hard driving (track or lots of mountain runs 30-45k seems to be the real life of the fluid). If it isn't shifting rougher then normal stick to the interval in the owner's manual. If the oil pan is coming off they're gonna have to change the fluid anyway no?

Originally Posted by winstonscifi

I just had my 30000 mile service done last week. This is a 2015 Scion FRS. According to my Maintenance Schedule, I should have the engine oil and filter changed, the cabin filter replaced, the air filter replaced, the tires rotated and the brake fluid replaced. I replaced the cabin filter and engine air filter myself. No problem. I had the shop where I purchased my all season tires rotate them for me. No charge, because I bought the tires there. So far, no problem. I had the dealership replace the oil and filter for about 70 bucks, and the brake fluid replaced for 140 bucks. Total price - $210. I called the local Subaru dealership, and the price was essentially the same. Here's the problem - as they were buttoning up the whole thing, the service adviser calls me and said that the technician said I should have the rear differential fluid replaced. He said, "after all, it's a rear wheel drive vehicle, and we always suggest a fluid change at 30000 miles".

This, in my mind is a total up-sell. After I retired from my job, I worked part time a couple of days a week at the local Lexus dealership. I was a valet - I would drive the customer's car to the Service Manager, who would direct me to give it to the next Technician. This was a great little job for me, but I found out that the Service Department would give bonuses to Technicians that could "up-sell" a customer for more work done at that same time.

My question is this: do the twins really need a rear differential fluid change at 30000 miles? I can see it at, maybe 60000 miles, or if there were severe conditions that the car was subjected to. I don't see the service even covered in the Maintenance Schedule.

Finally, I know that there are some of you out there that say I'm wasting my money having such simple things done at a dealership when I could easily do it myself. I just want to head you off at the pass - I'm 65 years old, and I have done oil and filter changes before some of you were even born. That said, I'm just too old and tired to do it myself now.

Anyway, your thoughts on a rear differential fluid change at 30000 miles would be appreciated.

Oh, after I declined the extra service the Service Adviser said the fluid just "looked a little brown" and that it should be fine for a while....

The first change on the diff will be dirty as hell at 30k miles cuz of the break in. After that if you only daily drive the car it will likely look almost new at 30k miles.