Posted: 1/3/2017 12:08:35 PM EDT
|
I want/need to flush and replace my radiator coolant on my 2002 Ford Expedition.
I've always done it myself at home but I'm feeling lazy and I have a cold so I don't feel like doing it myself. So I just called the local Firestone tire and service center close to my work and asked how much to get the coolant flushed and replaced. Get this...the guy on the phone says $279 plus tax and any disposal fee. $279!?!?!? Is this normally what people pay? I have no idea as I've always done it at home. |
|
How much based on your experience do you think or would feel comfortable with paying?
I have no idea what it would cost as I have always done it myself as well. I am a Fleet Manager for a municipal operation with over 30+ years as a tech and know when done properly including pulling the block plugs it can take some time. Also am curious what the average retail price is but just as curious as to what you think it should cost or would be willing to pay? |
| I usually do it myself on weekend but I don't have a lot of free time so I want to spend every chance I get out hunting. If I do it at home it will kill one day of hunting and my hunting time is important. I was expecting between $100 - $125 for the job. For a professional facility I expect it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes from start to finish plus material cost. |
|
Quoted:
I usually do it myself on weekend but I don't have a lot of free time so I want to spend every chance I get out hunting. If I do it at home it will kill one day of hunting and my hunting time is important. I was expecting between $100 - $125 for the job. For a professional facility I expect it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes from start to finish plus material cost. Sounds like you got yourself a $280 hunting trip then. A normal person could put it off until after the season, but I suspect that you're one of those that has to do it now for whatever reason. |
|
Quoted:
Sounds like you're in a rush to get this done. Any reason for this? $87.00  I'm a little anal about my automobile maintenance as I buy new car and drive it till it dies. Regularly scheduled maintenance usually allows me to keep the car for long time. I drain/flush/refill the coolant every 35k miles and it's already been 36k miles since the last one. 2002 Expedition with 210,000 miles and still running strong. |
|
Quoted:
I'm a little anal about my automobile maintenance as I buy new car and drive it till it dies. Regularly scheduled maintenance usually allows me to keep the car for long time. I drain/flush/refill the coolant every 35k miles and it's already been 36k miles since the last one. 2002 Expedition with 210,000 miles and still running strong. Every 35k? Seems overly excessive. |
|
Quoted:
I'm a little anal about my automobile maintenance as I buy new car and drive it till it dies. Regularly scheduled maintenance usually allows me to keep the car for long time. I drain/flush/refill the coolant every 35k miles and it's already been 36k miles since the last one. 2002 Expedition with 210,000 miles and still running strong. |
|
Quoted:
I'm a little anal about my automobile maintenance as I buy new car and drive it till it dies. Regularly scheduled maintenance usually allows me to keep the car for long time. I drain/flush/refill the coolant every 35k miles and it's already been 36k miles since the last one. 2002 Expedition with 210,000 miles and still running strong. Quoted:
Quoted:
Sounds like you're in a rush to get this done. Any reason for this? $87.00 I'm a little anal about my automobile maintenance as I buy new car and drive it till it dies. Regularly scheduled maintenance usually allows me to keep the car for long time. I drain/flush/refill the coolant every 35k miles and it's already been 36k miles since the last one. 2002 Expedition with 210,000 miles and still running strong. LOL, so am I but I insist on doing my own. Heck if I ever had to take it in for a flush and later find that the coolant reservoir wasn't cleanned out I'd go nuts 
Since you know how to perform this I'd really recommend you do it. Peace of mind thing
|
| I've been keeping to 3k miles between oil change (dino oil), transmission fluid change every 35k miles and 35k miles between coolant change since I got my first car in 1978. Every car I've had lasted 200k + miles with this schedule. I did change oil change schedule to every 5k miles back in 2000. I use this car when I go hunting and it tows a trailer frequently in hot South Florida weather so I try to keep it in tiptop condition. |
|
Quoted:
Every 35k? Seems overly excessive. Quoted:
Quoted:
I'm a little anal about my automobile maintenance as I buy new car and drive it till it dies. Regularly scheduled maintenance usually allows me to keep the car for long time. I drain/flush/refill the coolant every 35k miles and it's already been 36k miles since the last one. 2002 Expedition with 210,000 miles and still running strong. Every 35k? Seems overly excessive. Sounds like a once a year maintenance. I also do the same. |
|
Quoted:
Sounds like a once a year maintenance. I also do the same. I don't think I have ever done that. I historically don't keep my vehicles for long periods of time. My last truck I had for 8 years then traded it. Current truck is 5 years old and has 31k on it. I will drive it for a few more years and re evaluate. Wifes car has the most miles. It has 60k miles and I will do a full fluid change around 100k. I do change oil every 7500 miles with full synthetic. |
|
they will charge what people will pay
Someone asks for something, quote them $300. Some will say fuck you, some will say ok do it. Some will still be on the fence, keep dropping price by $50 until they say yes. Probably 25% of the people you quote the $300 to will say yes and you will be banking good commission for that sale |
|
Quoted:
they will charge what people will pay Someone asks for something, quote them $300. Some will say fuck you, some will say ok do it. Some will still be on the fence, keep dropping price by $50 until they say yes. Probably 25% of the people you quote the $300 to will say yes and you will be banking good commission for that sale Yeah, you may be right about that. I'm sure there are a lot of people who don't know and think $300 is normal. |
|
Quoted:
I've been keeping to 3k miles between oil change (dino oil), transmission fluid change every 35k miles and 35k miles between coolant change since I got my first car in 1978. Every car I've had lasted 200k + miles with this schedule. I did change oil change schedule to every 5k miles back in 2000. I use this car when I go hunting and it tows a trailer frequently in hot South Florida weather so I try to keep it in tiptop condition. You're doing everything too often. The only reason I changed my coolant at 160k was because I replaced the water pump. I even had it checked at 150k and they said it looked fine and didn't need a flush. If you insist on going nuts with your coolant flushes (hey, if it makes you feel better, no shame), I'd just say don't worry about being 36k instead of 35k. There's no rush here, especially if some ding dong is trying to charge you $250. I would pay maybe $60-70 plus materials. It's a really easy job. Add in $20 if they want to run some cleaner and distilled water through it as an intermediate flush. This isn't much more difficult of an operation than an oil change. |
| If I could only pay $279 to do the coolant flush on our motor home, I would be very happy. Try close to $500, but it is a 20 gallon system. A proper coolant flush should take 2-3 hours to do everything correctly. The other reason I will have a shop do the coolant flushes on our vehicles is that we have labs and antifreeze and animal do not go good together. |
|
Quoted:
I don't think I have ever done that. I historically don't keep my vehicles for long periods of time. My last truck I had for 8 years then traded it. Current truck is 5 years old and has 31k on it. I will drive it for a few more years and re evaluate. Wifes car has the most miles. It has 60k miles and I will do a full fluid change around 100k. I do change oil every 7500 miles with full synthetic. You live in Montana and drive 6K miles a year? What, are you the postmaster in Ovando? |
|
This inspired me to talk with my Shop Supervisor.
As others have mentioned there is a difference between what different folks call a coolant flush. There are also different types of specialized equipment none of which our fleet uses. On a standard F-350 Gas truck a complete flush includes pulling the Thermostat and block plugs, draining, reassembling, refilling with water and cleaning additive, running up to operating temperature, draining again, flushing the cleaning water out, reinstalling or replacing the thermostat and refilling which can take at least two to as long as three hours not to mention materials. Part of that is getting the engine up to temp and running so the cleaning solution can work and cooling down some before continuing. Again this is a complete flush! It is a lot different than draining the radiator and or including block plugs which I would call a coolant replacement. Most folks probably don't pull the block plugs, just drain and refill the radiator. I have also seen the tee connectors that are installed in a heater hose and use a machine or garden hose to backwash the cooling system. I would ask whoever is doing the work exactly what their definition of a flush is and what you expect to have done in a flush. If you are servicing your system that often you can probably just do a coolant replacement and be fine. My .02 and probably worth the same.... 
|
|
Quoted:
Firestone There's your problem. This. Local Firestone store had $79 coupons for brake job. Brought my Honda CRV in for front brake pads, and the estimate was $329. Explained rotors needed replacement and upgraded pads. Coupon said turning rotors was included in price. When I brought it up, he replied they don't turn rotors, they just replace them. When I asked why this statement was in the coupon, he just gave me a dumb stare. Told them to slap everything together and then went to local shop where the whole deal was $149. |