The front differential fluid change on my 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Limited, 2.5L at 34K. Two Subaru dealers recommended a 60K change interval, and two others 30K. I wish I had changed mine at 7,500 or 15K the first time! My front diff. fluid was black and well used! The drain plug magnet had a good buildup of metal shavings that were wiped clean.
Dealer estimates were $190.00 to $250.00. The rear diff. is also a 30K service interval. I cannot believe that some Subarus go beyond this. There's sometimes confusion about where to fill the new 75W90 front diff. fluid. That was my case, but the method I ultimately used (YouTube Instructions) bypassed that confusion.
The front diff. fluid is Subaru 75W90, $13.54 per quart (dealer) and the capacity is around 1.2 qts. but mine took 1.5 qts. with a clean fluid pump rinse with both plugs removed. Black! The bolt/ plug gaskets were $3.25 (dealer) for the drain plug and $5.29 (dealer) each for the fill and level-check bolts/ plugs. I reused both of mine as this was the first fluid change. The drain plug required a Torx T-70, $8 Amzn. The fill hole - level/ check plug required an 8MM hex, $6 Amzn. I purchased both socket tools in the 1/2" socket size for ease of plug removal with a 1/2" extended handle ratchet (breaker bar).
I followed the newest procedure that I found on a YouTube contributor's channel, where he uses a quart-sized fill pump attached to a clear tube with a 5/8" outside diameter. This 5/8" o.d. tube fits snuggly into the level/ check hole for pumping the new 75W90 directly up into the front diff. cavity through the level/ check hole. (Any pump with attached flexible tubing will do the job of getting the 75w90 up into the check/ level hole.) This is done after draining the old diff. fluid and replacing the T-70 plug. The most difficult part of performing this service is elevating the vehicle to a level position. I simply jacked it up, then used jack stands as I measured from the ground to the middle of each wheel well to get the proper level. For me it was 37" from the ground to the middle outside wheel well. Both the T-70 drain plug and the 8MM check/ level plugs (NOT THE 'REAL' FILL PLUG) are located directly in front of the CVT (transmission. They are recessed and can easily be found by looking inside the direct line of both front axles in the middle. The T-70 drain plug is more toward the passenger side, and the 8MM hex check/ level plug toward the driver side but only about six inches away from each other. If you look closely at the center photo below, you will see the fill tube going into the check/ level hole. The hose you use should be flexible so that it can go over the interior lip inside the differential case. The torque specs. are: drain plug 56 ft. lbs., and the check/ level plug 26 ft. lbs. according to the YouTube video. Pics.
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Dealer estimates were $190.00 to $250.00. The rear diff. is also a 30K service interval. I cannot believe that some Subarus go beyond this. There's sometimes confusion about where to fill the new 75W90 front diff. fluid. That was my case, but the method I ultimately used (YouTube Instructions) bypassed that confusion.
The front diff. fluid is Subaru 75W90, $13.54 per quart (dealer) and the capacity is around 1.2 qts. but mine took 1.5 qts. with a clean fluid pump rinse with both plugs removed. Black! The bolt/ plug gaskets were $3.25 (dealer) for the drain plug and $5.29 (dealer) each for the fill and level-check bolts/ plugs. I reused both of mine as this was the first fluid change. The drain plug required a Torx T-70, $8 Amzn. The fill hole - level/ check plug required an 8MM hex, $6 Amzn. I purchased both socket tools in the 1/2" socket size for ease of plug removal with a 1/2" extended handle ratchet (breaker bar).
I followed the newest procedure that I found on a YouTube contributor's channel, where he uses a quart-sized fill pump attached to a clear tube with a 5/8" outside diameter. This 5/8" o.d. tube fits snuggly into the level/ check hole for pumping the new 75W90 directly up into the front diff. cavity through the level/ check hole. (Any pump with attached flexible tubing will do the job of getting the 75w90 up into the check/ level hole.) This is done after draining the old diff. fluid and replacing the T-70 plug. The most difficult part of performing this service is elevating the vehicle to a level position. I simply jacked it up, then used jack stands as I measured from the ground to the middle of each wheel well to get the proper level. For me it was 37" from the ground to the middle outside wheel well. Both the T-70 drain plug and the 8MM check/ level plugs (NOT THE 'REAL' FILL PLUG) are located directly in front of the CVT (transmission. They are recessed and can easily be found by looking inside the direct line of both front axles in the middle. The T-70 drain plug is more toward the passenger side, and the 8MM hex check/ level plug toward the driver side but only about six inches away from each other. If you look closely at the center photo below, you will see the fill tube going into the check/ level hole. The hose you use should be flexible so that it can go over the interior lip inside the differential case. The torque specs. are: drain plug 56 ft. lbs., and the check/ level plug 26 ft. lbs. according to the YouTube video. Pics.
