[ironman1518]

Was looking around under the car and it looked like it would be a very simple job, raise the car, either on jack stands or blocks under the 4 wheels; and drain and maybe pull the pan and clean and clean or replace the "strainer". Then filling it up with the CVT fluid of your choice, and checking the fill plug while the engine is running and the transmission has gone thru all the gears. ANY info on this I'd appreciate, please!! Thanx!:rock: Also If you didn't use Subie CVT fluid what did you you, please? Thank you all again!

 

[Slvr5Spd]

Someone correct me if im wrong but according to Subaru the CVT requires a fluid change after 100K. otherwise instructions are on page 43 of the attached PDF

 

[ironman1518]

Someone correct me if im wrong but according to Subaru the CVT requires a fluid change after 100K. otherwise instructions are on page 43 of the attached PDF

Thank you for the info, but the drawing you attached is different from the Impreza/XV shop manual, pages 1681 (page# CVT-34-thru 1685 (page#CVT-38). I tried to copy them but don't know how. I've been draining transmission fluid and flushing out the systems out of many vehicles I've owned in the past, NEVER had any tranny problems. I really never cared what the shop/owners manual said about how many miles in between changes, because oil is oil, it doesn't last forever.........Just my opinion. I will post some pics of the CVT tranny with the pan and screen removed, really not much there.

 

[my95tsi]

Thank you for the info, but the drawing you attached is different from the Impreza/XV shop manual, pages 1681 (page# CVT-34-thru 1685 (page#CVT-38). I tried to copy them but don't know how. I've been draining transmission fluid and flushing out the systems out of many vehicles I've owned in the past, NEVER had any tranny problems. I really never cared what the shop/owners manual said about how many miles in between changes, because oil is oil, it doesn't last forever.........Just my opinion. I will post some pics of the CVT tranny with the pan and screen removed, really not much there.

Just remember that you're never smarter than the engineers that designed the vehicle.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

[ironman1518]

Just remember that you're never smarter than the engineers that designed the vehicle.


Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

HUH? The same people that designed and built the Pinto, the Yugo, etc etc????/ ??

 

[ironman1518]

To make a long story short went to change out the CVT fluid. Was kinda concerned since there is no dipstick, and had to have the car in the air (in order to get underneath it) to check that the fluid was even with the fill plug hole. So raised my "Pumpkin" (Orange XV) on jack stands and drained the CVT pan and dropped the pan to clean it and the strainer/filter. The strainer is big but sorry no pic. Once the strainer is out, there really isn't anything there. a rounded tin cover, covers the CVT chain and there is some shifting linkage. The first pic shows the filler hole on the left side of the transmission, near two electrical plugs.

This pic shows the "tin cover" of the CVT chain.

Took the old RVT gasket off the tranny base and pan. Washed the pan and strainer in my parts washer, blew them out and dried them. Installed the strainer. The strainer intake tube goes in the round "tube" looking part under the tranny in pic 2.

Then used Subie RTV on both surfaces; let them get tacky, and installed the pan filled the tranny with Subie CVT fluid till it came out the fill hole. Started the car and let it get hot. Re-checked the fluid, was low added more, let it run. Ran it through the gears and then checked again. added some more till it was filled to the bottom of the fill plug and DONE!! While we were at it also did an oil change and changed out the front differential gear lube with Mobile 1 synthetic 75W/90, Taking out the filler plug for it was REALLY difficult!! The plug must have been put in by a gorilla. We used a 3/8" air impact with 80 PSI, nothing. Used a 1/2" battery impact, nothing. Used a 1/2" air impact with 110PSI, nothing. (Yeah we knew you could fill the front diff with the top breather tube but it is very small and would have taken a longer time). So my helper who is much younger than I and all muscles, with a 1/2" Long breaker bar finally got it lose after a loud "Snap"!! Anyway all is well, lowered the "Pumpkin" and off we went for a test drive, all is ok! In the end we added approx 7.5 quarts of the Subie CVT fluid.

 

[Mengy]

Great writeup ironman. I like to do my own maintenance whenever I can to my cars, I just prefer knowing that I did it right rather than trusting strangers to do it for me, so when the time comes to change my CVT fluid I'd like to do it myself too. Plus I just want to see the inside of my modern CVT tranny, LOL.

 

[coletrain]

Hope you remembered to take out that paper towel. :tongue:


:grin:

 

[ironman1518]

Hope you remembered to take out that paper towel. :tongue:


:grin:

OH NO!!! Dang I KNEW I forgot something....??? Kidding.:icon_welcome:

 

[tek336]

does anyone know if an engine idle relearn is required after the CVT fluid change? The reason I ask is because i went to the dealership to buy some CVT fluid and the "master tech" said an engine idle relearn would be necessary after a CVT fluid drain and fill.

 

[ironman1518]

does anyone know if an engine idle relearn is required after the CVT fluid change? The reason I ask is because i went to the dealership to buy some CVT fluid and the "master tech" said an engine idle relearn would be necessary after a CVT fluid drain and fill.

Sorry no help on that item. I did go to my dealer and they told me to do exactly what I did. So far so good.

 

[chainstretcher]

I changed mine at 37.5k miles. Used Valvoline CVT fluid. Is Subaru approved. Didn't drop the pan. Got 5.75 qts into it after warming it up to temp and cycling through rev and drive.

Not a really difficult job but helps to have a pump if you're by your lonesome. If I had help a long hose and a funnel would have been better. Also helps to have 8 1/2" ramps all around ... a lift would have been ideal but I don't have unlimited funds (heck, I drive a crosstrek lol ... just kidding - I love my Subaru).

I have no clue why the guy would give you a line about engine idle relearn. Not sure if this "relearn" is no big deal and happens while you're completely unaware or if it never really occurs. I had the ignition on and the sensors figured out the tranny was low so I did have two faults. Once I was done with the change I cleared the active faults. For 20 miles I kept "legacy" faults for both then the pressure "legacy" fault went away. After about 40 miles the other "legacy" fault went away as well. By legacy fault I mean the reader showed no actual MIL faults but registered that there had at some point been a fault.

Overall I'm happy with the results. Shifting is much crisper and off idle sluggishness is gone.

I will say that while I love my Subaru it isn't because of the engineering of the transmission. Sorry, I work as a mechanic on very expensive robotic drive systems. Having no readily accessible fill tube or dipstick is somewhat sucky. Ok, I get that this way will keep the fluid much cleaner (the fluid that came out was fairly pristine) and I'm all jiggy wid it. But I'd be really impressed if they could keep things all sanitary WITH easy access and measuring.

 

[scotthershall]

To make a long story short went to change out the CVT fluid.

Great write up!! Thanks for doing it! I'll likely be doing this at some point rather than taking it to the dealer. I was worried about not being able to do it without access to a Subaru scan tool, although perhaps you can get the trans temp with the Torque app or similar

I do have a few questions for you...

1. If you were to do it again, would you recommend dropping the pan? Did you get much gunk out of the pan & filter/strainer? While looks simple enough, and I've done other cars in the past, I'd hate to risk a CVTF leak unnecessarily.

2. Based on what you saw, what interval would you recommend changing the CVTF?

I'm looking at a maintenance schedule I found online on a dealer's website (at work, can't get to the one in my car, but will confirm)... In my opinion, Subaru's (USA) CVTF replacement recommendation is a joke. Under "normal" conditions they list no replacement interval only an inspection at 30k intervals, but under "severe" use the replacement interval is 24,855 (not 25,000?) miles. No fluid is "lifetime" in my opinion, so I'll probably do my at 50K unless I see other recommendations here and other forums.

Thanks again; good stuff!

Scott

 

[ironman1518]

Hello Scott my deepest apologies for not responding any sooner, I JUST NOW saw your reply and questions.
What I have done with all my cars since '74, {both mechanical and Automatic} was to drain the transmission every 25,000 miles.
During the process I would drop the pan (automatics) and just drain and refill the manuals. I did replace the "filter/strainer" while I was at it. {Since I AM kinda a perfectionist:tongue: }I also would undo the clamps to the oil cooler lines and using compressed air blow out the transmission oil cooler and also used the pressure to blow into the transmission and
would get most of the fluid out of the torque converter.
I did spend the extra $$$ for the Subie RTV, cause I was worried about leakage also. So far so good. I didn't replace my filter because the dealer was so far away. I am fortunate to own a Safety-Kleen parts washer so i washed it out in there and blew it dry. {It is really NOT a filter it's like a strainer}. Hope this helps!

 

[Dwizzle]

Excellent post ironman, may I ask where you got the diff fluid, cvt fluid, and rvt from? Also, can I clean the part without a "parts washer"? And any tips you can give that aren't already on here? Thanks I can't wait to do this job on mine for the first time.

 

[Dwizzle]

Oh also, I have found out there is a small filter that looks comparable to a canister style oil filter inside the housing of the transmission. This is the part that I can not do myself, should I even bother having it done by a dealer and getting bent over by the price? Or just change the fluid, maybe drop and clean the strainer.

 

[Peep6543]

Ok dumb question time...

the maintenance booklet says the CVT capacity is 13.2 quarts so how is everyone getting away with only putting in 5-7? Are there two chambers that keep the amounts separate? I am about to drain mine and was budgeting to buy 14 quarts but if I need half that I'll save money.

 

[rlouie]

CVTs and normal ATs can't be drained completely without a complete disassembly of the transmission. So, what you are seeing is 13.2 quarts as the complete capacity of the transmission vs. 5 to 7 of the stuff you can get out relatively easy. What some people do is a series of drains and fills with drain/fill cycle, 40 to 50% of the fluid gets replaced and after a few cycles, you get close to 90% replacement but that's a lot of fluid.

 

[Peep6543]

Good info, thank you. I'm not a transmission specialist. Is there a ballpark number of quarts I would be safe buying knowing I would have enough to refill after a single drain? Say 8 or so? I would hate to run short in the middle of the job.

 

[rlouie]

If they come in 1 quart bottles, then get 8 of them provided you can return the un-open ones.

BTW. Over on NASIOC in the MY12 thread, there's a fellow who just did a 'change' using Amsoil Synthetic CVT fluid - NASIOC - View Single Post - 2012 Impreza thread. He claims that after the change his fuel economy has going up drastically in another post after the change - NASIOC - View Single Post - 2012 Impreza thread. He is also saying that his CVT is now a lot quieter.

I don't know how much truth there is in his statements but I have read another report about improved fuel economy after a change (I believe using the factory fluid) but then again in the same thread over on NASIOC another post stated that they had no improvement after their change at the dealership using the factory stuff.

I don't know how compatible Amsoil's Synthetic CVT fluid is with Subarus... And for what's it worth, there's a thread on SubaruOutback.org about Amsoil... Here on the last page of the thread has some observations on what happened after the fluid change - http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums...45817-amsoil-full-synthetic-cvt-fluid-14.html