ATF in the Diff

cdigerlando · #1 10-18-2006, 08:22 PM

Well this is not exactly SVX but it is technical and I just wanted to share this with everyone and get some good advice from the smartest subaru people I know.

Well this is a long story, but my wife went to the Subaru Dealer to get an oil change on our new 06 FXT before our trip from Florida to NC and they were full up. So she decided to take it to Walmart to get the oil changed. Well the guy removes the transmission filter instead of the oil filter and starts draining the transmission. He figured that out, then had to get a transmission filter from the local dealer. Then he changed the oil and filled what he thought was the transmission, but wasn't, it was the front differential, with ATF. This is understandable since the Diff dipstick is the only thing visible, and other older subarus like my SVX do not have a separate gear oil system in the front. Well when they started the car apparently there is a fluid level indicator that will not allow the transmission to engage without fluid. At this point the maintenance folks have no idea what is going on and my wife is freaking out and afraid to call me.....but finally she did and being the understanding and level headed husband that I am, I did not get mad at her or them. Then I showed up, figured out the problem, and was able to relieve her and my 1 1/2 yr old son from this 7 hr ordeal. Yes, its not often I get to be a hero for my wife and son. Hopefully this makes up for all of the time I have been spending underneath my cars. See honey...its all worth it now isn't it?

Anyway....

My question to all of you subaru gurus out there is.....is there a problem with the differential seals putting ATF in the diff? Obviously we are going to change out the fluid with a 75W 90 GL-5 rated synthetic fluid, but does having ATF in contact with the seals in the diff damage them in any way. The car was not driven, and we will be changing it out in the morning.

My warning to all of you FXT owner is that the ATF dipstick is very very very difficult to see. It is on the drivers side, like other subaru automatics that I have seen, but way under the intercooler. It is very easy for someone in a rush like a lube shop to mistake the diff dipstick for the ATF dipstick, even though there is a diff marker on the stick. Save yourself some trouble and take it to subaru.

Budfreak · #2 10-18-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdigerlando

and other older subarus like my SVX do not have a separate gear oil system in the front.

Uuhh?? What??

cdigerlando · #3 10-18-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budfreak

Uuhh?? What??

Sorry to here about your car. It was a real beaut. Did you see the pearly for sale on E-bay. Its sweet. You could move all of your stuff to that one. If your parting it out I might like to talk to you sometime.

What specifically was your question regarding the FXT front diff?

Hocrest · #4 10-18-2006, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdigerlando

What specifically was your question regarding the FXT front diff?

I think he was questioning this statement;

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdigerlando

and other older subarus like my SVX do not have a separate gear oil system in the front.

Budfreak · #5 10-18-2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdigerlando

Sorry to here about your car. It was a real beaut. Did you see the pearly for sale on E-bay. Its sweet. You could move all of your stuff to that one. If your parting it out I might like to talk to you sometime.

What specifically was your question regarding the FXT front diff?

Thanks man. Yeah, I saw the pearly. Wish I could come close to affording it. Mine isn't that bad off and can be fixed. It should be done sometime in december hopefully. You said the SVX didn't have a seperate gear oil system. How is that?

cdigerlando · #6 10-18-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budfreak

Thanks man. Yeah, I saw the pearly. Wish I could come close to affording it. Mine isn't that bad off and can be fixed. It should be done sometime in december hopefully. You said the SVX didn't have a seperate gear oil system. How is that?

You're kidding me? I've owned it this long and not known that! WTF. How do you change the fluid?

Budfreak · #7 10-18-2006, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdigerlando

You're kidding me? I've owned it this long and not known that! WTF. How do you change the fluid?

The dipstick for the diff is on the pass. side. If you remove the intake duct it makes it easier to see. There is a drain plug in the diff. You'll find it between the engine and tranny drain plugs.

TomsSVX · #8 10-18-2006, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdigerlando

You're kidding me? I've owned it this long and not known that! WTF. How do you change the fluid?

Oh god please tell me you are kidding

Tom

SVXRide · #9 10-19-2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

Oh god please tell me you are kidding

Tom

Yeah, what Tom said

-Bill

NeedForSpeed · #10 10-19-2006, 11:16 AM

Go easy, you don't know until you know.

cdigerlando · #11 10-19-2006, 02:09 PM

You guys are merciless

Frankly I haven't stuck my head near the tranny in a number of years after the Level 10 upgrade. I only drove it a few 1000 miles since then. I'm sure it will all come back to me once I see it. I've been wanting to change to redline synthetic anyway, so I will probably do that next week for all of the cars. Front and back.

cdigerlando · #12 10-19-2006, 02:13 PM

BTW. The dealer said that the ATF may actually expand the seals, but not to drive with it long with it because it has a detergent that can be agressive to the parts. He said to drain it, refill, then replace after about 100 miles of driving.

Guess next time my wife won't try to save time.

oab_au · #13 10-19-2006, 04:51 PM

The ATF is a poor lubricant at the best, but in a Hypoid gear set the rubbing load is extreme, so I would not drive it anywhere with it in the diff.

Harvey.

Hocrest · #14 10-19-2006, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdigerlando

He said to drain it, refill, then replace after about 100 miles of driving.

Is Wally doing all of that for free?

cdigerlando · #15 10-20-2006, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oab_au

The ATF is a poor lubricant at the best, but in a Hypoid gear set the rubbing load is extreme, so I would not drive it anywhere with it in the diff.

Harvey.

I did not drive it with ATF. I changed it first. I am changing it again with synthetic after about 70 miles of driving to make sure to get it all out. Using 75W 90 Mobil 1 gear oil. I wanted to do this anyway, but wally did not need to know.

Wally paid for the materials, but not my labor. No biggie. Its our own fault for expecting them to be competent, and I'm getting the fluid changed out for free. I just wish I could have done Amsoil synthetic ATF in the trans while we were at it. That is what I run in the SVX.

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