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  #1  
Old 02-04-2004, 03:20 PM
tmaslar
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Experiences with Level 10 Hydrosystem recalibration

Does anybody have any experience or opinions about the Hydrosystem valve recalibration that Level 10 (levelten.com)offers? They claim it lowers the operating temperature of the tranny fluid enough to make external coolers,filters and such unnecessary. All while improving shift performance and increasing transmission life. This costs $700 if you pull and replace it yourself. They want another $300-$400 if they R/R the unit for you. Is this for real and can it actually make up for design shortcomings in early 92' transmissions such as mine. $700-$1100 seems like alot of $$$ especially considering the fact that the tranny in my car is currently working fine. I am interested in keeping it that way as long as possible considering the well known problems with this transmission. I have already purchased an external cooler, filter and temperature gauge for the transmission. By the way the car is a newly purchased 92' with 44,000 miles on it.

Tom
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  #2  
Old 02-04-2004, 03:56 PM
Green1995SVX
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Welcome to the network. Where in PA are you located? It's a big state.

Mike
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  #3  
Old 02-04-2004, 05:33 PM
tmaslar
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Hello,

I am in Allentown area in south eastern PA about 50 miles from Philadelphia and 75 miles from New York City.

Tom
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  #4  
Old 02-04-2004, 05:47 PM
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Tom,

Welcome to the SVX family. May your SVX give you as much pure joy as mine gives me.

It is my understanding that the Level 10 "hydro-valve has a 1/16" larger dia. for the valve orifice than the stock '92-'95 valve. This is the same thing Subaru did with the '96-'97 tranny. This increases ATF flow thereby lowering the temperature.
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  #5  
Old 02-05-2004, 01:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by LarryIII
It is my understanding that the Level 10 "hydro-valve has a 1/16" larger dia. for the valve orifice than the stock '92-'95 valve. This is the same thing Subaru did with the '96-'97 tranny. This increases ATF flow thereby lowering the temperature.
Larry,

Is there a place in your vast SVX technical library where this is documented? I thought all valve bodies were the same throughout the years. I did not know that the 96/97s had that modification. Does that mean that all factory remanufactured trannies have the benefit of this update?

(I remember talking to Pat at Level Ten about the hydrostatic valve mod when I had the 92 pearlie. He said all the aftermarket cooling in the world would not make as much difference in keeping tranny fluid temps low and protecting the internals as the valve body recalibration.

He said its all about increasing the volume of fluid flow. He claims over twice the volume of fluid exchange as stock.

He also said that he has done many cars from customers in the Middle East who run with no tranny coolers at all, just the valve body mod.

I thought about doing it to the 96, but if the boys at Subaru have already done it for us...

Pat would probably know)
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  #6  
Old 02-05-2004, 05:19 PM
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John,

I will have to dig through my SVX libray this weekend.
It may also be on Joe Spitz's web site
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  #7  
Old 02-05-2004, 06:25 PM
tmaslar
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Hey Guys,

Thanks for checking this out for me.

Tom
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  #8  
Old 06-13-2004, 05:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by LarryIII
John,

I will have to dig through my SVX libray this weekend.
It may also be on Joe Spitz's web site
So did we ever find out?
Because I'm thinking I could probably find an entire 96+ tranny in a junkyard somewhere for $700. Although I'll still probably get the PTS kit.
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  #9  
Old 06-13-2004, 05:21 AM
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Also if I'm thinking of the right part(which I'm probably not) it's only $700 direct from Subaru! Is this what we're talking about?
->HERE<-
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  #10  
Old 06-13-2004, 11:17 AM
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How hard is it to change out the valve body for a do it yourselfer?
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  #11  
Old 10-22-2007, 08:41 AM
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Back from the Dead

I am bringing this post back from the graveyard. It does not seem like there have been any response to it from experience.

Who has had the Level 10 PTS Hydrosystem (Or valve body) job performed on their SVX? What is your experience with it? I am interested in knowing since I plan on doing this sooner than later.

I know there are other options but it would be nice to see if someone has taken this route already. I had it done with my Outback Sport and I love it.

This is what I am thinking it will do-->

1) It will shorten the shift time between shifts by allowing the clutch packs to engage quickly rather than slipping to engage. I believe this will eliminate or dramatically shorten the 'power-loss' phenomena that a lot of us have been talking about. I don't think you need to go inside the TCU in order to do this. The only reason why I say this is because my Outback Sport shifted similarly before having the hydrosystem done,

2) It will dramatically shorten or eliminate the lean air/fuel ratio condition between shifts. I believe the TCU is telling the ECU (I am going to shift) and the ECU cuts fuel to the engine. If the TCU says (I am going to.....) then Boom, the transmission is in the next gear, the ECU will have little to no time to cut fuel to the engine.

3) Forgot to add this (Adding on 10/22/07). The hp & torque in between shifts should jump up an additional between 50-70hp & lb-ft of torque. Should feel like someone turned on nitrous in between shifts for a split second. That would be cool! That would be a big difference than losing hp and torque like we currently do.

Yes, this is my simple, no data or experience self talking but it is what I believe. I have been reading a lot on this but it still does not seem to be resolved. I believe Chike has already done something to 'firm' up the shifts between gears on my SVX but I am not seeing this on the dyno (at least not what I was expecting from a firm shift).

I am going to apologize to those this may have offended since a lot of work has gone into making firmer shifts from people here. I just wanted to voice my opinion on this even though I have less experience in the ins and outs of our tranny shift behavior.

Thoughts!?!

Also....could this be moved to the 'Mods' section? It is not necessarily a technical question like a how install or how to fix/repair an item. It's a modification to the valve body system to increase performance.
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Last edited by Myxalplyx; 10-24-2007 at 02:39 PM.
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  #12  
Old 10-22-2007, 09:17 PM
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question??? dosent adding a aftermarket trans cooler etc cool the box so as not to operate the overdrive system properly why i ask is i stuk a rebuilt with a alloy top radiator in my car few weeks ago, straight after this i started having problems wth going into overdrive on long trips and as i only drive long trips this was proving a costly extra to my mileage!! i took to the shop and they said that it was being affected by me removing the cover under the car (i didnt put it back on after taking it off to replace radiator ,thought id leave off so as could check for leaks etc)they said it was causing extra cooling to my box !! well anyway i put it straight back on and have had no more overdrive problems ..
so am i right 2 believe if i put a cooler in il have the same overdrive issues??
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Old 10-22-2007, 09:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by svxual View Post
question??? dosent adding a aftermarket trans cooler etc cool the box so as not to operate the overdrive system properly why i ask is i stuk a rebuilt with a alloy top radiator in my car few weeks ago, straight after this i started having problems wth going into overdrive on long trips and as i only drive long trips this was proving a costly extra to my mileage!! i took to the shop and they said that it was being affected by me removing the cover under the car (i didnt put it back on after taking it off to replace radiator ,thought id leave off so as could check for leaks etc)they said it was causing extra cooling to my box !! well anyway i put it straight back on and have had no more overdrive problems ..
so am i right 2 believe if i put a cooler in il have the same overdrive issues??
Yeah, I think the TCU will only engage the TC Lockup over 100*f. A coller that is not apart of the radiator and a cold winter day will make it impossibal to keep it over 100*f.
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  #14  
Old 10-24-2007, 10:21 AM
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No one?

Wow! I know there was big talk years ago on this forum about using a Level 10 transmission. I know some people have the transmission upgrade itself but no-one has gotten a PTS Hydrosystem (Valve body) upgrade?

Interesting!!

I know it is expensive no doubt but not as expensive as a new transmission. And it performs great. Oh well...hopefully someone can get this done.
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Last edited by Myxalplyx; 10-24-2007 at 02:57 PM.
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Old 10-24-2007, 10:23 AM
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No one?

***Deleted*** I don't know how this posted twice.
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1997 2.2ltr Subaru Impreza Outback Sport Wagon (AWD/Auto) 13.03@100mph
1989 2.7ltr Subaru XT6 (AWD/Auto) 15.912@85.93mph
1996 3.3ltr SVX (AWD/Auto) 15.070@91.38mph
***R.I.P***
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2015 Honda Fit LX CVT (15.2 @ 90mph)

Last edited by Myxalplyx; 10-24-2007 at 02:57 PM.
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