ATF Viscosity- Makes a difference?

[Tim]

Am I being BS'ed? I took my car back to the guy who did my flush and he said to go to subaru and get their branded ATF because it could be the viscosity causing my binding. I think he just doesnt really know anything about my car and I shouldnt have had him do the flush. Any opinions?

If you're using a dextron ATF, it's all the same. He's BSing you.

Mike

[benebob]

He's BSing you but since that is the case I'd tell him to go to the subaru dealer buy the ATF and put it in. If it fixes the problem walk away happy and scratch your head why. When it doesn't explain to him that he messed up your baby and you aren't happy .

[Tim]

Ok thanks. I figured that. I'm gonna try bypassing the stock cooler and filter with a hose to just run it back around to see if it fixes it. If not I'll go out and buy the fluid and bring it back to him. Thanks guys. Wish me luck.

Tim. I would recommend you take the car to the shop and recommend that they solve the problem. It's obvious their tranny 'flush' caused the problem. If he feels it's the fluid causing the probem, HE is the one that put the fluid in it. I would highly recommend that you dont take any action on your own, and demand that the shop makes your car right. If they dont want anything to do with that, I would have your (or your family's) lawyer send a letter to the shop.

Mike

[benebob]

That was my thought as well. Take your car back (with a friend to document the complaints. Get the number for the local BBB and tell them you will be calling them when you leave if they balk with fixing the problems. Ask the guy why he put other ATF into the tranny if he knows that it'll cause binding problems if you don't use Subie brand.

[Tim]

Ok i just bypassed the lines with just a hose. It still does binding but it doesnt do it as badly. It only does it when i turn the wheel to its maximum. I'm going to call them up and tell them I went to the subaru dealer and they said it wouldnt make a difference. IThey looked at hte TSB from their alldata crap and they said it focused heavily on viscosity.

[ensteele]

I would do what Mike suggested. If you try yourself, it may void what work they did and what they will do for you. They could claim that you made the problem worse.

[benebob]

Originally posted by TE1221
Ok i just bypassed the lines with just a hose. It still does binding but it doesnt do it as badly. It only does it when i turn the wheel to its maximum. I'm going to call them up and tell them I went to the subaru dealer and they said it wouldnt make a difference. IThey looked at hte TSB from their alldata crap and they said it focused heavily on viscosity.

Search the lockers for the TSB for the tranny fluid , print it out and take it with you when you go back and ask them if they use "good quality atf when they flush it and what it is? If it doesn't meet the subaru specifications then you should have them legally just as you should have someone who puts tranny fluid into the diff. Be nice about it b/c they are being screwed also check out the machine that they used to flush the fluid. Most come with a warranty on claims from the manufacturer. If it has an external pump that it uses to push the gunk out that's a bad thing b/c these tend to use greater pressure in the lines.

Tim-

I spoke with the Techs here at Kerven. Their recommendation was that you add about 4 OZ of "Limited Slip Axle Additive" to your tranny. Just get a bottle of it and dump it right in through the dip stick shaft. They say it fixes 99% of awd binding problems that come into the dealer here. They claim that if this doesnt help you, you have some pretty serious internal problems. This will basically help loosen up stuck clutches.

I would, though, check with the shop again to make sure that they wont help you with anything before you try this.

Mike
Kerven Subaru Parts

[SVXRide]

Originally posted by Kerven Subaru
Tim-

I spoke with the Techs here at Kerven. Their recommendation was that you add about 4 OZ of "Limited Slip Axle Additive" to your tranny. Just get a bottle of it and dump it right in through the dip stick shaft. They say it fixes 99% of awd binding problems that come into the dealer here. They claim that if this doesnt help you, you have some pretty serious internal problems. This will basically help loosen up stuck clutches.

I would, though, check with the shop again to make sure that they wont help you with anything before you try this.

Mike
Kerven Subaru Parts

Mike,
Just curious...where does one get "Limited Slip Axle Additive"? A Subie dealership? Part number?
thanks.
-Bill

You should be able to get it at any autoparts store. The stuff we have is made by BRAD PENN, and is BRAD PENN P/N 266-7478. Here is a data sheet on the product:

http://www.amref.com/bp_pb/7478_BP_L...entrate_PB.pdf

Regards,

Mike
Kerven Subaru Parts

[Tim]

I really appreciate your help guys. To everyone, you guys really are the best and it feels good to know there are tons of people willing to help me.

I am going to try the limited slip differential additive stuff first. Otherwise I'm simply going to have to contact a lawyer. The guy told me to bring in my own ATF fluid (out of my own pocket) and they will reflush. I later saw the people put in their own atf and just take my bottle and took it in the back. I'm like wtf. They barely even asked about it. And then the guy wanted me to take him for a ride and then he said "they dont specialize in transmission and they performed the service I asked them to when I brought it there." The guy got really pissed off when I asked for a record of service and hes like "im not the owner i shouldnt have to do that blah blah blah." my friend saw it all and he just went in the back.

They did reflush the tranny cooler like I asked though. It doesnt bind as much any more and I dont notice it on open roads. I only notice it now when parking or anything that makes me move extremely slow. I will try the additive. Is there any special brand or anything like stp would work?

[Tim]

Also, they used a freakin air gun to blow out my tranny line originally! They claimed today the guy didnt do it. But i remember specifically that mist was shooting out of the area where the pan was dropped.

[Landshark]

here's something to try: BYPASS THE STOCK COOLER!!!
you have a '92, with the little screen in the cooler, collecting all the crap and just waiting to be a tranny failure. clear coating the interior trim and putting in a new stereo and speakers is fine and good, but if i had a '92, the first thing i would do is get another cooler in there ASAP. i did it to my '97 immediately after i got it, just to be safe - and the '97's don't even have the screen and clogging problems.

prioritize - do your important maintenance/repairs/mods first before the superficial ones.