2001 Outback Transmission Fluid Change

The dealer who changed my fluid hooked the car to a machine which totally flushed out the system of all fluid and then replaced it. I was switching over to Redline ATF at the time, and it took 16 quarts to do.

The next time I took it to an independent who didn't use a machine. I gave them

16 quarts of Redline to do the job, but when done, they gave me back 13 quarts of fluid they hadn't used. Turns out they just pulled the drain plug, and replaced what came out. When I asked them about it, they said they couldn't get the oil from the torque converter (which they said where most of the fluid is) without dropping the whole tranny for $800 or so.

Next time, I take it to a place that uses a machine.

dukephoto '01 vdc

87,000 miles

Is there a filter I should be changing with this as well?

The ATF filter is a maintenance-free part. The ATF filter needs replacement when it has been physically damaged or ATF has leaked.

Nicolas

Check your @yahoo.com e-mail. I sent you 2 (two) pdf docs. with all the details you need.

Voja

Adam wrote:

I send you an email to snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com asking you to send the PDFs to a different address snipped-for-privacy@Yahoo.deletethis.com It would be greatly appriciated.

Thank you, Adam

FWIW - There is a spin-on filter on the transmission. I could not find one aftermarket - spent $30 at the dealer for it.

To change the fluid, I drained the pan, added 4 quarts of ATF, ran the car, & repeated this. Most of the fluid is in the torque converter and there is no drain plug on it.

Mike '01 OBW

Does the OBW '99 2.5l auto-trans have such a filter? When I flushed my trans I didn't see one, but I didn't look so hard, because I was under the impression I didn't have one...

-John O

True, but on an anecdotal level, I don't think it hurts. I've never owned anything with an auto until recently when a beautifully maintained '92 Camry came to live with me after its owner retired and rewarded herself with an '04 Camry as a "retirement present." She'd had the trans completely flushed every 30k miles. There are several Explorers in my "extended" family, and they've only had the basic drain/refill regimen. My nephew's Accord got the same treatment.

The Camry trans seems to be in great shape, with 216k miles. All the Explorers had complete rebuilds, at $2000-$2500 ea, between 95k and 105k miles. Nephew's Accord made just over 150k before it broke all its big pieces into little ones one day. Another $2500 job.

Of course, all this might also be apples and oranges, based on what the dealers said about the various cars. A coupla Ford dealers said 90k was "about average" on their trans, though the independent guy who rebuilt one of 'em (also builds racing trannies) said regular complete flushes at 25k miles WILL extend the life a LOT. Honda guy said 150k was "in the ballpark" of average for that one, and his "lifetime warranty" job requires changes at 25k (don't remember if it has to be a flush or just change.) Toyota guy says the tiny "clunk" going from Park to Reverse is "normal for the mileage but nothing to worry about," so maybe they all know their product fairly well! Regardless, $2500 buys a lot of complete flushes and maybe some peace of mind in my book. Naturally, YMMV.

Rick

Don't know about the '99. Mine is on the driver's side & likes like a small engine oil filter. I used a large Channel-Lock to remove it.

Excellent point, Ed! I don't have much recent dealer service experience, since I try to do as much as I can myself, but I've started using more and more OEM dealer parts in the last few years, and I notice as I walk by the service dept to the parts dept there's a BIG difference from one to the next on outward appearance--cleanliness, order, etc. Some of the independent shops I've seen are almost scary! I was taught a craftsman (includes GOOD mechanics) takes good care of his tools and workplace, so it doesn't inspire much confidence to see tools and shop rags lying about all over the floor in puddles of fluid, does it?

Rick