I plan on changing my diff fluids out this weekend but I wanted to know which fluid to use royal purple, Valvoline, or recommendations? also would I have to flush my tranny in order to change the from ? is there DIY vids or write us around i been searching but not having much luck. Any help will be awesome thanks guys !!
There are many threads on the subject. Many like Mobil 1 75W-90. As far as flushing the Auto Tranny: Just do a drain and fill several times. Its 8 oz. less than a gallon when drained on the level.
If you decide to do the diff..consider using a ramp to get more leverage and ue a breaker bar. Remove the top plug first.
Thank you, I am just a little confused the front diff is apart of the transmission? if so, in order to get the front diff cleaned, I would have to drain the transmission? The rear diff is not going to be an issue for me, thanks on the help.
The front diff is in the transmission but separate from it.
The transmission uses automatic transmission fluid (ATF), about 10 quarts, of which less than 4 quarts is drainable.
The front diff is uses about 1 quart of gear oil.
Here is a photo of the automatic transmission showing the differential (arrow) and its dipstick.
Oh I see you do. There is a dipstick near the fire wall ..center. Its kind of hidden. It takes 1.1 quart of 75W-90. The drain plug is a T-70 torx underneath (I think they used that for that year). The auto-tranny is the flat one with the tranny filter next to it.
The best way to fill an automatic transmission is to measure the fluid you get out of it, then fill it up a little lower than that (we're assuming it wasn't low on Fluid before you drained it). Run it a bit, check the level, and then fill it according to the dipstick. Never assume how much fluid it drained out as you don't want to under or over fill the transmission.
Automatics don't really drain all of their fluid (usually less than half) so if you don't want to get it flushed, do a drain & fill, drive it for a couple hundred miles, and then drain & fill again.
The front diff, as others have said, it separate on the autos (it's not on the manuals) and takes GL-5 75w-90 gear oil. I'd use a synthetic of some kind, but without synchros like a manual, it's less important to be finnicky on the fluid in the diffs, IMO.
I'd avoid the Royal purple. Several people have had excessive noise and whining from the diff with it. Subaru's do tend to be a little picky about gear oil in the differentials (and the manual transmissions are very pick about fluid).
I use Motul 300 75w90. It is essentially a racing oil, and had no problems with it (many others like it too). It is hard to find, and will be slightly more expensive than anything else at Napa/Advanced Auto/etc.
I have also heard good things about AMSOIL gear oil and mobil 1 gear oil.
I just recently purchased 2qrt. of Mobile 1 75w-90LS for rear & front diffs....I've completed the rear drain and fill but was wondering if the (LS) should not be used in the front differential?
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