2001 Outback Transmission Fluid Change

[Adam]

Can anyone please was me through the steps of changing the automatic
transmission fluid on a 2001 subaru outback?

Is there a filter I need to replace?
Is it like my honda where all I have to do is drain it and refil it?


Thank you,
Adam

 

[MDCORE]

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

 

[Edward Hayes]

Not all of us thinks that a total fluid flush is the best and only thing to
do. SOAs manual form my Forester says drain and refill via the drain plug.

 

[Adam]

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

 

[Nicolas Dore]

The online maintenance guide for 2001
cars(http://subaru.com/owners/care/schedules/schedules.jsp?schedulepage=2001
myfed.html) says:

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

Nicolas

 

[Voja]

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

Voja

 

[Adam]

I send you an email to (e-mail address removed) asking you to send the
PDFs to a different address (e-mail address removed) It
would be greatly appriciated.

Thank you,
Adam

 

[Mike]

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

 

[John O]

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

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

 

[Rick Courtright]

Not all of us thinks that a total fluid flush is the best and only thing to
do.

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

 

[Edward Hayes]

As always, I respect your very good opinions Rick. One just needs to be sure
that the flusher knows what he is doing and from this NG it appears many do
not. I personally change mine 3X times (driving between each drain/refill)
to achieve a 95% new change every 25-30,000 miles. One of my concerns is the
basic cleanliness of the flushing equipment as some transmission shops don't
seem to attract the most conscious workers. IMHO. Ed

 

[Mike]

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.

 

[Rick Courtright]

As always, I respect your very good opinions Rick. One just needs to be sure
that the flusher knows what he is doing and from this NG it appears many do
not.

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