Subaru CVT Transmission fluid change

[lesbaru]

I just did a drain and fill on my 2011 Outback 2.5i. Don't be intimidated by the process, and don't get caught up in the whole temperature thing. Cold drain and cold fill. The goal is to simply drain the CVT fluid from the drain plug and measure the volume of fluid drained and replace the exact amount of fluid back.

When draining on a flat surface you will get approx 5 1/2 quarts of fluid out.

Here is the catch, you will then only be able to get a bit over 4 quarts of fluid in before it starts to dribble out. You will need to then start the car and with your foot on the brake cycle through the gears. With the car running and in park, remove the fill plug and you should be able to install the remainder of the fluid.

Once again, measure exactly what came out and put exactly that amount back in and you should be fine.

This video will give you some other details around the process.

 

[Coreyjross]

Good evening. I just did a drain and fill on my 2013 Subaru Outback 2.5 this evening at 118k miles. (First time serviced) So I measured my fluid out at 7 quarts which everything I read states i should of drained 5.5 quarts. So on the fill initially it held near 4 quarts. I started the car, allowed it to warm up to 125 degrees F, cycled the gears and while running I was able to add an additional 1.5 quarts. Could of my tranny been over filled from factory? Or should I be concerned? Thanks!

 

[Coreyjross]

Thanks for all your help! You guys are awesome!

 

[Jugglernate]

Good evening. I just did a drain and fill on my 2013 Subaru Outback 2.5 this evening at 118k miles. (First time serviced) So I measured my fluid out at 7 quarts which everything I read states i should of drained 5.5 quarts. So on the fill initially it held near 4 quarts. I started the car, allowed it to warm up to 125 degrees F, cycled the gears and while running I was able to add an additional 1.5 quarts. Could of my tranny been over filled from factory? Or should I be concerned? Thanks!

Did you ever solve this? I drained my 2013 outback cold. Got 7 qts out, I was surprised. Filled in 4, ran the car and cycled gears got to 5.5, then got another 0.75 qts in while running. Can't get anymore in. I'm betting it was previously overfilled by past owner. Any suggestions what to do?

 

[Coreyjross]

Hey Nate,

No I have not done anything else to mine. Its my wife's car. I have drove it several times with no issue. The only thing I can think of is the tranny was too warm when I added my fluid back in while running. (125 degrees) - but I am not sure (I guess over-fill from factory is possible - but how?). She is due an oil change in about 1k and I will do a drain and fill again for a second flush. I'll make note again of how much I drain and how much I can get back in. Sorry for my smart remarks - I was just surprised no one reply to either of our comments.

 

[Coreyjross]

I will before I drain it this next time - see if its full.

 

[vnk12111]

Hi Corey,
Have you had a chance to do another drain/fill? any update on that?
I just did drain/fill on my '13 OB, 6.5 qts came out...was surprised as well, since i was expecting only about 5qts, but I followed the rule of "put back what you took out"...was able to get in only 6.2 qts...this was the first drain/fill with 40K miles, so previous fill was factory fill....
Thanks in advance for sharing your findings.
Vlad.

 

[Coreyjross]

I have not. I am ready to do so, along with an oil change. The only thing I can think of is I heated up the car too much, at 125 degrees? I see most recommend a temp near 115. I will post back once I get it back on the rack.

 

[Coreyjross]

I'll be interested to see what comes out of it this time...

 

[vnk12111]

I have not. I am ready to do so, along with an oil change. The only thing I can think of is I heated up the car too much, at 125 degrees? I see most recommend a temp near 115. I will post back once I get it back on the rack.

hmmm....I did "cold" drain (6.5 qts) at 74F of ambient temp, and then was able to put same temp CVTF into transmission (about 4 qts), and then started the car, run thru P-R-N-D and reverse, and put about another 2.2 quarts while engine is idling...i never got it to hot/working temp, since I don't have Subaru Select Monitor tool, and using IR temp gun on the CVTF oil pan/ CVT body doesn't provide necessarily accurate readings, especially with a tight window for the temp check of 95F-113F (according to Subaru manual)...
I guess I was puzzled/concerned why I drained cold 6.5 qts, when everyone else (on the web) is draining only up to 5 qts...was the tranny overfilled by almost 1.5qt from the factory?...don't know...

 

[vnk12111]

Correction to that statement "when everyone else (on the web) is draining only up to 5 qts" --> looks like you are in the same boat as me of draining "too much"
looking forward to see what you get out next time. Thanks. Vlad.

 

[Coreyjross]

Yeah, I added the 4 quarts and then started it up cycled the PRND a couple of times and then added what I could back in. I shot a laser on the tranny pan and it indicated 125 degrees. So the temp of the fluid was probably higher. I will park it in the shop the night before next time, drain and fill and be quicker about adding the additional fluid back - hopefully achieving the correct fluid level back in. (Fingers crossed) I will first see if its full when I get ready to do the change.

 

[langenc]

I hope you do your own oil change. Not so complicated as to volume.. 5 quarts is good.. check the dipstick and see what it shows.

 

[Coreyjross]

So I did the CVT tranny fluid change again and was able to install 4 quarts while the engine off. I started the car, cycled through the gears and then immediately added 2 additional quarts. The car was sitting in my shop over night, completely cooled down for the flush and fill. I was satisfied with the results this time.

 

[Coreyjross]

Hey VNK12111,

My tranny/cvt has now created a ticking noise. Have you had any issues?

 

[carrdoct1]

Did you use subaru cvtf fluid or some other brand

 

[Coreyjross]

So I used a comparable Valvoline product. After the tick noise (failing bearing) 6 months later, i ended up doing a CVT swap. The warranty on the remanufactured unit was fine with an acceptable comparable fluid. Hope this helps.

 

[smallhagrid]

We have a 2011 Outback that is doing strange hesitations seemingly from the rear.
Check the (rather useless) manual, which shows a dipstick location - but there is none there.
Any clues how to check the fluid level will be hugely appreciated, please.

We'll soon need to replace its starter, for which there is the CVT variant vs. non-CVT, but I've no idea how to tell which is which, so any clues for this will also be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help.