OK - as previously posted my GT has 180,000 k's. Having no clue as to when the last trans oil change was I have been scouring this forum before doing it myself but am confused on a couple of things
1: I dont mind going down the T-Tech road but whats this thing about a magnet ( in the pan? ). Do I access this seperately (before/after?) to clean it or does the dealer before using the T-Tech to flush.
2: Being a noob to Subaru ATF could someone please help me with a guide to changing the oil manually should I choose this way instead.
There is a magnet inside of the oil pan to attract metal filings/shavings. Unless you're dropping the pan, I wouldn't worry about it.
As for changing the fluid, drain the old fluid, put in new fluid. The ATF fill dipstick is on the right side of the engine (when standing in front of it)
To properly check the ATF level, park on a level surface, slowly cylce the gear selector from P to 1 and back to P, leave the car running. Check the ATF dipstick. When first starting it up, you'll want to check the level against the cold marks. After you get things close, drive it around, warm it up, and then check the level.
Should I drive around and go thru the gears to cycle and warm up the oil first before draining? Also, without dropping the pan does some residue remains in this? And finally is it 8.8 litres ( 9.3 quarts - whatever quarts are ) for normal refill ?
I don't really think a whole lot of residue remains in the pan. However the nice thing about dropping the pan is you can take a look at the magnet and see if there's any large chunks of metal which might clue you in on a potential problem.
Personally, I'd just drain it, and refill. The total capacity is around what you listed, however it'll probably only take 4-5 qts.
Be careful!!! There's a problem with changing the atf in trannies that haven't been changed in a long time. Dirt and grime accumulate to the innards and fill in the micro cracks that develop over time. New atf has cleaners that dissolve the dirt and open up the micro cracks. This leads to tranny death. This was explained to me by a tranny shop owner who deals with MANY people who get a flush and fill and have a blown/slipping tranny a few months later.
That's what happened to me in my 93. While I couldn't walk after totaling my Festiva, a friend offered to change my oil for me. Nice guy. Except he drained my tranny instead. We walked over to the tranny shop next door and got new fluid, and that's when I talked to the owner. No more than 3 months later the tranny started to whine and slip. It worked fine before changing the fluid.
I swapped the tranny out with one from a junkyard, filled it with new ATF, and drove it for three or four months. The tranny was starting to show some slippage and whine, just like before. That's when I started to consider selling it. No more than a day after putting the sign up the radiator blew up. I popped the head gaskets while installing the new radiator. That's how it became my parts donor.
Bottom line - automatics suck, especially if they haven't been cared for. If you want to keep it, look for detergent - free ATF. Hope you read this in time.
Personally I have always changed tranny fluid in all of my vehicles that I purchase...sometimes the tranny fluid is black. I flush it out with cheap atf until the fluid is ruby red...then add the synthetic...have never had a problem with tranny slippage...guess I have good luck?
1994 Aegian Blue Subaru Legacy Sport Sedan. Mean Muggin.
1995 Honda CBR 600 F3 D&D complete system,K&N, few other things..
... Planning on next week but yea I was going to swap out all the fluids. Thanks.