Ok, I have been drain/filling (4qt of 9.8 at a time) my '99 Subaru Legacy Outback (197K mi) transmission fluid. Initially I started with Castrol Transmax HM... that week the tranny gave me an odd issue shifting from R to D, the tranny would not quickly engage D. It would take a few seconds to "decided". It did that for a week normally after a cold start and does not have that issue after running for a while. My second and third D/F was with Castrol Dexmerc because it went on sale $14. The Indecision from R to D disappeared and I just chalked it up to new fluid jitters. My forth and a final D/F was with Transmax HM again (Dexmerc no longer on sale) and the indecision is back. I am planning to do more D/F to get that MH stuff out but I was wondering if anyone has a clue what could be going on. My Subbie's tranny has been strong, no real Subaru torque bind, but Castrol HM is giving it fits.
Castrol Transmax High Mileage Issue
- Thread starter FutureDoc
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Hmm, Transmax I've seen as a shade thick, and the HM version wouldn't be any better.
If the spec is what I think it is, Dex-III? I'd go with Maxlife instead.
If the spec is what I think it is, Dex-III? I'd go with Maxlife instead.
One suggestion would be to reset the TCM.
The transmission may need to adapt to the new fluid characteristics.
Unplug the battery and turn the key to start a couple of times. Leave the battery disconnected overnight to discharge the remaining residual juice in it.
But I have to include the fact that at nearly 200k miles the transmission is probably at the end of its useful life, at that mileage you can't expect much more.
The transmission may need to adapt to the new fluid characteristics.
Unplug the battery and turn the key to start a couple of times. Leave the battery disconnected overnight to discharge the remaining residual juice in it.
But I have to include the fact that at nearly 200k miles the transmission is probably at the end of its useful life, at that mileage you can't expect much more.
Yeah Dex III. Likely going to be Maxlife next (or Napa ATF).
200K is a lot for a tranny but the 4EAT subbie is fairly reliable. The '99 (in general) does have recorded instances of "shift delay" but for me it only started with Transmax HM. Kinda makes me wonder if the other 99/00 shift delay issues were fluid related. Because the issue is likely temperature-related, I am wondering if cooler temperatures might make it a bit "thick". I will reset the TCM. I guess I should note that I have replaced the external screw-on transmission filter with the last drain fill.
200K is a lot for a tranny but the 4EAT subbie is fairly reliable. The '99 (in general) does have recorded instances of "shift delay" but for me it only started with Transmax HM. Kinda makes me wonder if the other 99/00 shift delay issues were fluid related. Because the issue is likely temperature-related, I am wondering if cooler temperatures might make it a bit "thick". I will reset the TCM. I guess I should note that I have replaced the external screw-on transmission filter with the last drain fill.
Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
Yeah Dex III. Likely going to be Maxlife next (or Napa ATF).
200K is a lot for a tranny but the 4EAT subbie is fairly reliable. The '99 (in general) does have recorded instances of "shift delay" but for me it only started with Transmax HM. Kinda makes me wonder if the other 99/00 shift delay issues were fluid related. Because the issue is likely temperature-related, I am wondering if cooler temperatures might make it a bit "thick". I will reset the TCM. I guess I should note that I have replaced the external screw-on transmission filter with the last drain fill.
I use SuperTech generic transmission fluid in mine. You know the DexronIII/Mercon fluid that you can buy in gallon containers. And I have 216K miles on my F4EAT in my Escort, and it works just fine.
Yeah Dex III. Likely going to be Maxlife next (or Napa ATF).
200K is a lot for a tranny but the 4EAT subbie is fairly reliable. The '99 (in general) does have recorded instances of "shift delay" but for me it only started with Transmax HM. Kinda makes me wonder if the other 99/00 shift delay issues were fluid related. Because the issue is likely temperature-related, I am wondering if cooler temperatures might make it a bit "thick". I will reset the TCM. I guess I should note that I have replaced the external screw-on transmission filter with the last drain fill.
I use SuperTech generic transmission fluid in mine. You know the DexronIII/Mercon fluid that you can buy in gallon containers. And I have 216K miles on my F4EAT in my Escort, and it works just fine.
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
Yeah Dex III. Likely going to be Maxlife next (or Napa ATF).
200K is a lot for a tranny but the 4EAT subbie is fairly reliable. The '99 (in general) does have recorded instances of "shift delay" but for me it only started with Transmax HM. Kinda makes me wonder if the other 99/00 shift delay issues were fluid related. Because the issue is likely temperature-related, I am wondering if cooler temperatures might make it a bit "thick". I will reset the TCM. I guess I should note that I have replaced the external screw-on transmission filter with the last drain fill.
I use SuperTech generic transmission fluid in mine. You know the DexronIII/Mercon fluid that you can buy in gallon containers. And I have 216K miles on my F4EAT in my Escort, and it works just fine.
I have thought about that (using ST). I want to say that the ST DexMerc was $15 a gallon when I checked for Maxlife. I got Maxlife at Advanced anyway ($23) when I picked up some other supplies for a power-steering pump rebuild. I already have about $80 into the drain/fill (4 D/F). I am also doing the Fit as well and that is costing $70 with Honda DW-1 (3 D/F).
The thing that "gets" me is the shift delay happens only when the car/tranny is cool. That makes me look at the fluid as the irritant. I have heard about some shift-delay when the ATF level is low. I made sure mine was within the range, checked, double checked, triple checked.
Originally Posted By: FutureDoc
Yeah Dex III. Likely going to be Maxlife next (or Napa ATF).
200K is a lot for a tranny but the 4EAT subbie is fairly reliable. The '99 (in general) does have recorded instances of "shift delay" but for me it only started with Transmax HM. Kinda makes me wonder if the other 99/00 shift delay issues were fluid related. Because the issue is likely temperature-related, I am wondering if cooler temperatures might make it a bit "thick". I will reset the TCM. I guess I should note that I have replaced the external screw-on transmission filter with the last drain fill.
I use SuperTech generic transmission fluid in mine. You know the DexronIII/Mercon fluid that you can buy in gallon containers. And I have 216K miles on my F4EAT in my Escort, and it works just fine.
I have thought about that (using ST). I want to say that the ST DexMerc was $15 a gallon when I checked for Maxlife. I got Maxlife at Advanced anyway ($23) when I picked up some other supplies for a power-steering pump rebuild. I already have about $80 into the drain/fill (4 D/F). I am also doing the Fit as well and that is costing $70 with Honda DW-1 (3 D/F).
The thing that "gets" me is the shift delay happens only when the car/tranny is cool. That makes me look at the fluid as the irritant. I have heard about some shift-delay when the ATF level is low. I made sure mine was within the range, checked, double checked, triple checked.
So I D&F 4qts of Maxlife this past Saturday, rebuilt a power steering pump Sunday, and today was the first day I drove the Outback around. I gave it a couple of "cold starts" and it was noticeably better. Still some hesitation but definitely better.
After Castrol
Reverse to................................ uhhhh... drive
Reverse to...........drive.
Will do another D&F later, maybe this weekend.
After Castrol
Reverse to................................ uhhhh... drive
Reverse to...........drive.
Will do another D&F later, maybe this weekend.
Update. So another D&F later with Maxlife and there is no noticeable issue now. Have about 65% Maxlife, 25% Castrol D/M, and then 10% Castrol High Mileage. I might do one more ML D&F... we will see. There must be something that the Subie 4EAT transmission does not like with Castrol. Oh well, learning something every day.
Honestly I'm not real impressed with Castrol, and their transmission fluid seems to back my opinion of them. Keep draining and filling with Max Life or just flush the whole thing and run Max Life (or Subaru ATF-HP). Those transmissions seem to lag between Reverse and Drive, not sure if that can ever be totally fixed. Whenever I am driving a car with one of those trannies I just shift to Neutral, stop, then put it into drive with my foot off the brake and it seems to go in smoothly.
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