Subaru CVT oil?

[Solo2driver]

While my '12 Impreza is stuck at the dealership waiting on airbag parts (pre-recall/warranty issue...long story), I am contemplating future service and maintenance on the car. It's a 2.0i base model with CVT, non-flappy-paddle. Works very well, great fuel mileage, and I have even autocrossed it once on the stock 15" tires and was pleasantly surprised!

There is no set drain interval for the '12 with the "mini-CVT", but there is a towing listing for the Legacy/Outback at 20K or 24K interval. With the high heat of Texas and potential added heat with traffic, etc I'd rather have some additional heat and shear stability.

The Subaru CVT oil is ungodly expensive and special-order from the dealership only in 5 gallon buckets, but there are 3 major choices for Subaru-approved fully synthetic CVT oil.

1. Valvoline Full Synthetic CVT ~$8.99/qt

2. Redline Non-Slip CVT ~$13.9/qt http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=128&pcid=9

3. Eunos CVT ~$16/qt http://www.eneos.us/product/7


I am leaning towards the Redline product as the rest of their stuff is very good, their engineers are open and helpful to the public, and as a smaller company I tend to want to do business with them.

Thoughts? Anyone done service on their Subaru CVT-equipped cars yet?

I did email Redline and the engineer said that the Non-Slip CVT oil should be perfect for the Aisin-built CVT tranmission and meets the oil spec requirements.

 

[Gene K]

I like the idea of intial change at 24k followed by Valvoline every 36k or Redline every 60k. But then thats not based on any sound data...

 

[artificialist]

Eunos? Do you mean Eneos?

In many cases Eneos is the OEM supplier to Japanese car companies, so I would feel safest buying the Eneos stuff.

I have not dealt with a Subaru CVT yet. If it is like their other transmissions, it may require a T-60 Torx to remove the drain plug.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Solo2driver

Thoughts? Anyone done service on their Subaru CVT-equipped cars yet?


No Sir, not yet. You'd think you'd read something by now given these units have been around since the 2010 model year.

Is there drain/fill plugs on the Impreza? I've found them on my 2012 Legacy which is a plus.

I bet another year or two and we'll hear more about suitable alternative to Subaru CVT juice.

Main thing is to not use a CVT oil intended for belt-drive CVT's like Jatcos. Our Aisin/Suby CVTs are roller chain, which requires a different oil.

Joel

 

[Cooper]

Have you done the CVT service yet?

 

[tommygunn]

Valvoline CVT will work just fine.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Eunos? Do you mean Eneos?

In many cases Eneos is the OEM supplier to Japanese car companies, so I would feel safest buying the Eneos stuff.


For right or wrong, I feel the same way.

FWIW, which isn't much, I've been doing 30K OCI's on my Freestyle's CVT, and this car has a fairly efficient full-flow filter (and the filter has some contaminants in it when changed). 150K, acts like new. With no filter, I don't think I'd want to go much longer than 30K.

 

[Cooper]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Valvoline CVT will work just fine.


That is readily available here. AAP sells it. But, like brake fluid, is CVT fluid, CVT fluid? I know people will agree and disagree, so, please state the FACTS if you know them.....

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Cooper
Have you done the CVT service yet?


No, not yet. I'm at 31500mi on my 2012. I did some research on the Aisin/Subaru CVT fluid some time back and it came in 5gal pails. If you google Aisin CVT fluid, you'll see it.

From what I've read, dealers charge $200-300 for a drain and fill. They charge for about 9qts of super special CVT juice, labor, etc.

I just wonder how much wear materials you'd see in one of these. AFAIK, they don't have the clutch packs to shed material like a typical AT, just a chain mashing against a sheave.

The other thing to consider is the CVT has a separate reservoir inside for the front differential oil. It's gear lube that needs to be changed separately. It has it's own drain plug and you refill through the top vent line port.

 

[JOD]

Originally Posted By: JTK


I just wonder how much wear materials you'd see in one of these. AFAIK, they don't have the clutch packs to shed material like a typical AT, just a chain mashing against a sheave.



It's not the same CVT, but here's my Freestyle's chain-drive CVT filter cut open, 60K on filter. This is the second filter. The original one looked similar after the first 60K:

 

[JTK]

I've only seen one forum post where a fella had the pan dropped and the filter pulled and cleaned on his 2012 Soob CVT. Supposedly the tech cleaned it in a parts washer, so I assume the filter is a screen type on the Aisin/Subaru unit? Dunno for sure.

 

[JOD]

Yeah, the Freestyle also has a typical 'screen type' filter in the pan along with some magnets, along with the full-flow filter pictured here. Because it has a full-flow filter, I haven't even bothered w/the pan filter. Those who have changed it have reported that it doesn't catch much. Either way, while there's no clutch debris to deal with, it would appear that there are still some contaminants floating around in a chain-drive CVT, so changing the fluid occasionally probably isn't a bad idea.

 

[JTK]

Great info JOD. Thanks.

Yeah, it's a shame there's so little info out there so far on the 2010+ Subaru CVT.

Then again, maybe that's a good thing..

 

[Cooper]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Yeah, it's a shame there's so little info out there so far on the 2010+ Subaru CVT.

Then again, maybe that's a good thing..


I do believe it is a good thing! I have not been able to find one Subaru CVT failure thread in all the searching I have done. Not saying it doesn't happen, but, there is not a lot of failure info. Unlike Honda 5AT failures, this thing seems pretty bullet proof.

Either way, I plan on changing the fluid out at a set interval. Probably every 30k.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Cooper

Either way, I plan on changing the fluid out at a set interval. Probably every 30k.


I hear you. Being at ~31K, I'd really like to do a dump/fill myself, but can't find any DIY info. I really hate to ask my Soob dealer. I've never had to re-visit them, but have little faith in them regardless (just from other dealings).

 

[Cooper]

There is a DIY out there on an Outback forum. I believe it is the same CVT for all the 2.5i's. I hope that at some point, Subaru puts out quart size CVT fluid....

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Cooper
There is a DIY out there on an Outback forum. I believe it is the same CVT for all the 2.5i's. I hope that at some point, Subaru puts out quart size CVT fluid....


Link?

I've searched and can't find it.

 

[Cooper]

Here is the DIY for an Outback, should be the same thing.

 

[JTK]

Thanks Cooper! Good info. I'm a little surprised about the Red Line belt-drive CVT juice being used though. I know all CVTs utilize a form of a belt, but any of the reading I've done on the Aisin chain-drive CVTs Subarus use, say NOT to use belt/CVT fluid, only Chain/CVT fluid.

 

[Cooper]

From the Redline website: "Designed specifically for use in metal belt-type Continuously Variable Transmissions including Daihatsu, Nissan, and Subaru"

I think the naming is a little confusing, but, it appears it would be fine in the Subie.