ATF dipsteck level TOO HIGH

[plain OM]

Agreed. Your idea of refilling with slightly less will be fine. As long as the level is somewhere between the L and F marks it's good to go. We're just a bit picky, and want it right at the mark. But even that's a challenge because the level changes noticeably with ATF temperature.

[AltaBrig]

Well after a week of taking measurements daily I have determined that the ATF hot level is at least 3/8" high above the hot high hash everytime. When cold (depends on how vigorous I go through the gears, just D and R or all the 1-5 and R, the level is between 1/8" under and 1/8" over the hot high hash hole.

Not really sure how cold a cold ATF measurement can be. By the time you get the car through the gears it is the coolant at least is warm. Not sure about the tranny. Guess a good cold measurement is just R and D and then a couple measurements while in P (which renders a reading at or slightly under the top Hot hash.

The ambient temp has fluctuated from 90F down to 60F which may have a slight effect on the fluid's expansion and contraction.

Bought a hand pump to take a little more fluid out through the dipstick tube and set a baseline lower on the stick before I do the change. Hopefully the slight factory overfill will not have caused permanent damage to the tranny.

Hoping as a few have posted that the tranny was engineered with a slight overfill capacity. As Novablue wrote "you never know," which is why these simple fluid changes will be done by me. That "never know" feeling doesn't inspire confidence.

[AltaBrig]

I pumped out about a quart total to get the dipstick properly between the HOT High and Low hashes hot, and the COLD High and Low hashes cold.

Be warned and don't be a dipstick like I was and wait to check your ATF. Check it before you drive the car off the lot.



In the hashes after draining a quart and running through the gears up and down on the freeway. HOPEFULLY my tranny won't die early. The fluid was chocolate not a pretty shade of red.

I went ahead and did my change with 4 fresh quarts. Not sure if I should do several changes to cycle out the ATF quickly or just go to the 4 quart drain and fill every 15k?

[plain OM]

The Subaru ATF-Type HP does tend to change from a reddish color to a honey-brownish look. This is considered normal.

I do a drain and fill (~4 qts) annually, and the drained ATF is usually quite dark (tending toward black) when looked down at in the catch container. But when I put it into an 8 oz clear measuring cup, and hold it up to natural light, the reddish color is apparent. It depends on how it's viewed.

Here's a pic with new on the right, old (about 10k miles) on the left.)



and here's the same "old" held up to a window.



The chocolate color could be "normal". A usual question would be: does it smell burned?

If you're concerned, why not do a few drain and refills, with running the engine for a few minutes in between (or some driving). After the second the drained fluid should be more like the new fluid, so the third refill finish the cycle.

[AltaBrig]

Thanks for the great color shots^.

Mine looked like poo.




Totally brown. Not a hint of reddish tint. Lots of mountain driving and 35K. I am wondering if I should cycle the fluid out or just go to a 15K interval? Link to ATF change pics:DIY: Gen 4 3.6R ATF Drain and Fill

[plain OM]

I'd probably do a few drain-and-fllls to ensure that what's in there is mostly new (establish my own benchmark) then I'd go to the 15 K routine and see what comes out. But that's more or less what I do.

The service manual doesn't call for frequent changes, and many go far, far more than 36k without touching the ATF.

[AltaBrig]

^Thanks for the input and advice. I changed ATF pans and filters after 30k plus intervals 3 times on an F-150 with Merc/Dex or whatever it required. The stuff was always clean and red. So my Subies tranny juice color combined with the overcapacity level before setting a baseline has been a bit scary.

The one good thing is that I have my level where I want it. I am not sure I
want those remaining (~6.4) quarts of liquid chocolate in the $$$ tranny.

Anyone got pics of ATF after 30K miles? If so please post.

Almost want a quick valve on the AT about now if I am going to flush it out with new sauce. I liked the way PlaimOM's fluid looked after 10k (still rosy) a lot more than mine did after 35K. YUK.

[skeetjunkie]

FWIW - after 16K miles the factory ATF fill, when properly checked, also pegs about 1/2" above the hot high hash mark. Subaru service dept said this was not a problem - no explanation why the factory might overfill, but no worries mate.

I understand that the transmission fluid runs in a open reservoir and is not under pressure like the engine oil system. But I will drain a pint or so to get a proper hash reading when I do my ATF change next week.