Not all that glitters is gold. Which oil to choose for servicing Subaru Forester, Legacy or Impreza and Tribeca?

It is known that there is oil consumption according to the passport and from engine wear. But many customers also notice the cost of wastage and from the brand - this is a fair observation. All of them contain additives: detergents, antiwear, etc. Incomplete combustion of fuel leads to the ingress of unburned fractions into the engine oil, which affects the stability of additives and precipitation, and loss of their properties. Also, this factor is influenced by high temperatures, which are formed in the area of ​​the upper compression ring and the edge of the Subaru cylinder, where the piston is shifted, i.e. "Fidgets" at the moment of passing the top dead center. And, given the design of the boxer motor, where a good weight distribution is a plus, and a horizontal piston arrangement is a minus. With this design, fidgeting becomes greater than on other power units, which means that wear is stronger. Also, everyone knows that from low-quality fuel, the rings tend to coke.

What is the result? When the oil scraper rings are still working and not worn out, and the compression rings are coked, the latter begin to work as a pump and pump oil into the combustion chamber. Position Aggravates wear in the upper part of the cylinder, as we already wrote from shifting the piston. Thus, the consumption is significantly increased. And over time, a knock appears, usually 4 cylinders.

What to do and how to protect Subaru from such an expense?

1. The choice of gas stations - it is almost impossible to do this. Today, at the same gas station, the quality of fuel is one, and tomorrow it will be different.

2. The choice of oil for Subaru maintenance, it makes no difference which model - Forester, Impreza, Legacy and Tribeca or XV - the device, design and technical characteristics are the same. We do not take into account the power and torque. You can come to us with your own, which in your opinion is the best. We offer the one that is poured on the conveyor - to idemitsu (Idemitsu) and traditionally Motul.

3. Use flushing of the oil system and not be afraid of rumors that it is harmful. We recommend and use the flash mf5 motor from the Finnish company RVS-master. The only flush that deeply cleans surfaces and removes all deposits, deposits and sludge, and also decokes the rings.

4. Change oil more often. For Forester, Legacy and Impreza Turbo, this is 5-7 thousand km. run. For atmospheric engines, this is 8-10 thousand km. It is important to remember that if the power unit has been overheated, then you should not wait for the end of the interservice run, you must immediately change it, since there is nothing left of the lubricating and anti-wear properties.

The choice is small in a Subaru automatic transmission.

The second most important and costly repair unit is an automatic transmission or a Subaru variator. If for an automatic transmission the scheduled oil change period is prescribed and is 50 thousand km, then there is no variator for Subaru, which means that it is designed for the entire service life. But, from life we ​​know that any technical fluid is subject to aging, oxidation, and as a result, the loss of its lubricating and extreme pressure properties. In addition, it is in the CVT Forester, Legacy that these properties are needed more than ever. After all, switching in the box is due to the metal chain that connects the plates. That is, there is a constant friction of metal on metal.

And the wear particles are over in the box. The cost of repairing the variator exceeds 100 thousand rubles. and for his bulkhead, few people undertake. For automatic transmission maintenance, we use and recommend - "Idemitsu" Multi ATF, for CVT-automatic transmission - Multi on idemitsu CVTF. Driving in an aggressive style, skidding and towing is not recommended. If it overheats, change it. In an automatic box, change to a flushing unit and do a complete replacement.

Gear oil for Forester, Legacy, Impreza and Tribeca.

Maintenance provides for a replacement every 50 thousand km. The volume in the front gearbox is 0.8-1.0 liters. In the rear - 1.2 liters. The oil used is 1SHC 75W s-90, for the rear self-locking general-ShTs. If the seals between the front differential and the transmission fail, mixing of technical fluids is possible. It is recommended to check the level.

Fluid for power steering.

As on most car brands, ATF320 is used in a volume of 1 liter. Replacement by mileage is not assigned. As a result, car owners forget about the replacement, and face problems that are expressed by biting the steering wheel, a rumble on a cold one, and with the steering wheel turned out. The liquid in the gur is also subject to aging due to ingress of wear particles from the pump. Leakage of the steering rack oil seals leads to a decrease in the oil level in the gur, for this reason it howls. If you do not top up in time and do not turn to repair, then the bypass valve will hang on the Subaru and the steering wheel becomes tight.

Our recommendations are to regularly check the level, timely maintenance of the power steering system. A complete replacement of the power steering fluid with flushing at the installation allows you to clean it of wear products and completely change a little, thereby extending the service life.

When did the first variator appearSubaru

Fuji Heavy Industries, the manufacturer of Subaru cars, has been involved in CVTs since the mid-1980s, in 1984 the first electronically controlled ECVT V-belt CVT began to be installed on the Justy subcompact. Subaru engineers were already able to overcome the main drawback of the CVT - fragility. The Justy variator did not have an elastic belt, as on cars from other companies, but a pusher belt made of metal links. The variator was controlled by hydraulics, electronics and sensors were used in it.

In 2009, Fuji Heavy Industries announced the Lineartronic CVT, which is based on LuK technology. At the New York International Auto Show, the 2010 Subaru Outback and Legacy models equipped with CVTs were presented to the public.

LuK currently supplies chain and guides for CVT Subaru Lineartronic. In it, 150 axles connect more than 900 plates like a bicycle chain, only in a more complex sequence. The chain differs from the belt by much greater flexibility and allows the use of pulleys of a smaller radius. At minimum bending radii, the chain experiences less internal stresses than a reinforced belt, the parts of which rub against each other during deformation. Therefore, the V-chain variator is more efficient and reliable than the V-belt.

Varieties of Subaru CVTs

Subaru's CVT is mated not to a conventional clutch, but to a torque converter, which is usually paired with traditional planetary automatic transmissions. At the moments of starting off, the torque converter provides a smooth start of movement, a confident start uphill and comfortable movement “crawling” in city traffic jams.

Two types of Lineartronic CVTs are currently produced: the old version, which is now used for turbocharged engines - TR 690 (Generation I or generation 1), the new version of the CVT installed on Subaru cars with new naturally aspirated engines - TR 580 (Generation II or generation 2 ). CVT data can be viewed on the B-pillar plate if you open the driver's door. For turbo versions, Subaru uses the TR 690 CVT with a new torque converter and valve block.

Do I need to change the oil in the variator?

Initially, in the manuals for the use of Subaru cars with a variator under gentle operating conditions, changing the oil in the variator was not regulated up to a mileage of 120,000 kilometers. Then, in some cases, Subaru began to recommend an oil change at 90,000 km, a special letter from the company was distributed about this. Under severe operating conditions: at temperatures below -30ºС; in mountainous areas; when towing a trailer; when driving on sand, or equivalent to them, it may be necessary to change the oil in the variator even earlier - after 45,000 kilometers.

Features of oil for Subaru CVTs

CVT oil has special requirements and differs markedly from both conventional manual transmission oil and automatic transmission oil. Under heavy load, the oil turns into the thinnest film capable of transmitting moment, and in other conditions it performs the usual functions - lubricating or ensuring the operation of friction clutches. Until the 1980s, there was no oil that, under pressure, could not reduce, but increase the coefficient of friction.

In addition, severe temperature conditions of operation are created in the variator, and the result of this is an actively wearing and polluting liquid. CVT fluid aging is even more critical than for an automatic transmission. Nevertheless, in an automatic transmission, it transmits torque to friction discs that have a good coefficient of adhesion. And CVT fluids work in a metal-to-metal friction pair, which determines slightly different requirements for them.

CVT oils are a separate type of oil, which should provide not only lubrication, but also slip prevention. That is, the same fluid must simultaneously act as a heat sink, lubricator, and friction enhancer between the belt and pulley to avoid slippage. It would seem that one excludes the other, but it is these characteristics that are embedded in oils for CVTs. And that is why they are so unique.

What kind of oil can be used?

For Subaru cars with a Lineartronic CVT, not any oil for CVTs is suitable, and not even any oil for Subaru CVTs! Only oils for chain variators that are listed as compatible with the Subaru Lineartronic CVT are suitable.

Previously, the official Subaru service recommended using SUBARU CVT Oil Lineartronic oil for cars with a naturally aspirated engine and TR 580 variator, article K0425Y0710 (only available in 20 liter containers). Now this oil has already been discontinued, instead of it, SUBARU CVT Oil Lineartronic II oil is now used for maintenance, article K0425Y0711 (only for cars with a naturally aspirated engine, TR 690 and TR 580 CVTs). The color of Lineartronic ll oil is green, it is available only in containers of 20 liters.

For turbocharged versions with a TR 690 variator, oil for turbo versions is used - SUBARU High Torque CVT Fluid article K0421Y0700, available only in containers of 20 liters, the oil color is red. This fluid allows the variator to withstand more torque. Only this fluid can be poured into the variator installed on a turbocharged Subaru car, it can also be suitable for all variators installed on a Subaru with an atmospheric engine.

Subaru still has another type of CVT installed on subcompact cars Subaru R1, R2, etc. It is important not to confuse and fill the Lineartronic CVT with Subaru i-cvt (K0415YA090) or Subaru i CVT-FG Fluid (K0414Y0710) oil, which is only suitable for small cars.

How we searched for CVT fluid

Since the fluid recommended by an official Subaru dealer is expensive and is sold only in containers of 20 liters, and our customers need to change the fluid in the CVT more often, we started looking for analogues.

Initially, we studied the reviews and messages of Subaru car owners on the Internet and tried to find out from the official representatives who is the real manufacturer of the SUBARU CVT Oil Lineartronic II fluid. There are rumors that Subaru does not produce CVT fluid on its own, according to unconfirmed information, Idemitsu produces these oils for it.

As a result of our searches, we selected four companies that we contacted with an inquiry about the availability of oil in their range suitable for Subaru Lineartronic CVT variators - these are Idemitsu, Motul, Nippon and Liqui Moly. We did not consider other options due to the presence of negative reviews, the lack of approval for Lineartronic Subaru chain variators in the technical specifications and the possibility to purchase this oil in Russia.

We invite you to take a look at the results

Company	The result of contacting the manufacturer	The result of contacting the Russian representative office	conclusions
Idemitsu Kosan (Japan)	The request was sent through the form on the website http://www.idemitsu.com/, from the company IDEMITSU KOSAN Co.,Ltd. the answer was received that there was no suitable oil and advice to use the original Subaru fluid.	Employees of the official Russian representative office answered the following question: “Unfortunately, our Idemitsu CVTF does not cover the requirements of Lineartronic chain variators. There is no analogue."	Idemitsu had an Idemitsu Extreme CVTF oil similar to SUBARU CVT OIL FOR LINEARTRONIC K0425Y0710, but this oil has now been discontinued. Modern Idemitsu CVTF oil is not suitable for Subaru CVTs.
Liqui Moly (Germany)	A request was sent to the company's e-mail and a response was received that there was no suitable oil in the Liqui Moly assortment.	A request was sent to the e-mail of the official representative, the answer was not received. The site recommends contacting the forum, where information was found that Liqui Moly Top Tec ATF 1400 oil is suitable for Subaru Lineartronic-CVT TR580 Gen II CVTs, this is also indicated in the technical specifications of the oil	In view of the fact that conflicting information was received, we decided to take into account the response of the manufacturer, and not the representative office, and refuse from Liqui Moly.
Motul (France)	A request was sent to the company's e-mail, but no response was received.	A request was sent to the e-mail of the official representative, the answer was received that the line contains a liquid that corresponds to the Subaru article K0425Y0710, called Multi CVTF.	Given the reviews, the response of the official representative of the company and the technical specifications, this oil can be used for Subaru TR 580 and TR 690 CVTs installed on cars with atmospheric engines.
Nippon Oil (Japan) oil is produced under the brand name ENEOS	The request was sent through the form on the website http://www.noe.jx-group.co.jp/english/ the answer was received through the Russian representative that ENEOS Premium CVT Fluid is suitable for Subaru Lineartronic CVT	In response to the request, technical specifications of ENEOS Premium CVT Fluid and a proposal for cooperation were received.	We decided to use ENEOS Premium CVT Fluid and offer campaign for changing the oil in the variator together with the Russian representative office of Nippon Oil .

Subaru official representatives do not recommend changing the oil yourself, since when changing it, a number of conditions must be met - the oil temperature must be 35-45ºС, the replacement must be carried out under the control of a diagnostic monitor. It is important to remember that changing the oil yourself or using non-original oil without clearly meeting the requirements of the instructions, you are taking a certain risk.

Since 2009, Subaru has been equipping its vehicles with Lineatronic CVTs built using technology from the German company LuK. Subaru Outback and Subaru Legacy were the first to receive a continuously variable transmission. Currently, almost the entire updated Subaru lineup is equipped with a CVT. Although the popularity of Subaru cars equipped with a variator in Russia is not great and many fans of the brand prefer a manual transmission, such cars are also bought from us.

Subaru cars of recent years are very reliable and rarely require repairs. But recently, the Subaru Center has received several complaints related to the failure of the variators with a resource of 250,000 km or 5 years set by the manufacturer that has not yet been exhausted by the manufacturer. Also since 2013, Subaru has circulated a bulletin to dealers urging CVT oil changes for all vehicles over 90,000 km. This was due to the fact that with an increase in mileage, the oil in the variator loses its properties. Spoiled oil changes its color from blue-blue to red. In cars that exceeded this limit without changing the oil, a strong noise was observed in the variator, during disassembly, breakdowns in the valve body were found. In this regard, we want to draw your attention to the features of the operation of the variator for its long and uninterrupted operation.

What you need to pay attention to when you have a carSubaruwith variator:

1. ATF fluid in the variator in our road conditions need to change often enough, after 40,000 km, because the road conditions in Russia are classified as difficult. For such conditions in the instruction manual, just such a frequency is indicated. Untimely replacement of the fluid can lead to damage to the variator.

1. It is necessary to use a special ATF fluid specially designed for the variator. Subaru offers two fluids - this is SUBARU CVT Oil Lineatronic article K0425Y0710 and Subaru CVT C-30 Oil article SOA868V9245. The variator is very sensitive to the quality of the gear oil, and you should not experiment with unsuitable fluids. CVT oil contains special additives and modifiers, due to which it simultaneously lubricates and prevents chain slippage. In addition to these useful properties, such oil effectively removes heat, and the pulley block and the variator chain are sensitive to overheating.
2. The variator, due to its design features, does not tolerate shock loads and an aggressive driving style. Harsh starts, braking and maneuvers can lead to earlier wear of the variator pulley block. But the automatic transmission is unlikely to withstand such treatment for a long time.
3. Long and constant driving at very high speeds can cause the CVT to overheat. True, driving at such a speed is always associated with a violation of traffic rules for speeding.
4. In winter, in frosty weather, when starting to move, stress on the transmission should be avoided. It is necessary to allow all elements of the system to warm up at low speed.
5. CVT is contraindicated for towing with a cable when the engine is not running. The rotation of the wheels will cause the output shaft to rotate with the pulley, and the chain may damage the pulley on the stalled drive shaft.

A car with a CVT is able to provide comfortable driving, but requires more stringent conditions for compliance with operating rules. Do not forget to change the oil in the variator in time, and it will serve you more than one hundred thousand kilometers.

The Subaru CVT is considered one of the most reliable among CVTs from other manufacturers. Instead of a belt, it uses a chain manufactured by Luk to transmit the torque. It consists of steel axles and plates connected according to the principle of a bicycle chain. This innovation allowed to expand the operating range of the variator, while making it more compact. The V-chain variator has the lowest losses in torque transmission and the highest efficiency.

Subaru vehicles with a continuously variable transmission Lineartronic use an all-wheel drive system with active torque distribution along the axles. The clutch, which transmits torque to the front axle, insures the variator against torque overloads. Clutch insurance, together with a high-precision electronic control system, reduces pressure in the hydraulic system that regulates the radius of the pulleys. The pressure is generated by a pump which is driven by the engine. The lower the hydraulic pressure, the more fuel savings the transmission provides. The lower pulley is located so that at high speeds it does not come into contact with the oil in the crankcase. This eliminates drag from oil churning, further saving fuel and power.

On Subaru cars, the variator is installed together with a torque converter, which is able to quadruple the engine torque, providing a smooth start, confident start uphill and comfortable movement at low speeds in urban traffic jams. In order to avoid energy losses at speeds above 10 km/h, the torque converter is completely blocked.

Subaru's Lineartronic CVT, unlike V-belt CVTs, is more durable and designed to be repairable, and components can be ordered separately for it, including pulleys and a chain. But still, the features of its design impose certain requirements on its operation.

What oil is suitable for a Subaru CVT? Read in our new

Even in the recent past, Subaru with a CVT were not in great demand in Russia, the true fans of this brand preferred a mechanical transmission. But gradually the CVT variator gained popularity, and almost all models of recent years are equipped on the basis of the variator. It must be admitted that the continuously variable transmission is very reliable and capable of providing a comfortable driving experience. At the same time, the car requires stricter compliance with the rules of operation.

What to avoid so that there are no problems with the variator

• Aggressive driving style, shock loads, jerky driving with a sharp start and braking, this reduces the resource of the variator pulleys.
• Driving at high speed for long distances. This can lead to overheating of the variator.
• Start without preliminary heating of system elements in frosty weather. Loads on the transmission at the beginning of the movement are fatal.
• Towing a Subaru with CVT with the engine off. There is a risk of damage to the pulley on the braked drive shaft.

All owners of cars with a CVT are concerned about how often to change the oil

The fact is that there is no exact procedure for changing the oil in the Subaru variator. In the manuals for some models, in particular, Subaru Outback, it is reported that the oil does not need to be changed during the entire service life. In other materials, you can read that it makes sense to make a replacement, starting from 120 thousand kilometers, however, subject to gentle operation.

There are recommendations suggesting changing the oil in the CVT with a mileage of 40 - 45 thousand km, and even then with a note: when using the car in difficult conditions, such as low temperatures, towing a trailer, driving on sand or in mountainous areas.
But let's be realistic. With an increase in mileage, lubricating fluids lose their properties, as a result, friction between parts increases, which leads to their premature wear. In cars that are operated without changing the oil for too long, there is a lot of noise in the variator, breakdowns in the valve body are possible.

Not without reason, a few years ago, the Subaru manufacturer itself began distributing a document among dealers, in which it strongly recommended changing the oil in all Subaru with CVTs, the mileage of which reached 90 thousand km. Thus, the legend about the fluid for the variator, which does not need to be changed at all, was carefully dispelled by the manufacturer itself.

Aging, or degradation, of CVT oil occurs faster, the more aggressive the operating conditions of the vehicle and the higher the temperature inside the CVT. To control the level of degradation, a special counter is provided, which records these indicators in arbitrary units and serves to inform the master about the mode in which the variator was operated.

Under normal conditions, the temperature is kept at 80-90 degrees, in this case, oil degradation in 1 minute is equal to 1 conventional unit, at a temperature of 130 degrees, degradation increases to about 8 units. The data of the device signal when it is time to replace the CVT fluid. Visible degradation of the oil is manifested by a change in color.

CVT is a relatively new design, and there are not so many statistics obtained empirically, but the fact that oil starvation is almost the main enemy of the variator is already clear.

Therefore, if your car starts to stall during heavy braking, you should first of all think about changing the oil. And you should not hesitate, because the repair of the Subaru variator will cost you much more.
The advice of professionals through whose hands a lot of different cars have passed: the frequency of changing the oil in a CVT gearbox in our climate zone should not exceed 60 thousand kilometers, and ideally, you need to change the oil more often.

What oil to pour into the variator

Changing the oil in the CVT is even more critical than in classic Subaru automatic transmissions, because friction occurs in a metal-to-metal pattern. Due to its design, the variator reacts subtly to the quality of the fluid, so the fluid used can be said to be unique: it simultaneously serves to remove heat, lubricate and increase friction between the belt and pulley to prevent slippage.
As you know, Subaru with the first modification of the RTR690 variator began to be produced in 2009, and in 2013 cars with the second-generation TR 580 variator appeared. Initially, Subaru CVT Oil Lineatronic oil (art. K0425Y0710, green color) was recommended.
After K0425Y0710 was discontinued, SUBARU CVT Oil Lineartronic ll oil was poured into CVTs, which is compatible with CVTs of both generations (art. K0425Y0711, blue-green).

Along with Lineartronic, Subaru offers fully synthetic transmission oil Subaru CVT C-30 Oil (art. SOA868V9245, amber color) and Idemitsu CVTF, which is not inferior in quality to Lineartronic ll, and in addition, 2.5 - 3 times cheaper .
For turbocharged versions with TR 690, SUBARU High Torque CVT Fluid (art. K0421Y0700, red color) is considered optimal, which allows it to withstand more torque. The same fluid is applicable for CVTs installed on Subaru with a naturally aspirated engine.

You can also find Subaru i-cvt (K0415YA090) or Subaru i CVT-FG Fluid (K0414Y0710), but keep in mind that it is only suitable for small cars.