Transmission Fluid Complication

Hello Subaru Driver

replace your transmission fluid

Thank you for choosing to have your Subaru serviced at SubieSmith. We will always do our best to keep you informed. In that spirit, you have been directed to this page to provide you with information so you are fully aware of the potential complications that can arise after having your transmission fluid changed.

Please read below and acknowledge that you have completely read and fully understand the risks by signing the form at the bottom of the page.

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Why is having my transmission fluid changed important?

Transmissions are complex machines that have many moving parts. They handle very high torque forces and this generates lots of heat. This means that these systems are prone to failure if not properly maintained. Transmission fluid is vital to keeping these moving parts lubricated and to transfer the heat generated out of the system.

As the miles rack up, the fluid slowly loses its ability to do its job well. This increases the wear and tear on your transmission. So it’s important to have the fluid changed on a regular interval as directed by Subaru.

What can go wrong after this service?

When a transmission gets its fluid changed, it can be a drastic change for the machine. Transmission fluid is full of cleaners and detergents that will wash away gunk and sludge buildup that accumulate over time. This loose sludge can get stuck in other places that cause function issues. Problems lingering below the surface can become apparent after a transmission fluid change. These issues can include everything from minor performance issues to complete transmission failure. The longer that your transmission went without a fluid change, the greater the odds of problems after the fluid change is done.

We will always use a Subaru-compatible fluid when replacing your transmission fluid. And we do not use pressurized fluid transfer systems. But in spite of these best practices, pre-existing issues in the transmission prior to service can still cause problems. And it’s functionally impossible to identify these potential problems ahead of time.

While there are risks associated with flushing your transmission fluid, the risks are much greater by not changing the fluid and pushing the old fluid until the transmission inevitably fails.

CVT Owners - Normal vs Severe Driving Conditions

CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission) is the newest generation of automatic transmission. These went into Subaru’s beginning in the 2010 model year and were fully implemented a handful of years later. When these transmissions were first released, Subaru told us that the fluid never needs to be replaced under “Normal Driving Conditions.” Unless you were already inside the transmission for a repair, you don’t need to change the fluid. Which sounded good, but too good.

As it turns out, under this recommendation to not change the transmission fluid, these transmissions were failing at a very high rate as these vehicles reached the 100,000-mile range. A major contributor to this is the fact that most Americans, especially those who live here in Colorado, don’t qualify for the “Normal Driving Conditions.” They drive under “Severe Driving Conditions.”

Here’s a list of qualifiers for Severe Driving Conditions:

Repeated short-distance driving.
Driving on rough and/or muddy roads.
Driving in dusty conditions.
Driving in extremely cold weather.
Driving in areas where road salts or other corrosive materials are used.
Living in coastal areas.
Repeated trailer towing.
Driving in stop-and-go traffic.
Driving in the mountains.

If a vehicle qualifies for any of the above Severe conditions, they recommend changing the fluid every 25,000 miles. This resulted in many of the vehicles that should have had 3 fluid changes by 100,000 having not had any. Greatly increasing the chances of failure. This is often the case when we are asked to do a transmission fluid replacement. And the risks are high.

Acknowledgment of Risk

Once you have read and understand the above information, please enter your name and vehicle info in the spaces below. This will notify our team that you have received the above information. And that you understand the risks and that you agree to not hold SubieSmith liable. If you have any questions, please contact us by phone, email or use our web form.