Where to buy Subaru ATF-HP ?

[delta]

Hey mates,

 

Long story short, after I had smoke coming out of the hood of my Outback 2 times, I discovered that there's too much ATF in the transmission.

 

Since I need to replace some of the fluid to get it at the right level I am looking for Subaru ATF-HP which is the recommended fluid for my 5EAT.

I plan to use this method : http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/99-do-yourself-illustrated-guides/5843-changing-automatic-transmission-fluid-easy.html

 

Subaru at Greenlane told me it's 25 bucks excl GST per liter ! Seems that it's only something like 8 USD in the USA...

 

It doesn't seem to be easy to find one that meets the requirements for Subaru ATF-HP.

 

So I'm wondering, where do you guys get your transmission fluid from ?

[Guest]

Total fluidmatic MV should do the trick. Hurts to promote a competitors product but Ive only got 20l available. Would think most oil companies would offer something tho. Or Castrol transmax multivehicle.

 

Valvolines easy to buy anywhere:

 

http://www.valvoline.com/our-products/automatic-transmission-products/import-multi-vehicle-automatic-transmission-fluid

[delta]

Thanks for your input evowrx.

 

Among the one you listed, only Valvoline seems to be suitable where Subaru ATF-HP is needed (the others just list Subaru ATF).

 

The thing is I'm really maniac when it comes to the service of my cars and a guy received this email from Subaru :

(from http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f89/atf-hp-vs-dexron-iii-2354/index2.html#post57756)

Quote

First, Subaru does not use or recommend use of synthetic fluids in any of our vehicles. HP is a different grade of automatic transmission fluid than Dexron III, but both are conventional. Use of conventional or synthetic is up to the owner but Subaru always uses conventional.

HP has different frictional properties than Dexron III. Previously, Dexron was required for 4-speed automatics and HP for 5-speed automatics. Our engineers found that the properties of HP worked better with the clutch materials in the 5-speeds. For 2006, HP is required for all transmissions.

 

I do believe that synthetic are good fluids but I'm not sure it's a good idea to mix the Valvoline (fully synthetic) with the Subaru ATF-HP (conventional) currently in my car ?

What do you think ?

[Guest]

All the ones I listed are compatible with the legacy 06-09ish auto trans. Pretty much all MV fluids are synthetic as you need a single fluid to cater for a lot of vehicles in a workshop situation. 

 

Not sure why they would prescribe conventional fluids only I cant see any reason not to use Synthetic in this particular application.

 

 

[delta]

What I meant is that Valvoline explicitly lists Subaru ATF-HP :

http://content.valvoline.com/pdf/multi_vehicle_atf.pdf

 

But Total or Castrol only list Subaru ATF (which is not the same) :

http://www4.total.fr/asia-oceania/malaysia/ProductData/B2C/Gear & Transmission Oil/Fluidmatic MV/TDS TOTAL FLUIDMATIC MV_1208-product spec.pdf

http://www.castrol.com/en_au/australia/products/cars/automatic-transmission-fluids/transmax-multivehicle.html

 

For the conventional fluids, I can't see any reason not to use synthetic either. The only thing I'm worried about is running with a mix of both (conventional and synthetic).

 

I'll try to find more info on forums like Bob is the oil guy (very good source of information for the maniacs like me) and I might go for the Valvoline.

[Guest]

Yep got that but sometimes specs arent precise its a messy business. I dont have a lot faith in bob or any other self professed internet expert. I manage a brand and the amount of misinformation is rife. Everything is perception not about how fair dinkum the product actually is. Smoke and mirrors is a common term in my circles.

 

Oh and i wouldnt recommend mixing. You will need a shop to use their atf machine to pump the fluid thro or half the fluid will be stuck in the torque converter.

[delta]

I trust you when you say that specs are a messy business.

But if everybody says that a fluid is good to go (including bob, the owners and the manufacturer) there's less risk of going wrong, right ?

 

The fluid still looks OK so I was thinking that replacing half of it was better than nothing. But I might end up replacing all the fluid just to be sure of which fluid is in it, I'm not even 100% sure that it is currently ATF-HP in it.

 

Thx again for your help mate !

[Guest]

Its often ok to top up with another atf fluid providing its compatible. My personal definition of tou is 5% or less.