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Old 10-14-2020, 04:17 PM   #1
cerealkeller
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Default 2013 Impreza CVT Front Diff Fluid Change?

I have a 2013 Impreza Limited (non-turbo) I’m not quite sure how things work on this car? Is the front diff fluid separate from the CVT? Does this car have a transfer case? I’ve never done that fluid since I bought it. I need to know if the front diff and transfer case are separate from the CVT and if not, where are the drain and fill holes. Pics would be amazing. I’m getting the CVT fluid swapped, and I want to get all the other fluids up to date. Who knows what’s been done on this car?
I can say that the CVT does sound a bit odd when it’s really cold out between 2000-2500 RPMs, has anyone ever heard of this? Like it hesitates. It’s fine in the warm weather or when shifting manually.
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Old 10-14-2020, 10:17 PM   #2
IHaveAHorse
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It's separate from the CVT fluid, it's the same fluid only on manuals. I don't think there's a separate transfer case that you have to service.

I can't find anything about actually changing the front differential fluid in my service manual but I'm pretty sure it's almost the same as the rear differential, just with a different socket/bit you have to use to open the fill and possibly drain plugs. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure the method to change it is the same as the rear too, drain everything out of the drain hole, screw the plug back in, and then fill it until oil starts to drip out of the fill hole?
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Old 10-15-2020, 11:11 AM   #3
cerealkeller
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Default 2013 Impreza CVT Front Diff Fluid Change?

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Originally Posted by IHaveAHorse View Post
It's separate from the CVT fluid, it's the same fluid only on manuals. I don't think there's a separate transfer case that you have to service.

I can't find anything about actually changing the front differential fluid in my service manual but I'm pretty sure it's almost the same as the rear differential, just with a different socket/bit you have to use to open the fill and possibly drain plugs. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure the method to change it is the same as the rear too, drain everything out of the drain hole, screw the plug back in, and then fill it until oil starts to drip out of the fill hole?

Thanks. Any more information is more than welcome.
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Old 10-15-2020, 12:18 PM   #4
DieselDorf
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Pretty sure that is correct, MR Subaru might have a YouTube video about how to find the plugs.
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Old 10-19-2020, 02:23 PM   #5
RSTrider
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The front differential has 3 ports: The fill port (on the right side, above the drive shaft), the drain port (the large Torx plug on the bottom), and an overflow port (left of the drain port). Remove fill plug, then remove drain plug and drain the fluid. After you drain the fluid and reinstall the drain plug, remove the plug from the overflow port and add fluid through the fill port until fluid flows out the overflow port. Then reinstall all plugs. If you fill until fluid flows out the fill port, I believe it will be too full. The overflow port has a tube inside that extends up to the intended fluid level.
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Old 10-20-2020, 02:14 PM   #6
cerealkeller
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Default 2013 Impreza CVT Front Diff Fluid Change?

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Originally Posted by RSTrider View Post
The front differential has 3 ports: The fill port (on the right side, above the drive shaft), the drain port (the large Torx plug on the bottom), and an overflow port (left of the drain port). Remove fill plug, then remove drain plug and drain the fluid. After you drain the fluid and reinstall the drain plug, remove the plug from the overflow port and add fluid through the fill port until fluid flows out the overflow port. Then reinstall all plugs. If you fill until fluid flows out the fill port, I believe it will be too full. The overflow port has a tube inside that extends up to the intended fluid level.

I did see what you described in a video about another Subie with a CVT and a 2.5L, it was an Outback or a Forrester, not sure. I asked if anyone knew if the procedure was the same for mine, but haven’t heard back yet.
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Old 10-20-2020, 05:01 PM   #7
RSTrider
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Mine also is a 2013 Impreza Sedan (non-turbo) with the CVT. That is the correct procedure for this model.
By the way, be careful tightening the plugs, especially the overflow plug. For a while I used an accurate torque wrench, but I still managed to strip the threads on that port. I think that since the plug gets so oily, especially the head, it affects the torque too much. Anyway, I was able to repair it with a spark plug thread repair tool, but it was a pain. I now tighten that plug by feel. I still torque the drain plug to spec.
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Old 10-23-2020, 11:26 AM   #8
cerealkeller
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RSTrider View Post
Mine also is a 2013 Impreza Sedan (non-turbo) with the CVT. That is the correct procedure for this model.
By the way, be careful tightening the plugs, especially the overflow plug. For a while I used an accurate torque wrench, but I still managed to strip the threads on that port. I think that since the plug gets so oily, especially the head, it affects the torque too much. Anyway, I was able to repair it with a spark plug thread repair tool, but it was a pain. I now tighten that plug by feel. I still torque the drain plug to spec.

Awesome, thanks.
And just to let people know, I have 105K miles on my car. I bought it at 60K. When I first got the car, the CVT was so smooth I wasn’t sure what the heck was going on. I remember thinking, why isn’t this thing shifting? I’d never experienced a CVT before. And probably around the 85K mile mark the CVT started to get noticeably jerky, gradually getting worse as time went on.

So got the CVT fluid flushed a couple days ago, wow, the difference. It’s smooth again, and has more power!

This lifetime service is BS. I’d recommend getting it flushed/swapped around the 75K mile mark at the latest. Wish I had done it sooner. It’s not cheap, around $200 is what I paid for it. Apparently the fluid is pretty expensive.
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Old 10-23-2020, 11:56 AM   #9
IHaveAHorse
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$200 for a flush is incredibly cheap considering how much they charge for the CVT fluid last time I checked. It usually costs $300-500 for that job.
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Old 10-25-2020, 01:30 AM   #10
cerealkeller
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IHaveAHorse View Post
$200 for a flush is incredibly cheap considering how much they charge for the CVT fluid last time I checked. It usually costs $300-500 for that job.

He used Subaru CVT fluid, or whatever fluid Subaru recommends I guess, I made sure that was clear before I dropped it off. glad it didn’t cost $500, that would have been a shocker. I live in a small town, can’t control the fluids price, but getting work done here is relatively cheap by hourly rate. They were gonna charge me $50 to install rear rotors and pads if that helps, I’m gonna do it myself though.
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Old 10-25-2020, 06:46 PM   #11
IHaveAHorse
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$50 in labor for that wouldn't be too bad compared to a lot of places, I assume you didn't mean $50 for the parts and labor because that would be even more crazy cheap in my experience. You must have a really good dealer.
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