orndog Posted November 7, 2015 Share Posted November 7, 2015 Posted a thread a while ago but didn't get any responses. Under heavy acceleration (around 4k), if I just keep the gas constant, there seems to be a pulsing/surging noise. The car itself doesn't pulse or surge in acceleration but the sound is pretty obvious. Anyone else get this? I haven't noticed anything like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbao26975 Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 I haven't noticed anything like that. I'll see if I can get a video of this happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffmazz Posted November 10, 2015 Author Share Posted November 10, 2015 Posted a thread a while ago but didn't get any responses. Under heavy acceleration (around 4k), if I just keep the gas constant, there seems to be a pulsing/surging noise. The car itself doesn't pulse or surge in acceleration but the sound is pretty obvious. Anyone else get this? My 2013 does exactly the same thing. I can hear it but I can't feel anything. I think it is differing harmonics between the engine and the CVT. I just had a new CVT installed and nothing has changed. I'm not worried about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbao26975 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 My 2013 does exactly the same thing. I can hear it but I can't feel anything. I think it is differing harmonics between the engine and the CVT. I just had a new CVT installed and nothing has changed. I'm not worried about it. Dealer says it's normal CVT behavior. *shrug* guess I'll live with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omegalpha117 Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 All, Please see attached CVT Oil Samples. One is clean oil, the other is the used oil with 54,000 miles (first time inspecting it) I can call the lab to discuss with them, but I wanted to post here first. Is there anyone here that fully understands the details of this report, and could give some feedback? Other than higher ppm of Fe, Si and visible iron debris under microscope, the V100 viscosity isn't far from the clean oil sample. I am not sure what the "CVT oil spec" is for V100, as I wasn't able to find a spec sheet on the oil online. While I don't think the used oil is terrible or concerning, I think I may still change it now at 54,000 miles. Especially for about $200-250 at the dealer. Does anyone see any downside to me changing the oil now? thoughts/comments/opinions? I would really love to get input on the technical details of the 2 samples please. thanks Tristan I just had the CVT oil service performed on my '10 outback 2.5 @121,495 miles. I have a sample of the fluid that came out of my car if anyone wants to see the test results tell me where to send it. To my knowledge this is the first time the service has been performed. I have had no issues with the transmission or car thus far. I met a lady with a similar car with 297k miles with original CVT that has been serviced every 60k, so it's possible to make it to high miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orndog Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I just had the CVT oil service performed on my '10 outback 2.5 @121,495 miles. I have a sample of the fluid that came out of my car if anyone wants to see the test results tell me where to send it. To my knowledge this is the first time the service has been performed. I have had no issues with the transmission or car thus far. I met a lady with a similar car with 297k miles with original CVT that has been serviced every 60k, so it's possible to make it to high miles. Just post them here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braskus Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 The mechanic said 10-12 the cvt was better built and has had no problems. I have a 2011 Outback. My CVT went out at 80,000 miles. Cost us $8,000 to get a refurbished transmission. They were even on back order because this is actually becoming a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbone Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Alternatively, it's possible they were on back-order because not many are being produced inside the dealer network due to low demand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhoran89 Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 I just had the CVT oil service performed on my '10 outback 2.5 @121,495 miles. I have a sample of the fluid that came out of my car if anyone wants to see the test results tell me where to send it. To my knowledge this is the first time the service has been performed. I have had no issues with the transmission or car thus far. I met a lady with a similar car with 297k miles with original CVT that has been serviced every 60k, so it's possible to make it to high miles. Send it over to blackstone labs. Let them know subaru, legacy, 2.5L n/a, 2012, 121,495mi , it's a CVT, first time changing fluid. That's where a number of us have sent our fluid to and if you do the same it will help us all compare and get more data (from the same place w/ the same testing procedures). It's like $20 and under $5 to ship it, I just recommend doing priority or it will take forever. And don't forget to keep some of the sample at home in case USPS looses it. Then give blackstone labs a call in 7-10 days and check to make sure they got it. They are really good and will e-mail you the results with an explanation, and if you call they are always there to explain whatever else you can't understand on their sheet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbone Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Blackstone Labs will even send you a free kit in the mail for you to put the fluid in. It's basically two plastic containers and some bags, plus labels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orndog Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Latest (Oct-2015) Reprogramming CD and PAK DB is out from SoA. Nothing new for 2010-2014s, some CAMERA and BIU updates for 2015/2016 cars. All details here (previous PDFs pulled off the site): http://techinfo.subaru.com/proxy/111...acklisting.pdf Again, thank you for all of your help in this thread. I really want the updates installed as I have weird issues in my '13 Legacy but the two dealers near me, for whatever reason, will only update if my symptoms trip their bulletin. I looked through the list but don't really see any that apply to the 2013 with a symptom I can "use". Does anybody have something I can say? Again, it's a shot in the dark that the updates will work. My real main complaints are: Every now and then when I am pulling out onto a cross street or turning across traffic from a turn lane, I will give it a generous prod of the gas pedal and nothing will happen. The car will just creep through the intersection at low rpms like it is bogging. This is quite dangerous but I can't reproduce it on demand. I have tried the theory of a lingering foot on the brake pedal but that is not it. In the cold it gets terrible gas mileage. An example would be my last 2 trips to TN and back. For Thanksgiving it was cold out and I got 25mpg. For Christmas it was warm and I got 29 to 31 on the two tanks. Same gas stations, all would be winter gas, drove the same speeds in the same conditions except it was in the 60s and 70s for Christmas. Also in the cold at steady cruising it keeps slightly highers rpms and accelerates more slowly around town. Coasting down hill I always have to hit the paddle upshift or just stick it in manual mode. It gears down for any incline actually slowing the vehicle. If I am not actively accelerating down the hill it will gear down considerably. Any ideas? Anybody? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orndog Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 As an update, I pulled the 'sometimes takes longer to crank' off the list and got an ECM update, I found nothing that would get me a TCM update. All of my other complaints were individually researched at an expense to me of 3 hours of my life with no results Of course my main complaint is not reproducible on demand (rare and random lag when pulling out into a left or right turn). After 2 days I can safely say I notice zero difference in the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Almatti Posted January 2, 2016 Share Posted January 2, 2016 After 5 years of purchasing our 2010 Legacy Premium, now with 109K miles on the Clock, no issues with the CVT. The car has been regularly serviced, I changed the CVT fluid 2X. The first time at 40K was Dealer Prompted where I did not research in advance = probably unnecessary at that time. Overall as a Consumer review of the car (the first makeover year of the New generation Legacy), there were a bunch of gremlins. Frequent headlight bulbs replaced, faulty wiring harness in the driver side headlight harness (according to a local dealer); faulty audio stering wheel switch, never a truly wheel balance [always a slight shimmy that would vary at different speeds - Yes I had 2 dealers check into the Famous TSB about this]; one time a steering wheel Locked out & couldn't start the car or turn the wheel [all the dashboard lights flashing which related to the CEL, weird]; and somewhat troubling - there is "rumble" type sound that comes from the suspension that has been checked out 3X - according to the dealers: Normal, nothing could be found wrong, sound is normal. Gives me Pause to consider a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amusa Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I have 60k on my 2013 Legacy. I just talk to my local Subaru dealership. They service front and rear differential and they do not flush or change the fluid in the transmission since it's CVT. Is this correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gforce13 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I have 60k on my 2013 Legacy. I just talk to my local Subaru dealership. They service front and rear differential and they do not flush or change the fluid in the transmission since it's CVT. Is this correct? Correct. The CVT is examined to ensure that there are no leaks and if none are found then you are good to go. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amusa Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Correct. The CVT is examined to ensure that there are no leaks and if none are found then you are good to go. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk What about old fluid turning into sludge inside the gearing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gforce13 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 The CVT is much easier on fluid than most automatic and manual gearboxes. In previous posts in this thread you can see that one member contacted sellers with high mileage CVTs many of whom had no problems in 200,000+ miles and never had changed the CVT fluid. Some elect to change the fluid anyway but there is no concrete evidence that this is necessary unless you tow or are experiencing problems with your CVT. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amusa Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 The CVT is much easier on fluid than most automatic and manual gearboxes. In previous posts in this thread you can see that one member contacted sellers with high mileage CVTs many of whom had no problems in 200,000+ miles and never had changed the CVT fluid. Some elect to change the fluid anyway but there is no concrete evidence that this is necessary unless you tow or are experiencing problems with your CVT. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Hard for me to believe that the fluid don't need to be change. I'm still new to the whole AWD/CVT thing. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgoodhue Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 The CVT is much easier on fluid than most automatic and manual gearboxes. In previous posts in this thread you can see that one member contacted sellers with high mileage CVTs many of whom had no problems in 200,000+ miles and never had changed the CVT fluid. Some elect to change the fluid anyway but there is no concrete evidence that this is necessary unless you tow or are experiencing problems with your CVT. I would rather be safe than sorry when it comes maintenance. A couple oil changes is cheaper insurance than a new CVT. My wife last Toyota didn't a auto transmission fluid change interval. [it said to check the fluid past 100k.] I changed it at 60k miles anyways from my previous experience. A bunch owners were sorry to find out that they transmission filter would clogged somewhere around 120-150k miles. Subaru maintenance has a check fluid in transmission/different every 30k miles even for the 6MT. Historically differentials needed to have their oil changed, so I change them. I have had cars in the past that the rear end was ruined (noisy) from the prior owners never changing the oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gforce13 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Hard for me to believe that the fluid don't need to be change. I'm still new to the whole AWD/CVT thing. Thanks Understandable. If you read through this whole thread you will see that many of the problems associated with the CVT have to do with a bad bearing design in the 10-12 model years and was correct for the model years following. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orndog Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Part of the 30k and 60k service is a visual examination of the CVT fluid as well, they don't base it just on looking for leaks. That said, I will have mine changed at an independent specialist shop at 60k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXLegacy Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I have 60k on my 2013 Legacy. I just talk to my local Subaru dealership. They service front and rear differential and they do not flush or change the fluid in the transmission since it's CVT. Is this correct? I was lucky enough to get my CVT fluid changed due to the fact that the Valve Body had a solenoid failure. The fluid change plus the valve body replacement ran me $1800. Still paying that POS off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raguilera510 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 I just hit 90 k and I honestly don't trust the whole "lifetime" fluid thing. I did a drain and fill on mine, that fluid was DIRTY. It helped a little on the lag and the kind of bogging feel the tranny has been giving me, but it still does it and is now seeming to get worse. I LOVE the car, but I cannot lie it's scary. I don't have the 4-7k to replace the CVT in this dang thing if something happens. The only thing I can notice is the bogging feeling, it's kind of like the feeling when you drive a manual and you let the clutch out early without enough gas. That sort of bounce . It's mainly at slower speeds like in traffic. My fingers are crossed. I read that the earlier generations of theCVT have an issue with one of the valves inside the CVT sticking and causing the exact issue I am having, but it's not a recall -_- #Irritating. They are aware of the issue, but are not going to fix the ones that are experiencing the problem? grrrr/ lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raguilera510 Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 I was lucky enough to get my CVT fluid changed due to the fact that the Valve Body had a solenoid failure. The fluid change plus the valve body replacement ran me $1800. Still paying that POS off. So they did the valve solenoid and the fluid switch for 1800? I guess that beats the entire tranny. I don't understand why it's just a TSB and not a recall though. They are aware of the situation and the faulty valve so.... wtffff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talespin Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 My 2010 Limited has 72,000 miles, no problems so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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