Greasy George's Discount Lube

[arcsine]

Just wanted to mention that the 2005s are arriving at the dealers with "factory scum" on the underbody. It's just protectant, but to the untrained wrenchmonkey, it can look like a fluid leak. I had the kids at Valvoline Instant Oil Change say that my front diff was leaking badly, which I took with a grain of salt. None the less, I checked my diff fluid a few times, each time it was at the same level, right between empty and full (with the diff completely cold, it's at full when the fluid's hot). I had some spare time and am about to take a roadtrip, so I dropped by the dealership just to make sure. Sure enough, there's a big splotch of yellowy factory scum right behind the front diff, but the fluid's right where it should be. It didn't come off with a rag even while hot, so it's going to be there for a while. If you end up under your new Leg, don't panic.

[NewSubieLegacy]

I had a very helpful salesman explain it was a coating used to protect the car during shipping. It would eventually burn off. I had another very devious salesman point it out and try to tell me it was an "undercoating" used on every Legacy and Outback and would need several months to "cure".

[SUBE555]

You can use a quick lube (most people won't recommend it), just NEVER use them for a coolant flush and a Subaru. Several places have done the coolant flush without allowing the car adequate time to cool while being flushed with cold tap water. That equates to a much higher possibility to failing head gaskets.

[brady_bunch]

Good tip... and good reminder for folks who do their own maintenance.