|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
06-03-2003, 09:32 AM | #1 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 13910
Join Date: Jan 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Greenwich, CT
Vehicle:2005 Legacy GT blue |
Front Diff Oil in MY98 Forester?
It's a AT I looked in the manual and I could not find it.. same goes for the AT dipstick..both must be way down in the engine..
Also I don't know if this is good or bad.. But the rear DIff. The Fill hole nut is turning rusty I don't think anyone here has had a problem with not getting theirs to open up.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
06-03-2003, 11:19 AM | #2 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 6578
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Amherst, NY, USA
Vehicle:1998 Forester L Black |
the front diffy drain plug is located behind the AT oil pan, and slightly above. Its recessed above where the exhaust pipes comes together to form a V.
The fill hole is located on the left side of the engine, very close to the firewall, you have to reach down toward the transmission to find it. the ATF fill hole is on the right side about the same position as the diffy fill hole. you might want to break the rear diffy fill nut loose and clean out the rust. if nothing else as just a preventative measure. |
06-03-2003, 12:32 PM | #3 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 13910
Join Date: Jan 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Greenwich, CT
Vehicle:2005 Legacy GT blue |
The Socket looks like a 1/2 plug.. I think i'm right
Oh And is this good or not.. all the tires were filled up to 31 psi of air.. I went over the manual and it said something like a light load I think it was something like front tires 29 psi.. I forgot the rest but I wonder if it's ok to run more then what it said.. One thing I was confused about was power steering fluid.. The manual said to Fill it with Auto tranny fluid? Is that correct?!?!? |
06-05-2003, 04:13 PM | #4 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 13910
Join Date: Jan 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Greenwich, CT
Vehicle:2005 Legacy GT blue |
I finally found the front diff dip stick... It seems to be overfilled? It's way pass the Full mark.. Like halfway up the stick.. I have to get to the rear one.
|
06-05-2003, 05:00 PM | #5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 1895
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Bay Area, CA
Vehicle:05 Leg GT Ltd. W Silver |
You'll need a loooong breaker bar to bust open that drain plug. The differential drain plugs are notoriously over torqued. I gave up on mine after beating on my socket wrench with a hammer.
Yes, it's not a problem to run tire pressures above what the door jamb indicates as long as it's below the max pressure on the tire sidewalls. In fact, you'll get better handling and fuel economy with higher pressures. I run 34/32 on a light load. Ken |
06-06-2003, 12:30 AM | #6 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 24353
Join Date: Sep 2002
Vehicle:2001 Forester Silver |
The front diff is hard to get to, you'll need a funnel with a really long funnel to fill it, so don't drain too much. I usually use a long piece of wire to snag the hole on the dipstick, makes it a litte easier to pull it out, especially when the engine is hot. And yes, you use ATF for the power steering.
If you have trouble with the rear diff nut, try putting a breaker bar on it and use the jack to jack up the handle. A long breaker bar might not give you enough room when you're under the car. And i run 34 all the way around. A little bit better handling, and supposedly better milage. At 29psi, the car feels a little sluggish when i let off the gas. |
06-06-2003, 11:00 AM | #7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 6578
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Amherst, NY, USA
Vehicle:1998 Forester L Black |
yep 1/2 inch plug for the rear, like the others said, use break bar. It's a PITA to loosen even after you have drained and filled it a couple of times like I have. the plug seem to get tighter between drain cycles.
when you checked the fluid level of the front diffy has the fluid been given time to settle after driving? I usually don't check the fluid level for at least 5 minutes after I park. If the front diffy is overfilled, you should notice leakage around the seals. Mike |
06-10-2003, 05:50 PM | #8 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 13910
Join Date: Jan 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Greenwich, CT
Vehicle:2005 Legacy GT blue |
Can someone tell me what they mean by light load? Does it mean with no one in the car with a full tank of gas? Or just the driver? and a full tank??
Anyways I put all tires to 33psi.. |
06-11-2003, 10:45 AM | #9 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 6578
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Amherst, NY, USA
Vehicle:1998 Forester L Black |
my version
of light load is with two adults, and reasonable luggage for weekend trip, day to day driving, hauling some people around with no luggage, etc.
Heavy load: four people with luggage (w/wo using the roof rack) hauling enough landscaping material (top soil, fild stone, patio stones, etc) to re-do a small back yard/patio. weekend camping trip with all the "necessities" (as my girl friend would call them). FWIW My general rule of thumb is this: anytime you got stuff weighing more than 3.5 average adults (~150 each) in the car, its a heavy load. Mike |
06-11-2003, 12:58 PM | #10 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 20325
Join Date: Jun 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Vehicle:08 Yamaha WR250R 07 Suzuki DL650 |
Quote:
Hey, just so I know, what are the recommended diff and ATF fluids? (No, I don't have an owner's manual...) BTW, I settled on 42lbs front and back for my tires. 2lbs less than the sidewall max. |
|
06-11-2003, 06:10 PM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 13910
Join Date: Jan 2002
Chapter/Region:
NESIC
Location: Greenwich, CT
Vehicle:2005 Legacy GT blue |
About the front diffy being overfilled.. Someone here asked if the seals were leaking.. So I went under the car last night.. And yes I saw diff fluid coming from the sides of the diff's I dunno if thats a good or bad thing.. I went to check the Fluid level and it's about half way up the checking stick..
I was only able to check the Left font seal.. I could not find the right front Right now it's bugging the mess out of me and will until the car is at the correct level.. As for changing the fluid.. What type/brand is best? Remember it's a 4EAT Forester.. I think I heard sometime back they have a fluid that has locking modifers and one without.. Which is best? |
06-12-2003, 11:30 AM | #12 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 6578
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Amherst, NY, USA
Vehicle:1998 Forester L Black |
plug and fluids
the 1/2" is not the mesurement for the socket. Its the size of the rachet you have to use. The rear diff drain and fill plugs have 1/2" square holes in them, so you will need a 1/2" rachet (not socket).
If there are alot of fluids comming from the seals the diffy is probably overfilled. Drain it and refill it with 1.8 quarts of diffy oil. that's what the manual calls for. Sometime (depending on how bad the seal have been damaged) the drain and refill will solve the problem. Also when you drain the diffy fluid take a look at the back side of the drain plug, if there are metal flakes attached to the back side (its magnetic) thats a sign of wear of the diffy parts. As for fluids, I personally use Mobil 1 diffy oil, I got a 4EAT as well. But Valvoline Synpower and redline are also good ones. Recommended ATF is anything that meets Dexron II standards. Factory Diffy fluid is 80W, I have been running 75W without any problems. Mike |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Front diff oil??? | lotarg | Service & Maintenance | 4 | 08-21-2009 03:29 PM |
Just replaced my front diff oil and now getting a grind in first | kbcr3 | Service & Maintenance | 9 | 06-18-2009 03:29 AM |
changing front/real diff oil in 02 wrx | DOUBLE U ARE X | Transmission (AT/MT) & Driveline | 4 | 12-17-2004 04:21 PM |
4EAT What Front Diff Oil? | slack20123 | Transmission (AT/MT) & Driveline | 7 | 06-28-2004 09:34 PM |
Changing MT oil, and Rear Diff. Oil in a MY00 RS?? | joostin420 | Technical Forum Archive | 2 | 10-06-2000 08:46 PM |