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Low manual transmission fluid

2611 Views 8 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  cbidwell91
Hello everyone. My first thread with my 2020 manual Impreza sport hatch with 26k miles.

Straight up question, was anyone’s manual transmission fluid low when you checked the dipstick for the first time?

I finally found the dipstick for the transmission and when I checked, it was right on the “L” line. Just curious if anyone else had that experience.

Also, I’m actually the second owner to this Impreza from 11k miles, in case if anyone is thinking. I do not know if the previous owner did any work on the transmission. I am hoping not, as I have never ever had any issues with my transmission since I owned it.

lmk—
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Check underneath for leaks... if not, you are good.

The xMission does not really 'care' as long as the level is in the good zone. It would not hurt to drain and refill using ONLY the SUBARU-branded fluid. (Subaru Extra-S 75w90)
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Check underneath for leaks... if not, you are good.

The xMission does not really 'care' as long as the level is in the good zone. It would not hurt to drain and refill using ONLY the SUBARU-branded fluid. (Subaru Extra-S 75w90)
Extra-S 75W-90 is not the recommended Subaru fluid for this transmission. This debate was around the STI 6MT due to the LSD. You can use it if you'd like, as it is still a GL-5. Extra-S is technically called "High Performance 75W-90" now.

17+ Impreza 5MT takes Subaru Extra-MT (75W-80). You can use a 75W-90 if you get gear whine or can't get your hands on the 75W-80 viscosity. Any full synthetic GL-5 that meets the 75W-80 or 75W-90 viscosities will work fine.

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You can always top off the transmission if you'd like. If you'reat 30k miles or above then its due for a fluid change anyway.
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Hello everyone. My first thread with my 2020 manual Impreza sport hatch with 26k miles.

Straight up question, was anyone’s manual transmission fluid low when you checked the dipstick for the first time?

I finally found the dipstick for the transmission and when I checked, it was right on the “L” line. Just curious if anyone else had that experience.

Also, I’m actually the second owner to this Impreza from 11k miles, in case if anyone is thinking. I do not know if the previous owner did any work on the transmission. I am hoping not, as I have never ever had any issues with my transmission since I owned it.

lmk—
Here’s the thread on front diff/5MT fluids and alternatives.

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I had this experience with my 2018. Bought it, didn’t shift so well. Checked fluid, and it wasn’t even on the stick. This was at around 18-20k on the odometer. Couldn’t find any leaks, bolts were factory torqued and didn’t look like they had ever been removed.

I drained and changed the fluid and did the rear diff while I was at it. Replaced the fluid with motul 300 75w90 for both transmission and rear diff.
This helped immensely.

Now I have a 2022 mt base model, and I have been checking the transmission fluid regularly because of my past experience. I checked it today, and it’s gone down. After only 3,000 miles. It also seemed to have fine discoloration in the fluid. I assume metal from the gears working themselves together.

I plan on swapping the fluid out as I did with my last one once the fluid gets to about the halfway mark.

also, if you do your fluid yourself, you need a t70 torx bit to drain the transmission.
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Hello everyone. My first thread with my 2020 manual Impreza sport hatch with 26k miles.

Straight up question, was anyone’s manual transmission fluid low when you checked the dipstick for the first time?

I finally found the dipstick for the transmission and when I checked, it was right on the “L” line. Just curious if anyone else had that experience.

Also, I’m actually the second owner to this Impreza from 11k miles, in case if anyone is thinking. I do not know if the previous owner did any work on the transmission. I am hoping not, as I have never ever had any issues with my transmission since I owned it.

lmk—
Best time to check this ? Early morning / cold or after a short warmer drive ? Thank you :)
You know, this has to be the ONLY car I've ever heard of that had a dipstick for the manual, but none for the automatic...
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I think it's because the fluid does both the front differential and the gearbox. It's nice that it has one though.



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In my years of servicing vehicles, I've found variation in many dip sticks across multiple manufactures. On the manufacturing side, the manual transmission is filled by weight. We actually don't add the fluids in any of the transmission at SIA, as they are all pre-filled in Japan when they build the CVT/Manual and then shipped to us for installation. Is there a chance it's a little low? Sure. But you have some on the dipstick and the low mark is still within specification. Check for leaks (ie: sealer, drain plug, propeller shaft seal, etc), top it off and keep cruising until your 30k replacement time.
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