Hey folks. Brand new here. I'm going to be replacing the gear oil in my 97 Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon, automatic transmission AWD. Before I buy just any oil I'd enjoy to get your feedback as to the best quality oil I can find. Thanks so much for the feedback!
Gear oil for 97 Subaru Legacy Outback AT AWD
- Thread starter bstone
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Any GL-5 oil will make the front and rear diffs happy.
I have Valvoline Durablend in our 03, and in the previous 96 before it got totaled (scored several bottles on a clearance sale).
I'd say Redline and Amsoil are top performers, but they are costly.
I have Valvoline Durablend in our 03, and in the previous 96 before it got totaled (scored several bottles on a clearance sale).
I'd say Redline and Amsoil are top performers, but they are costly.
I'm currently running 75w90 royal purple, and ran synthetic Pennzoil prior to that. I will be running 75w140 Schaeffer in the near future because I have lots of it on hand.
same here, I used up some stock I had lying around. The subies are pretty stout units, any good gear oil within weight specs is going to be happy. I have Redline 75w140 up front and Royal Purple 75w90 out back, lol got to love purple colored oil....
i had a 97 2.2L 5spd AWD legacy.
90wt syn in the diffs was noticeable over oem in feel and slight mpg gains. no need for a 140, the stock gears are tough and don't need the extra weight oil.
different lubes will affect shifter feel when cold. i had dyson syngear II in the MT and it was notchy cold but buttery warm. that was years ago and I'd think they are more 5spd-friendly now. I'd probably just go with mobil 1 unless you can find amsoil. I'm not an engine oil fan of M1 but have had very good experience with their driveline lubes.
Great car, great driveline, great chassis!
M
90wt syn in the diffs was noticeable over oem in feel and slight mpg gains. no need for a 140, the stock gears are tough and don't need the extra weight oil.
different lubes will affect shifter feel when cold. i had dyson syngear II in the MT and it was notchy cold but buttery warm. that was years ago and I'd think they are more 5spd-friendly now. I'd probably just go with mobil 1 unless you can find amsoil. I'm not an engine oil fan of M1 but have had very good experience with their driveline lubes.
Great car, great driveline, great chassis!
M
I use Mobil 1 75W-90 in my '07 Outback. Also used it in my old '99 Outback. The other brands listed above are good, but the M1 is good stuff, not terribly expensive, and easy to find at local retailers.
You transmission will like Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF.
You transmission will like Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc ATF.
WalMart ST 75w90 works great in Subaru's. Price is right too...
Is the Mobile 1 stuff a superior quality? It's in stock at the Advance around the corner.
Originally Posted By: bstone
Is the Mobile 1 stuff a superior quality? It's in stock at the Advance around the corner.
I just did a full swap of my gfs 97 legacy gt 2.5L maxlife atf and a bottle of lubegard red shifts smoothed out immediately. Highly recommend you try the same!
Is the Mobile 1 stuff a superior quality? It's in stock at the Advance around the corner.
I just did a full swap of my gfs 97 legacy gt 2.5L maxlife atf and a bottle of lubegard red shifts smoothed out immediately. Highly recommend you try the same!
I would think the M1 gear lube would have a slightly beefier additive package based on previous posts on this forum but IDK to be certain. I've used the M1 x-90 on several vehicles from little 4-bangers to full-size trucks and have always been able to feel a difference in noise, vibration, and some sort of "smoothness" (hard to describe) that I never saw with regular oils. I have used valvoline and amsoil as well and like them both, but prefer mobil and amsoil to the valvoline.
It's going to be in there for 50,000 miles or more. I'd personally use name-brand, but anything will work.
M
It's going to be in there for 50,000 miles or more. I'd personally use name-brand, but anything will work.
M
Is there much of a difference between the 75w-90 and 80w-90?
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