So my Subaru has been acting oddly lately. It only happens on the Interstate at 50+ but it just seems like a clutch has slipped. It revs up from the cruising normal tach of 2k toward 3k , then goes back to normal cruising for 1-30 minutes before it happens again. Not knowing much about CVT, and since it has a sealed Ttanny fluid situation, and really not finding much on the web should I panic?
If it’s something new, then maybe yes. First find out how to check the fluid (there is a way it’s not totally sealed) and change it (not flush). Make sure it’s a the proper level. Then Pray.
Also realize that ‘lifetime transmission fluid’ means for the lifetime of the transmission, not the car.
I have a 2010 Outback with the CVT and 160K. I’ve noticed occasionally that it “downshifts” the CVT when I don’t think it needs to. But I’m not sure it’s a sign of the CVT failing, but that the engine is laboring under load of a slight incline, the A/C running, or the heated seats. How many miles on your car?
Another possibility could be a loss of engine power (such as a failing ignition coil/bad spark plugs/ clogged injectors) . With the CVT, if the engine can’t perform as expected, in some models the CVT will compensate for loss of horsepower. Thus a small incline or the a/c kicking on or any other load on the engine could cause the CVT to ‘kick down’ to deliver the power.
So if you have noticed a loss of power, which may seem small, that could be the issue.
And a small loss in power like Kanicbird describes would likely entail an increase in fuel consumption too. If power seems down slightly and so does mileage, they may be correlated.