The manual that I got with my new 'roo states to use only Subaru HP transmission fluid. So I head over to the dealer and ask for 5 quarts. What I get is 5 quarts which state “Professional use” on each bottle. I am not a professional in respects to car maintenance yet the owners manual lists this as regular maintenance. What and I to do:confused:
Ignore the label. Subaru would love for you to pay the dealer for everything. If you have the tools, the time, and the knowledge, go for it. Please dispose of the old fluid in an enviromentally friendly manner. It can be treated just like used motro oil.
By putting the word Professional on the bottle they can also charge more for it. Why would you use ‘regular grade’ when you could pay extra and use 'professional grade, whatever that means?
What’s the year, model, and engine size?
My wife’s hair dresser (barber) sells “Professional” hair care products. It’s supposed to mean it’s the same as what she uses in the shop. Or as good as. Or that they can sell it in the shop at a huge markup.
Transmission fluid is normally just a light oil. Like hair oil. If you’re curious, have a look on the internet for the “material safety data sheet” for your product. Hair oil is damaging if you pour it into your lungs: otherwise, not so much.
Also, act professionally when you change the fluid: clean the area, don’t let dirt get in.
With out seeing the bottles, it could also mean they were not labeled for resale and were for service use only?
Determine the year, make and model of your vehicle, and it’s type of transmission (e.g. CVT?)
Obtain a product information/specification sheet for the fluid the manufacturer tells you to use.
Check other fluid manufacturers to see if they offer identical fluid.
Most fluid manufacturers will list which transmissions can use their fluid. This may be via a guided search function, or simply on the product information/specification sheet.
Do not use a fluid unless it is recommended by the fluid manufacturer for your specific transmission and it’s product information/specification sheet matches that of the fluid that the vehicle manufacturer recommends.
If your vehicle is under warrantee, determine what actions would void your warrantee.
Ah, well you’re a professional now by virtue of buying that stuff. Just don’t forget to send in your professional dues. (I’ll notify you of the address and name by pm ;))
Why are you planning on changing the fluid if it’s a new vehicle?
I actually make motor oils, automatic transmission fluids, and other oil additives. We have separate specifications for “market general” products and for customer-specific products – and the latter may be customer-branded products or products for the customer’s internal use (i.e., factory fill). Often these specifications are extremely similar, but the customer wants the product tweaked in some way for an added performance benefit.
You’ve probably gotten transmission fluid that Subaru spec’d for its internal use, and which is not available to the general market. So, you won’t find it at AutoZone, but can buy it through Subaru. It’s probably very, very similar to whatever equivalent you would be able to buy at AutoZone, though.
If you’re really interested, you could probably get the information from Subaru why they think this particular product performs better for them – it’ll be something like friction performance, or low-temperature properties, or some other performance test specific to Subaru or whatever. Subaru will say whatever it is, is vital to the performance of their transmission. You’ll probably find lots of people and ‘experts’ who disagree.
Me, I buy whatever the manufacturer recommends, while not necessarily feeling that I have to go to the manufacturer’s system to use it. (As long as someone else is doing the changeout, because I already work with this crap for my job, don’t need to do it in my off-time too.)
But even if it is, how would one know which of the various transmission fluids sold by them is the equivalent?
Or you could just look in the owner’s manual.
I’d guess it’s not a new vehicle, it’s just new to him/her.
Look in your owner’s manual for what is recommended.
Alternatively, look at the label on the “professional use” ATF for what standards it is guaranteed to meet, then go to AutoZone and find the equivalent.
Or, take the “professional use” ATF and/or your owner’s manual to AutoZone, and ask them to point you to the equivalent they have available.
90+% of the time that will be “Genuine Thismakeofcar Fluid,” with no clue as to what might be equivalent.
With Subaru, odds are the owner’s manual will just list Subaru ATF or Idemitsu ATF HP, but not give the specifications. Neither of these are routinely carried at typical auto supply stores or places like Walmart.