Its not an engineering problem when used in the appropriate climate it was engineered for. Under acceleration the engine on a vehicle equipped with a conventional automatic transmission will rise in RPM starting below the range of maximum torque and then pass above it. Because the moisture will evaporate from the oil? Do some research and you will find that 175 degrees F is an optimal temperature for an automatic transmission to run at. I agree, just making the point that a 20dF variation is the difference between "safe" operating temps and "not safe.". The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. When my OE coolant gauge gets to normal range, oil temperature is ~160F per my Defi gauge. 4. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. This downshifting can be both heard and felt. Of course the colder the ambient temp, the longer it is going to take. Another person I contacted had a Youtube about installing the Hayden cooler and said it brought the CVT temps down to 170s after he put it in. Although Subaru doesn't correlate the two, the company announced warranty extensions for several 2010-'18 CVT-equipped Subarus from five years/60,000 miles to 10 years/100,000 miles. The following sections are meant to describe the relationship between an engines power output, gear ratios, and their effect on fuel efficiency. Cars run better with warmer fluids, not cooler. There is a CVT cooler (heat-exchanger) which 'normalizes' the temperatures of all three (Engine oil, Antifreeze, CVT fluid). Yes, but he said 220+ as hot. One very common issue with all automatic transmissions is overheating. It's about 90 degrees today, but I'm on flat ground now and on back highways traveling 55-65mph. JavaScript is disabled. Our Web sites may make chat rooms, forums, message boards, and/or news groups available to its users at various times. Above 130C is too hot period. http://www.subaruoutback.org/forumsic-trailer-brake-controller-installation.html, http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/104-gen-4-2010-2014/323545-cvt-temps-ultragauge-blue.html, http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/138-gen-5-2015-present/316394-cvt-cooler-5.html. Fully apply the parking brake. An ideal transmission would have a very low first gear ratio and a very high final gear ratio. We have also reviewed a lot of popular individual providers and their plans, so you can get an informative review that you can trust. What do you think is it worth it to invest more maintenance into the cvt than Subaru suggests or just have a wait and see approach and hope if something does happen it will occur under warranty? A CVT does not require a reduction in engine torque. It could be several things but the main culprit is overworked transmission fluid. These are all good product suggestions. Not sure if the other market Foresters that have the air cooled CVTs run cooler or not. They should've issued a recall, instead they extended the warranty to 10 years or 100,000 miles. As we all know, lubricating fluids break down over time and will lose that ability to "keep things slippery". A human can only pedal so fast, and with so much Doing away with the more complicated design may suggest that CVTs are less problematic, but that is not the case. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. If a CVT belt or pulley is malfunctioning, it could create the sensation of the car shuddering or shaking. Overheated fluid discharges of a burnt toast-like smell and looks brown to dark in color. This left me with no power on a state highway that had speed limits of 75 mph. Most cars run a higher RPMs during colder weather after a cold start. I also go over an overview of. I'll install scan-gauge and go from there. When upshifting to subsequent gears the same will occur once more. We do not sell, rent, or trade consumer information to third parties, other than as described below, and never without your consent. I am biased toward my scan gauge but probably mostly because I bought it 12 years ago and it still works fine. This characteristic takes some time to become accustomed to and may lead you to believe the transmission is slipping or that the engine RPM does not change in direct relation to accelerator input. At 260 degrees Fahrenheit, transmission fluid can start to form sludge and clog your engine. I loaded the rev3 tune from TH about a week before this all started, and I didn't have any long drives between loading it and the first time the light popped. The name "Lineartronic" is used for two Subaru transmissions - the TR690 and the TR580. I'm assuming it is related to elevated CVT temp but want to measure and verify. Buy one of our O BD-AUS units here for $ 39*. www.ultra-gauge.com Rub . transmission shift -- it simply raises and lowers the engine speed as I think a sample could be taken from the filler plug, but I believe the CVTF temp has to be between 95-113F with the engine running or fluid could spill out. If the Forester CVT fluid to coolant heat exchange is efficient, the CVT fluid will be at 95C, same as the coolant, which is hotter than my peak of 90C noted. Should I try using a baffle on the cooler to bring the temperature up a few more degrees, or should I just run it at 168? Just park it in the snow until it cools down. Also, I have mounted over my mirror so not much glare. There is also a torque converter - to broaden the range of gear ratios and to ensure a smooth start-off. I have the instructions in a PDF format HERE. Normal fluid looks red odor dark red but its a matter of concern when it develops a brownish tinge or turns dark. Keeping it less than 175F indicates a healthy condition and ensures long mileage. I remember it was water cooled and thats about it. I kept the trailer and cargo weight light for the first trip, total trailer/cargo/passenger weight was about 2,200 lbs. 2011 was definitely the worst model year for the Subaru Outback and the CVT transmission. I've only owned one previous Honda and that was 39 years ago.1979 Honda Civic CVCC (3 valve) Hatchback. crvownersclub.com is not in any way affiliated with Honda Motor Company, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. A Subaru equipped with a CVT will generally raise the engine RPM to a certain level based upon accelerator input and engine load. ATF flows easily at room temperature so there's not much need to warm it up in order to drain it. In the course of less than two years, I have had all these issues.". Increased resistance to oil oxidation and degradation. Nope. That's a good rule of thumb, if you don't have a way to measure. Engine bogs or almost stalls when giving gas. This describes the feeling of your transmission trying to find and select the appropriate gear. A manual transmission has a clutch that mechanically locks the engine output power to the transmission, while a traditional automatic transmission has a torque converter which uses hydraulic fluid to transfer power. This is a very dangerous safety concern for any of these vehicles equipped with this CVT transmission, especially when Subaru boasts about how this transmission is completely maintenance free for the life of the car. However, dirt in the fuel or components, lack of regular maintenance, and damaged or broken parts, fluid leakage, driving at a high speed for a long time, and a couple of other reasons cause the transmission fluid to heat up. Save Share. UltraGauge displays mileage gauges including Instantaneous MPG, Average MPG, gallons per hour. Regular maintenance and checkup is the key to keeping ideal transmission temperature. As it has no physical gears or fixed gear ratios it provides an advantages in terms of acceleration, smoothness, fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness. fast, you needed the narrow gear to go even faster. . A highly heated state oxidizes it and makes it form varnish on the internal parts of the components such as the valve body. I think that Temperature is too hot. While it's by no means a poor design, it presents its own list of possible issues. I'd bring into the dealer for sure. I mean, first off, you really should never experience dangerous oil temps, even on the track, if Subaru did their homework. I do not have specs for temperature. Unbelievable. It is the twelfth warm winter in a row. If the fluid temperature is not within this range you'll get an inaccurate fluid level. Low 24F. Our dealership takes your privacy seriously and is committed to safeguarding your privacy online. At least I know now the CVT runs hot. You should check it on a regular basis to avoid costly transmission repair or replacement job down the road. 2015 Subaru WRX Prem CVT Galaxy Blue Pearl. . On our '17 CR-V, I've seen 219F tranny fluid temp so farlevel ground, not towing, 40 mile round trip at 75 mph, mid 90s ambient. For a CVT equipped vehicle, the Chain is not solidly locked to the Variators, and a sudden shock such as this could possibly cause it to slip, damaging both it and the Variators, so the vehicle must come to a complete stop before a change in direction can be achieved. This thing is fantastic! What do you think? That's 115C normal and 130C+ racing. It will not stall on a gradual stop but will stall in any situation when stopping quickly. Then replace same amount with new Subaru CVTF. Correct - your 2023 Forester should serve you well - as long as you keep up on your maintenance and such. How does the CVT compare to a regular geared transmission? I was going about 70 mph in the center lane of a three-lane highway, when suddenly my car jerked and then wouldnt accelerate., Another customer with a 2012 Legacy left a comment, "Wife was driving car with newborn son when she came to an abrupt stop because someone slammed on the brakes in front of her. Resulting stall means loss of power brakes and steering. Welcome to the Subaru Outback Owners Forum, we have tons of information about your Subaru Outback, from a Subaru Outback Wiki to customer reviews. I was able to get CVT and OIL temperatures plus, it even matches blue on. There were 3 transmission options with the 2014 Jeep Patriot. The chain link is connected to both the input shaft and the output shaft, and as the pulleys change, so do the drive ratios. 2018 Forester 2.5i CVT Sold for 2018 Toyota Tacoma. hmmm wondering how the cooler got fowled??? Rather than using gears as in traditional automatic transmissions, Subarus CVT uses two fluctuating hydraulically actuated pulleys and a chain link. The first method uses Nissan's special tool: KV311039S0. A frustrated customer complained to the NHTSA with the note, Transmission failure. The app ActiveOBD can measure this figure on . To protect the integrity of the information contained in this record, you should not disclose or otherwise reveal your password to third parties. Without the physical perception of the downshift, a CVT driver may perceive this as a lack of acceleration, when in fact the CVT equipped vehicle is accelerating without any delay. the E-Mail Reminder Service). Does anybody know the normal operating temperature range of the CVT in a 2015 AWD CR-V? Subaru Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) For instant, seamless response to changing conditions, the redesigned Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission elevates efficiency of the BOXER engine and Symmetrical AWD by keeping the engine in its ideal power range. When under moderate to heavy acceleration the transmission control module continuously adjusts the gear ratio to maintain an efficient engine RPM. I suspect the fluid temps between the cvt and the old 5eat will run very similar. is different. "Eight days later, they confirmed my suspicions. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Actually its too bright I use the low light setting. After stopping the vehicle, shift the select lever to "P" range. Other than as set forth in this Privacy Policy, you will be notified when any personally-identifiable information about you may be shared with third parties, and you will be given the opportunity to decline to share that information. It's not like engine oil. Rectify the problem before somebody dies.". If that is not possible, I'll perform more frequent AT fluid changes. UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool and Information Center, X-Gauge Categories 2013+ Subaru Outback with CVT. when you enroll in one of our E-Mail Reminder Services, request information, or use any of the other interactive portions of our Web sites, is securely maintained on our Web server and internal systems. HVAC Blower Motor Switch If the fan Heater, AUTO, Switch - OEM Subaru Part # 72311SA031 (72311SA030) Toggle navigation. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Within this wide range of RPM, maximum torque is achieved at the RPM the engine is able to move the maximum amount of air and fuel in and out of the engine. I think there is supposed to be a mini radiator of sorts to cool the CVT fluid. Nov 4, 2021. You will also find that most transmission fluids start to degrade quickly at high temperatures. Yet there is more than Thought that, I learned that the light illuminates at 265f degrees. Lineartronic is designed for linear response, and of course Thank you Wirat for sharing your thoughts on the cvt. If anything, the company will continue to improve its CVT construction and design and expand upon its application to new models. Driving around town and in traffic cools it down. Optimum efficiency seems to be when both are in the 90C range (around 200F). Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. What Happens When Transmission Temperature Light Comes On? I'm using a ScanGauge II plugged into the OBDII port under the dash, so whatever the CR-V's computer and sensors are sending is what I'm seeing. I ended up installing a Hayden 679 cooler after the OEM heat exchanger. When you are driving, and suddenly the AT Oil Temp light starts flashing, well, this could mean a couple of things.And that is why in this video, we will bri. According to the 2020 Subaru Outback owners manual, It is unnecessary to check the continuously variable transmission fluid level. Talking to a buddy, the tune came up. A CVT was first used in a car in 1896 and has moved in and out of popularity over time. Read more. To overcome these losses torque converters are equipped with a lock up clutch that can mechanically lock the engine output to the transmission under certain conditions. And the Forester gets an engine oil to coolant heat exchanger. Hi all, new to this forum since I purchased a North American 2018 Forester 2.5i about six months ago. So I bought a ScanGauge and programmed the CVT Temp. That's what I think since you asked. I installed a transmission cooler 19 row and i Check Temp Tranmision running at 150 i think it so cold . Excessive oil use after each 3,000 miles. JavaScript is disabled. Send it in for repair. Anytime you visit our Web site, we may gather certain non-personally identifiable information regarding the means you use to access our site. However, if necessary, consult your Subaru dealer for inspection. In other words, it's a good idea to inspect or have the unit inspected regularly to avoid any surprises. The personal data record created through your registration with our Web site can only be accessed with the unique password associated with that record. Get it together, Subaru. The steady engine RPM and lack of shift shock are contrary to what you may have been accustomed to and will take some time to adjust to. It displays the tranny fluid temp from the signal it receives form the vehicle's computer.similar to the way the dealership's diagnostic computer receives signals/info from the vehicle's 'puter. Synthetic 5W 30 Oil GALLON. 2016 CRV Touring AWD. Downhill, when you were already cruising Cold is not always best. Another process that a CVT helps to iron out is the need for the transmission to "hunt" for gears. The gauges serve as a warning to take corrective action. They offer a unique manual mode via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Just use a small syringe with some tubing to suck some fluid out. I've been searching for a secondary/auxiliary tranny fluid cooler for the Gen 5 CR-V CVT for a while now..no luck so far. 83,795. When I am driving spiritedly I have seen as high as 210 but it quickly dropped down to 205. Ford, Fiat, Nissan, and Subaru have all heavily used CVT transmissions . The Drives informational team has been digging through forums, recalls, and consumer complaints to get a sense of what issues you need to be aware of when buying or driving a Subaru with a CVT. Very impressed on how cool and consistent it keeps the oil temperature even when I am going WOT. Now it's more like around 170 degrees F instead of over 200 degrees in normal driving. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. But you're only towing 1500 lbs and that's not even close to the towing limits of the Wilderness model. In addition to fuel economy and reduced weight, they offer steady acceleration, smooth operation, and the ability to adapt to varying road conditions and power demands to provide a smoother overall ride. to car speed. In fact, overheating is such a major issue that it causes almost 90% of automatic transmission failures. However, throughout the past decade, hundreds of customers have complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about several problems relating to Subaru's CVTs. No light so far. Ask Your Own Subaru Question. You may always opt-out of receiving future communications from our dealership. If the CVT is running too hot or too cold, what are you supposed to do about it? For me, normal operating temperature is around 200 degrees. Just me in the car, no cargo, not towing. Also, at this temp there are no error codes or check engine lights. But warm not hot necessarily? If the vehicle is within 10 years old, most of these problems should be covered under Subarus extended warranty. I'll take it in after I get back to town next week. Starting in May 2009, TR690 has been used in Subaru Outback 2.5 l models. Temperature records in Bavaria - winter 2022/23 too warm. Whether or not Subaru's CVTs are reliable is something owners will debate all day long. I was stopped at a red light. Damage to the transmission fluid begins at 225 degrees. So far, so good. Subaru also has a third drivetrain technology that has proliferated throughout its lineup and goes hand in hand with its engine and AWD: Lineartronic CVT. I thought I had been rear ended, but there was nobody behind me. Subaru engineers already told me that the ECU will pull boost and timing if it sees too high of oil temps. 2021 Subaru WRX 2.0L CVT Base. JavaScript is disabled. When the heat reaches nearly 290F, the transmission starts slipping and stop functioning with the burning out of seals and clutches. Its out of the way and I can monitor my CVT temp. Perhaps the Forester warms the CVT fluid to improve low temp operation? My 2017 forester non-turbo is my first subaru and also my first cvt vehicle. Thats why I think my experience and his with head winds was the worst regarding heat issues. Connect the Subaru Select Monitor to data link connector. I tried to get the car into drive by turning the car off and on and utilized other techniques, but I was not able to drive my car. After all, Subaru couldn't be as popular as if it was selling bad products. As a general rule, oils have a fairly narrow normal operating range, roughly 160F-240F.. It's not likely that CVT's will operate at a significantly higher temperature than other oil lubricated equipment. The Subaru CVT is far superior. Keeping the transmission temperature between 175 and 200 degrees will allow the fluid to last the longest. I've had cars where the sensors have varied from 185 f to 215 f. After 10 minutes of 7/10ths driving on the race track on a 70dF day my 2015 WRX saw 230dF oil temps. Engines are designed to work over a wide range of engine speeds (RPM) however the torque and power output do not remain constant. speed, you used the wide gear. cvt monitor cvt temp cvt temp monitor cvt temperature forester transmission monitor subaru cvt subaru wrx cvt Related Products Subaru Turboback Exhaust System STI Sedan 2011-2014, WRX Sedan 2011-2014 $ 2,275.00 Rally Armor UR Mudflaps Black Urethane with White Logo Subaru WRX 2022 $ 189.00 3 Inch 2-Bolt Exhaust Gasket $ 15.00 A 40min drive 5 times a week with some of stop and go traffic. This one . These sensations are what we have become accustomed to in both manual and automatic transmissions. This will allow you to connect your phone to your vehicle easily. Along with Subarus safety, theyre the stars of the companys advertisements. crvownersclub.com is an independent Honda enthusiast website owned and operated by VerticalScope Inc. during operation. To help ensure the protection of your privacy, we recommend that you review the privacy policy of any site you visit via a link from one of our Web sites. Subaru has agreed to replace the transmission since the car is still under warranty. Fans engage about 185 (because of where the because its mounted at the bottom of the engine. Due to the linear nature of the CVT, the torque converter is able to partially lock-up at approximately 9 km/h then lock up completely at 24 km/h, and remain locked as the gear ratio changes. John789 said: Some answers says it should be cold because some of metal parts will be deformed when adding cold fluid into a hot transmission. In an engine such as the Subaru Boxer Engine the power from the rotational force of the engines crankshaft is calculated as a function of the engine torque and engine speed. Subaru AT Oil Temp light flashing Issues, Meaning, Causes & Solution.If you are driving, and suddenly, the AT Oil Temp light started flashing; it could mean. My question is 168 too cool for this transmission? Maintaining the ideal transmission temperature is integral to keep it functional for a long time. At the time you register for any such service, you will be notified of, and asked to consent to, the sharing of your information with any particular third party necessary to the provision of the requested service. I like the look of the blue setting but I was disappointed that for my eyes it was too hard to read the numbers. This is especially true at full throttle. y0d40n3 Your FSM information is correct. CAUTION: While working, be sure to keep the lower edge of the tires 30 cm or more above the ground as vehicle will vibrate. I think that adding a cooler to the cvt is a bad idea for at least two reasons. . Several complaints suggest a Subaru CVT could have problems within 10 years of ownership. I would check the fluid level, in fact after that many miles would replace it, just for my piece of mind. I will no longer own a Subaru. Also, its not causing any issues as far as decreasing performance of the CVT unit in efficiency or power delivery long term. Operate the select lever in P R N D and D N R P to circulate CVTF with the engine idling. With regular Mobil 5/10W-30, the oil will fall apart at 115C. To help us better understand and respond to your needs and interests, we may in the future receive information about you from other sources. . 2022Recurrent Ventures. 76k miles on the clock, original fluid. Others say hot fluid is easy to drain. CVTs differ from traditional automatic transmissions in that they do not have gears that provide "steps" between low and high speed operation. I do live in Texas, so we do get 100+ temps in the summer. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Why should I care? Common Subaru CVT Repair Costs. Which is super fun while trying to climb a hill in traffic. Join us! Cookies are small files placed on your hard drive that assist us in providing you with a customized browsing experience. Lets dive into our findings. The controls are the same inside the car: two The Drive has put together additional resources you can use to educate yourself on Subarus CVT Problems: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). I was glad to hear they extended the cvt warranty to 100k mi, that gives me a little peace of mind. It will help you take actions at the right time. Feels very unsafe. What a joke. Of course, cold fluid is also hard on things as well since cold fluid doesn't work as well as operating temperature fluid -- which is the reason for the heat exchanger on the transmission -- as well as oil temperature and pressure sensors found inside of the transmission. I have seen over 240F CVT-F temp in my XT and dont consider it a problem at all, as that has been when towing over mountain passes. I would think it'd be the opposite of the cooler was fouled. that it allows the engine to operate longer at a lower speed than conventional 2011 Subaru Outback F4-2.5L SOHC. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. You may hear hissing or squealing type sound for a few seconds after shifting into any gear, the noise is caused by the transmission fluid inside of the CVT and is a normal operating characteristic. Gave them $27,000 for the car in 2015 and now they won't tell me a basic operating parameter. This is normal operation for many CVTs and likely not a cause for concern. 6. Upon shifting to the lower gear the torque reduction request is cancelled and upon resuming a shock can be felt and the engine RPM will begin to rise within about 1 second. The car seems happy. This data may also be used to tailor your experience on our sites by providing content that is relevant to your interests and geographic region. infinitely, they are "continuously variable." CVT's upper oil temp limit is at 270dF---ECU will cut boost and pull timing once this temp is achieved. I installed a transmission cooler and I now have the transmission running at 168F. As stated the fluid temperature chart is for the Hyundai 6 speed automatic transmission. In a traditional automatic transmission, the shock of this directional change is passed through solid gears and absorbed by the torque converter. There is little concern towing at half the stated rating for the Forester Wilderness. Can you mix the the Subaru CVT HIGH TORQUE fluid with the Amsoil TR690/VTF22 CVT fluid, because according to Amsoil, it is compatible with the Subaru CVT HIGH TORQUE fluid. It is not uncommon for a vehicle operator to place the vehicle into Drive while the vehicle is still moving backwards. But it is an engineering problem when Subaru sells the same setup to markets that have environments where it would be detrimental. HID upgrade from retrofit source. Thanks, crv383! "Rear wheel bearing repeatedly replaced. If your CVT has tanked, a new unit costs roughly $7,000-$8,000, while used CVT replacements cost about $1,000-$3,000. that means that you are at risk of having to replace . Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. This equates to an effective final drive ratio of 4.03 over the OEM 3.90. 2015 Outback: One owner of a 2015 Subaru Outback filed a complaint with the NHTSA saying, Intermittently, the car does not respond when the accelerator is depressed. Subaru Canada, Inc. 2023. The fact is, Subaru knows what they are doing and won't ship a new product without verifying the simple things. And CVTs also deliver a smoother ride, as it eliminates shocks when changing Dealer Service, Maintenance, and Warranty Issues, http://www.subaruxvforum.com/forum/engine-drivetrain/76274-cvt-cooler-installed.html#post1006641. I added a Cobb Stage 1 OTS map and did Danoz fix to prevent boost leak, the vehicle has no other performance mods. I'm assuming it is related to elevated CVT temp but want to measure and verify. Driving at slower speed OK. At the range of 45-60 mph, noise is very predominate, thus requiring me to drive at slower speeds than required. CVT temperature readout which is best way to monitor live data? gears, and allows the engine to run quieter. 19mm Rear Sway Bar. redesigned Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission elevates efficiency Vettes run 240F+ under normal operating conditions, and close to 300F when racing. Such information is gathered by us in the aggregate and will not be associated with a specific individual without that individual's consent. My car had a broken transmission at 43,000 miles. simply selecting the most appropriate gear ratio. If you are accustomed to conventional automatic transmissions, you may equate acceleration with the sound or vibrations from the rise and fall of engine RPM and the shock felt while the transmission upshifts. The CVT offers a compact design, a smooth ride with stepless acceleration, maximum torque provided by an immediate engine rev, and a cheaper price point than other types of transmissions. The CVT (continuously variable transmission), the Hyundai sourced 6 speed automatic and the 5 speed manual transmission. Would car go into limp mode once CVT overheats? CVT has two pulleys that can vary in width, and a steel belt that Any information you provide to us (i.e. If substantially all of the assets of our dealership are acquired, consumer information may be transferred as part of the acquisition. Recommend it. Every 20 degrees past that threshold will cut the life your transmission by half. According to the investigation, the likely source of the seepage is the sealant used on the CVTs oil pump chain cover and the input shaft oil seal. To understand the operating characteristics of a CVT we need to understand why CVTs were developed and what they are designed to accomplish. IMHO, you're looking for a problem that does not exist. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Subaru has gone to great lengths to create a better tow rating with the Wilderness by reprogramming the CVT for a different final drive and by adding the CVT cooler set up.