Woodpecker

Does your Outback have a "plastic underdoor" as someone in this forum described it. It's a plastic cover (or made of various pieces?) that covers the oil filter and other parts under the engine. It's also shown in the change oil section of the owner's manual since there is a door you have to open to get to the filter. I'm told that Outbacks up to 2005 had them, but my 2006 doesn't.

I bought the car new from a dealer in July '06. It has never had it since I've owned it.

Nope, no plastic underdoor. No protection underneath at all. I assumed that was normal; maybe I should look at other 2006s. Do you have one?

Thanks for the link to the nifty pdf file. HOWEVER, even though what is shown in the pdf DOES look like what is shown in my owner's manual, it's NOT what my 2006 Outback looks like underneath! It would appear that Subaru screwed up and didn't update that part of the manual from 2005 to 2006. There are no covers for the filter (or anything) and I think locations may be different. See the photos I posted--click on Photos by my name in upper righthand corner of this message. In any case, I did learn from the pdf, about putting oil in the filter before putting it on.

The owner's manual for my 2006 Outback (2.5 liter engine, no turbo) shows drawings for changing the oil that are ridiculously inaccurate, including a cover over the oil filter that you pivot out of the way--but it doesn't exist! Are there drawings or photos somewhere of this type of under the engine view? I've posted a couple of photos on this site showing the oil drain plug and (one) shows the oil filter too. Verification that I'm really looking at the oil drain plug (as opposed to the front differential drain) would be appreciated. (Car was only raised about 6" and my digital camera won't zoom any wider.) Woodpecker

I talked with Subaru dealer mechanic and he says I need to drive the car to fill up the converter (torque?), then check it hot. Thanks for everybody's help on this board! You guys rock!! Woodpecker

Yes, I ran the engine and put it through the different gears a few times last night after adding the new fluid BUT did not move the car. Knowing that fluid can go up the tube and make for false readings, I then let the car sit overnight and pulled out the dipstick this morning without running the engine. It read a bit too high for cold, but below the lower hot level. I double-checked that reading. And, again, this is after replacing only 4 quarts when I drained almost 5.

Someone suggested that "I forgot about the ATF in the converter." Can someone here tell me more? How do I get fluid to there? MG: yes, thanks for pointing me to here. These guys are great! Woodpecker

I got the ATF and drained the rest that I could. Total drained = almost 5 quarts. (I have it in a full gallon milk jug and almost full quart oil container.) After putting in 4 quarts, there was some on the dipstick, even after a couple of wipings. I ran the engine and moved the shift from P to R to N to D and back a few times. I didn't move the car. It was getting dark, so I left it overnight to settle more. This morning I pulled the dipstick and it shows (cold) at about the lower hot level, i.e. above the upper cold level. Question: How is it that I drained 5 quarts but it will only take 4? Is there something else I need to do? Thanks for all the great advice so far! Woodpecker

I like the idea of putting in the Mobil synthetic, but that's not on the list of recommended fluids in the owner's manual, so it seems I could be voiding the warranty by doing so. Ones listed are: Genuine Subaru ATF Type-HP, IDEMITSU ATF HP, Castrol Transmax J, and Pennzoil ATF-J. They don't have separate lists for 4-speed and 5-speed transmissions. Woodpecker

~

:-\ I went to change my oil for only the second time (and 6+ months after the first time) and mistakenly drained the automatic transmision fluid instead! Doiyee! (This after changing oil in cars for over 30 years!) Car is 2006 Subaru Outback with 7500 miles on it. Questions: Over 3 quarts came out before I stopped it. It holds something like 9.8 quarts. Should I try to drain more out, then replace it all so that I'm not mixing brands or ages? (I'll go with one of the ones recommended in the manual.) The manual shows the dipstick location and talks about adding new fluid when needed, but amazingly doesn't say where! I'm told in a 2000 Outback it's added where the dipstick is. Sound right? The compression ring for the drain plug looks like that used for the oil filter--yes? Anything else I need to be aware or careful of? Woodpecker