Pasta

Hi Everyone, I tried researching this on the forum and could not find anything. If it has been posted somewhere else, I apologize and ask someone post the link to that thread. Going to bleed the brake fluid on a 2009 Forester. Owner's manual states: DOT 3 brake fluid. I see Valvoline makes a synthetic DOT 3,4...is that compatible? Any brand recommendations? I see that some companies make different colored brake fluid, making it easier to know when all the old stuff is purged out. What are your thoughts? Thank you, Pasta

Hi Everyone, working on a “new to me” 2009 Forester and would appreciate your expertise on a PS fluid flush possibility. The PS fluid looks like tea, not clean red fluid. I saw YouTube videos of this for both AT and PS flushs on a Honda, but haven’t seen it on any Soob boards during my lurking. Here it goes... Front of vehicle jacked up on stands. 1. Disconnect the PS return hose from the reservoir. Drain, then plug the reservoir and refill with Valvoline MaxLife full synthetic ATF. 2. Place clear plastic tubing over the PS return hose and secure with a hose clamp. Free end of tubing goes into a collection bucket. 3. Helper starts the vehicle and turns the steering wheel Right/Left to end ranges (lock?) 4. I would continuously pour new PS fluid into the reservoir until clean, red fluid comes out of the collection tube. 5. Reconnect return hose, top off reservoir, and keep a close eye on the fluid level for a couple days. Intuitively, it makes sense to me that this is a safe method. The PS pump (hopefully) gets a steady supply of fluid from the reservoir that I keep full. My concern would be if the pump sucks fluid from the reservoir faster than I could add it back in. Potentially, that could burn up the pump. Has anyone tried this? Is this a really bad idea? The FSM says to drain the PS fluid, then look for bubbles when replacing the PS fluid (not sure what that means). It does not describe a flush procedure. It seems that if I just did a drain/fill of reservoir-turn wheels-repeat, it would take at least a dozen repetitions and about 1.5 hours to get clean red fluid coming back to PS reservoir. Looking forward to becoming educated in how to do this if my plan above is not safe for the vehicle. Thanks, Pasta

Here's what I did today: 1. ATF drain & fill. Also did it last week, so today was the second time. The ATF came out really clean today. What are your thoughts on ATF drain/fill twice instead of three times? 2. Front & rear diff drain & fill. It seemed like Hurcules himself put the drain plug on the front differential and rear differential drain plugs. Had to use the handle from my jack as a breaker bar. This is how I got the Mobil 1 synthetic 75W-90 gear oil into the rear diff -- the idea is from an Eric The Car Guy YouTube video. Use a 27" piece of plastic tubing 7/16 OD and 5/16 ID. The bottle is placed next to the muffler so that it is higher than the rear diff fill hole. Squeeze it in. Cheap, easy, effective. The rear took 0.6 qt and the front took 1.2 qt. I tried to post a picture, but could not figure it out. Autozone has a Hopkins funnel with a hose. It was similar to the one Lucky Texan posted above, but the funnel had an on/off valve to control the flow and the upper part of the funnel has graduated markings in oz, qt, liters. About 5 bucks. The tip is tapered and fits the ATF and front diff easily. I liked using it, but made a mistake. I filled the entire thing, then lined up up the hose, THEN while trying to maintain that and open the funnel, I spilled some gear oil, making a mess. Next time will just keep the valve open. It did come in very handy and worked perfectly when adding the additional 0.2 qt to the front diff. Again, took a picture but no-go. Anyhow, maybe someone on this forum will find that information useful. I want to thank everyone in this string for their help. Next weekend will be PS fluid and brake fluid. Signing off with 2 questions: 1. Can someone tell me how to post a picture? I could not figure it out from the Help page. 2. Thoughts on ATF drain/fill 2x or 3x? Thanks, Pasta

Things went well today. Put the Forester up on 4 jack stands and rotated tires, ATF change (Valvoline MaxLife), checked brake pads. I've got to buy that Hopkin's funnel for the front diff....mine did not fit. It went smooth thanks to your advice. Next time it will go much faster. Will update you with how the front/rear differential fluid change goes.

Well, going to change ATF and hopefully front & rear differential fluids tomorrow afternoon. I purchased Valvoline MaxLife ATF and Synthetic Mobill 1 75W-90 gear oil. Reviewing the FSM tonight and noticed Subaru recommends to "Bleed the Air of Control Valve." What is this and how do I bleed the air of control valve? The FSM does not mention how to do this. Thank you!

That site has my vehicle. The FSM is great! Will be doing a good bit of reading. Looks like you remove the air cleaner case and battery to access spark plugs. Good to know. This will probably cut down on my lurking.....Nahhhh. Thanks all for your kindness and help!

Thanks for the tips on the turkey baster, funnel and pump. On the to-buy list. I've got a very long plastic funnel for AT changes n the Accord and think it will work here, too. If not, will get the flexible one, probably easier to use. Another thing: my Power Steering fluid is at the low indicator mark. I cannot verify what fluid is in there now, but assume it is the original Subaru PS fluid. Texan mentioned to use Dexron III or 6 and to stay away from generic off-the-shelf PS fluid. My owner's manual does not specify what PS fluid to use, but it does state not to mix PS fluids. Just saw a post on a different forum using the baster method (or could use Texan's pump) to extract most of the fluid, replace with new stuff, drive some figure-8s, and repeat this 5 or 10 times. Do you agree this is good? I like it because it is simple and seems safe. Should I get Dexron III or 6? does it matter? One last question for now. This is kind of embarassing, but I do not know what engine I have. I see MilesFox has EJ25D. It seems a lot of people have EJ engines. Not sure what all this means. I will keep looking for a thread, but maybe someone could post a link if they know of a thread or website that will explain it to me and give me a larger perspective of what I have and others. Just trying to learn, thanks for your patience! Grazie (thank you), Pasta

Thanks guys, getting tired of running in/out of the house dirty looking up stuff on the computer (so is my wife). Will go with the FSM. I checked out that site Bratman, but they did not list anything after the 2008 Forester and mine is a 2009. No worries, it is worth 35 bucks to have the peace of an organized/complete manual. I am a total Noob with Subaru and an authoritative manual will be helpful in the short and long-run. We hope to keep this vehicle for a very long time. Thanks for the Torx bit size, Texan. Going to knock out part of that list every pay. Next weekend will be AT and front/rear diff fluids.

Thanks, everyone, knocked it out this morning. Anyone know the size of the star (*) shaped adapter needed for the front differential drain plug? finally, what manual should I buy: Chilton, Hayes, Subaru FSM. Found a 2010 thread here recommending the FSM. Where is the best place to buy one? thanks, Pasta

Thanks spazomatic, hopefully this is the worst mistake I make in the maintenance of the vehicle.

Hi Mim, Welcome to the forum! Is this your first Subaru? I just purchased my first Soob last week. There is a lot of excellent advice on this forum, just use the search bar and you may find exactly what you need. Be assured, there are some very friendly and knowledgeable people here! If you search "What brand fluids?" you will learn a lot about what brand fluids are recommended by some veteran owners and when these fluids should be changed. Also a note about the most common places where the Subaru will rust and advice on how to clean these areas. Do you plan on doing the maintenance yourself? Best, Pasta

Hi Everyone, Just purchased my first Subaru on Thursday: a 2009 Forester 2.5 LE with 67k miles and cannot verify what maintenance was accomplished. In a prior thread, I received excellent advice on general maintenance and what type of fluids to use. You can search the thread, "What brand fluids?" for a real education. Today, I tackled the oil change and coolant change. All cleaned up now and getting the kids ready for bed when it just hit me that I forgot to add the coolant conditioner. The radiator and resivoir are already topped off with Subaru Super Coolant. What should I do? I am thinking drain a couple quarts of coolant into a clean pan, add the conditioner into the radiator, then top off the radiator with what was drained out, and take it for a 30 minute drive. Needing advice on how to recover from this mistake... Pasta-man

All advice appreiated everyone. I plan to get to work on checking brake pads, lubing caliper pins and changing fluids this weekend.

Woah. What an education. I've read the posts 3x yesterday afternoon and evening, taking notes. MilesFox and 1 Lucky Texan, your advice is sincerely appreciated. Thank you for taking a significant amount of your time to help me. This information will be uesed for the life of the vehicle and no doubt many USMB members will benefit from the advice! "My" car is a 2000 Accord with 194k miles. I've done the basics: oil, ATF, etc and replaced a starter, radiator, and distributor. This generation Accord an only use Honda ATF due to serious transmission problems and I absolutely did not want to make a mistake with the Forester 2.5. Looking fwd to learning my way around this Soob engine and hopefully join the 250,000 mile club. Going to purchase fluids, the funnel, and transfer pump this weekend and get started on a regular maintenance program here! Will let everyone know how it goes. Until then...I'll be lurking.

Greetings, all Going this afternoon to purchase my first Subaru from private seller. 2009 Forester Limited, 2.5X with 67k. She cannot verify that regular maintenance was accomplished but tells me it's been done. Did not notice any oil leaking under the engine. Through lurking here, I learned HG leaks are the Achilles Tendon of this engine and one of the best ways to prevent this is...yep...proper maintenance. On a previous thread, I was given excellent advice on how to get off on a good start: Oil/filter change ATF drain/fill x 3 front/rear diff fluid change coolant change air filter wiper blades check brake pads Techron gas additive read manual on spare tire and towing always make sure fluids don't get low . So here are my questions (for now): Can I go box-store brand ATF? What brand/type fluid for the front/rear differential? Lurking tells me Subaru brand coolant is best, but should I also buy the Subaru coolant additive for this engine? . Thanks for any suggestions. I am green and wet behind the ear, but eager to learn and motivated to do the right thing from the start! I plan on keeping this vehicle for the long-haul and don't mind spending a couple extra bucks for maintenance, but if box-store brand works just fine, then I can put those hard-earned dollars toward something else.

Well, we did it Purchasing a 2009 Forester 2.5X Limited Edition with 67k miles for $15,000. I think it's a great deal. Red with black leather interior. We are meeting the seller at her bank tomorrow and I am paying off the title and picking up the vehicle. It is a great feeling to put my wife and kids in a reliable vehicle My plans are: oil/filter change ATF drain/fill x 3 rear differential fluid change new air filter new wiper blades. professional detail cleaning of the interior. . Going to lurk the forum for what else I should do and to see what the members think about degreasing the engine (it is filthy). Well, you all are the first to know, will be telling friends/family tomorrow. Thanks to all for the advice along the way. Best, Pasta

Hello all, Hopefully will be making my first Soob purchase soon - and it will be used. Looking for a local mechanic who specializes in Subarus. Please help a noob out...thanks! Pasta

MilesFox, those are mind-blowing stories! Will post a shop recommendation now, Texan - I appreciate the advice. Thanks to all and will let you know what I buy. Going out tonight to look at one.

You know, guys and gals...one of the things I like most about this forum is the friendliness and honest answers. Most recently: Heartless (along with everyone else above) gives a vote of confidence that a used Subaru (soob for short?) is a good choice if well maintained and then Rooster2 adding that if I can't get my head wrapped around this fact, then put my mind at ease and go new. So here is the latest...this evening we test drove a 2009 Forester X Premium with 55k and ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY 100% LOVED IT! WOW-WEEEEE!! No wonder you all are so crazy about these things! The wifey and I felt very safe in this vehicle and used is the only thing that fits our budget. This particular Forester did not have a clean carfax and I would be the 3rd owner in such a short time. Plus heard intermittent squeal with turning. The short of it is that I am IN the market and looking forward to joining your ranks. Doing my Craigslist research and hope to have something this weekend. There is an amazing scope and depth of knowledge here. Pasta-man will be lurking-and-learning. Thanks to all for the education and encouragement.

Thanks for the maintenance table upnorthguy, will bookmark it. And, yes, I was referring to the Foresters. Leaning in that direction for now. Hello Hush. Just sold my Odyssey on Craigslist and really trying to find a deal in this area, but none to be had. Apparently, many people give their Subaru to their children for a first car. dubs283 had a good idea on looking Craigslist Oregon and Seattle, will try there, too. Thanks for the local recommendation. will give them a call tomorrow. That's fantastic advice, dubs. I've been burned by stealerships many times. Will take your advice and stay away from them on this used purchase...additionally....the wifey and I have been talking throughout the day and are considering taking a small loan and purchasing a new Forester. Hopefully I can find a thread about what locals are paying. I've never thought model year reliability that way, Texan. Will take your advice on an inspection before purchase if we go used. The funny thing is, I've read most vehicles lose about 30-40% of their purchase price within 4-5 years. Not the Subarus! It makes more sense to buy a new one vs. a 2 year old w/low milage in these parts. No matter how hard I try, I just cant get comfortable placing my family's safety in a 8 year old vehicle with 80k. Just not comfortable rolling the dice on that one. Probalby best to take a loan, get a new car that I know is safe and well maintained, and get a part time 2nd job for a year and pay it off.

Hi Everyone, Potential new Forester or Outback owner here. In the used market and just posted my question on the main board. If you have a couple minutes and can respond to that post, I would really appreciate it. Thanks! Pasta

Hello Ladies and Gents, I've been lurking for 3 days and now turning to you for direct, straightforward opinions. Just moved to Boise, ID with my wife and our 2 "tweens". Our 07 Honda Odyssey spontaneously developed several problems requiring too much $$$ to keep (was hoping to get at least 5 more years from it). It's paid-off and I will not go into debt by financing again -- categorizing my budget to a used vehicle. Considering we now live in the great American northwest and plan on frequent day-hikes, snow-shoeing, etc, an AWD or 4WD wagon/SUV seems like a good choice. In the Subaru family, I am looking at a generation 2 (2003-2008) or generation 3 (2009-2013) Forester or Outback with 70-80k miles to stay within budget of $16,000. I faithfully comply with recommended maintenance. Please help me out guys and gals. These Subaru's are hard to find and hold their value for a reason and from what I read on this forum, the Forester & Outback are as strong and reliable as the proverbial "brick outhouse." But can you understand my hesitation placing the wife and kids in a used 9 year old vehicle with almost 80k? Aside from recommended maintenance, what costly repairs can I expect in the next 50k miles? Thanks for your honesty and looking forward to your responses, Pasta