subaru cvt operating temperature subaru cvt operating temperature

performance. If you were towing at the upper limits of the Wilderness then yes, you should be concerned about temperature. Because of this design simplicity, CVTs offer a number of advantages over traditional automatic transmissions. clutch) and a P-R-N-D-L-style shift pattern. However, history, and the above complaints, have shown select 2010-2018 Subarus are prone to CVT problems. I remember it was water cooled and thats about it. I'll install scan-gauge and go from there. Three times in one and a half years. But you're only towing 1500 lbs and that's not even close to the towing limits of the Wilderness model. I am biased toward my scan gauge but probably mostly because I bought it 12 years ago and it still works fine. These sensations are what we have become accustomed to in both manual and automatic transmissions. 2017 Outback Premium 2.5 with Eyesight. At what temperature would overheating warning light come on? Especially if you do some towing. I also go over an overview of. No light warning for low oil displays. It's probably. Dealer Service, Maintenance, and Warranty Issues, http://www.subaruxvforum.com/forum/engine-drivetrain/76274-cvt-cooler-installed.html#post1006641. Cars run better with warmer fluids, not cooler. How does the CVT compare to a regular geared transmission? 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. I plan to do some light towing with it which is my main reason for adding the cooler. 2016 Tungsten Outback 2.5l Premium w/ES, OP 14, PP #4. nickypooh Registered Plan is to try to have AT fluid temp above 215 F only for short period of times. Thanks, crv383! The gauges serve as a warning to take corrective action. I like the look of the blue setting but I was disappointed that for my eyes it was too hard to read the numbers. Common Subaru CVT Repair Costs. 2016 Forester: "Broken transmission due to broken transmission belt at 43,000 miles. The Climate Control Module also transmits the desired interior temperature to the ECM, which may also increase the engine RPM to meet customer demands. 76k miles on the clock, original fluid. Steering Dampener Lock Down. People are freaking out over little things because they never had the option to monitor them right away. Thanks. Now about why transmission temperatures should be regulated -- excessive heat can warp things like clutch packs, torque converter blades, and the steel belt. So, she did, and the car stalled and stopped on her nearly avoiding being rear ended. I was glad to hear they extended the cvt warranty to 100k mi, that gives me a little peace of mind. I have a copy of the 2015 Subaru Field Service Manual (FSM) and thier own manual states the operating CVT temperature is between 140-176 degrees F. Most AT fluid is said to lose 50% of it's life for every 20 degrees F above 175F. Treat people better. The personal data record created through your registration with our Web site can only be accessed with the unique password associated with that record. That's all I'm sayingif well north of 200F tranny fluid temp is normal for a CVT, then so be it. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. ~ The Cheshire Cat (. A Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is an automatic transmission that doesnt use gears, instead relying on a chain and pulleys to transfer power to the driven wheels. I'll take it in after I get back to town next week. I will be towing a trailer and I want to know if I'm approaching the top of the range and should pull over and let the tranny cool down. You think all of the automotive engineers allowed this "problem to continue for 70 years and hundreds of millions of auto tranny setups? PLENTY HOT. The first method uses Nissan's special tool: KV311039S0. 2021 Subaru WRX 2.0L CVT Base. So by design the Forester CVT heat exchanger is reducing the life of the fluid by at least 50% off the start. While installing an inline transmission filter I discovered that the fluid looked brown and worn, given that the car only has 10,000 miles. On other occasions she would stop on a hill, and the car would shudder and come to a stop and die. Anything wrong with it will affect the transmissions functions and its lifespan. By getting narrower or fatter, these pulleys change the It has lowered the median CVT temperature by about 25 degrees. Please post tranny temps (range) you observe when you start towing. If anything, the company will continue to improve its CVT construction and design and expand upon its application to new models. Noise is created by these gears, however at a lower frequency. "Rear wheel bearing repeatedly replaced. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. CVT's upper oil temp limit is at 270dF---ECU will cut boost and pull timing once this temp is achieved. Not an everyday occurrence, but something I do maybe once a month. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Once a steady speed is met, the TCM adjusts to the highest gear ratio possible to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Do get this on Amazon.com. 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. This statement discloses the types of information we gather, how it is used, and how you can gain access to and edit any data that we've collected about you at any time. The maintenance schedule does say to inspect at those intervals, but I imagine their definition of inspect is to just check for leaks. hmmm wondering how the cooler got fowled??? Perhaps in technical forum, under engine/drivetrain. Best wishes and keep us posted!! I installed a transmission cooler and I now have the transmission running at 168F. How Does a CVT Work? This is why fuel efficiency is usually higher on a similarly equipped vehicle with a manual transmission. Personally , I doubt a 1.5" lift or a teardrop would cause any issue; we tow a 3000lb rig; before that we had a pop up with the Ascent and it was barely noticable. 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? OBDLink MX Bluetooth is the first Bluetooth scan tool that can access GM SW-CAN & Ford MS-CAN networks in addition to standard OBDII protocols. At least I know now the CVT runs hot. Very impressed on how cool and consistent it keeps the oil temperature even when I am going WOT. Then replace same amount with new Subaru CVTF. The fluid should be at the right level and color. I still do not know what caused this to occur. 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. Still not sure it is. Apparently, changing the CVT fluid on a Subaru actually requires the scan tool to take the transmission temperature because you have to run it and keep filling it a little more once it's warmed up. The lock up clutch is not able to withstand the forces associated with shifting gears and generally does not lock up until the transmission is in the highest gear and above 60 km/h. TR690 CVT was also modified to extend the transmitted torque; new version . All rights reserved. I think there is supposed to be a mini radiator of sorts to cool the CVT fluid. This noise is most noticeable when outside the vehicle alongside of the right or left front fender in colder temperatures. We'll have this time-saving information on file when you visit the dealership. There is also a torque converter - to broaden the range of gear ratios and to ensure a smooth start-off. Rear Window Defogger Button Rotate the temperature control dial from Press the rear window defogger button blue for cool, to red for warm. This one . UltraGauge OBDII Scan tool and Information Center, X-Gauge Categories 2013+ Subaru Outback with CVT. But it is an engineering problem when Subaru sells the same setup to markets that have environments where it would be detrimental. The driver will physically feel the downshift and hear the change in engine RPM. Join us! I agree, just making the point that a 20dF variation is the difference between "safe" operating temps and "not safe.". It pains me to post this, but I think I'm having a real problem with my Crosstrek. You may opt out of receiving future communications at any time (see opt-out Procedures below). When I bought the scangauge, display brightness in sunlight was one of the negative issues frequently discussed. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. When decelerating over a longer distance such as a highway off ramp the CVT will keep the torque converter locked-up as long as possible to provide engine braking similar to a manual transmission equipped vehicle. When upshifting to subsequent gears the same will occur once more. I'd like to share that Honda doesn't say what their CVT fluid is made of either; is it conventional? Thanks for the feedback. While they may seem similar, the actual platform that each of these cars use. automatic transmission systems. There is a compromise between the lowest gear ratio which improves acceleration and the highest gear ratio which improves fuel economy. 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. We do not sell, rent, or trade consumer information to third parties, other than as described below, and never without your consent. I do not have specs for temperature. It's not like Toyota that recommends a scan tool for their CVT changes but you can get away with just measuring cold and refilling the same amount. Several complaints about fluid seeping out of the CVT housing resulted in Subaru issuing technical service bulletins related to CVT clamps and CVT seals. Where should I have put the thread? It is possible to increase the number of gear ratios to overcome these design limitations, however in doing so the transmission becomes more complex, heavier, and contains more components which also increases opportunities for a component to fail. Moonrise 9:19 am. 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. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. One very common issue with all automatic transmissions is overheating. The car seems happy. Lineartronic is designed for linear response, and of course 19mm Rear Sway Bar. To change the effective gear ratio, the width of these pulleys changes, causing the chain to ride higher or lower resulting in a different gear ratio. It is not uncommon for a vehicle operator to place the vehicle into Drive while the vehicle is still moving backwards. I would think it'd be the opposite of the cooler was fouled. 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. A highly heated state oxidizes it and makes it form varnish on the internal parts of the components such as the valve body. There was no 5 speed automatic option. I just received my notice yesterday and was surprised because they claimed the deficiencies of the earlier years had been resolved. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. speed, you used the wide gear. To protect the integrity of the information contained in this record, you should not disclose or otherwise reveal your password to third parties. With the small contact area, high pressure, and somewhat bell shaped Variators an unfortunate high pitched whining noise may be generated. It is not unusual for a CVT equipped vehicle to have better fuel efficiency than similar vehicle equipped with a manual transmission. This will allow you to connect your phone to your vehicle easily. At least SOA has now included the 2018 CVT models in the 10 yr/100K mile like earlier models. Enter your registered email address to request a password reset link. Subaru simply not for towing. For vehicles equipped with a conventional automatic transmission upon pressing the accelerator the transmission control module will request a reduction of engine torque from the engine control module before shifting to a lower gear. You're ready to visit Sport Subaru! When doing so, we will make every reasonable effort to avoid excessive or irrelevant collection of data. 83,795. If youre out of coverage or youve put a bunch of miles on your Subaru, some of the minor repairs cost roughly $1,000-$2,500. I'm assuming it is related to elevated CVT temp but want to measure and verify. 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. Mind you this was on a day when it was 80 degrees outside too. 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. Mind you this was on a day when it was 80 degrees outside too. In your case I don't think you should do anything different other than follow the "severe use" schedule if you want piece of mind. 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. . Besides, you can use a temperature gauge to find out how hot the transmission is. Idle the engine to raise CVTF temperature to 35 45C (95 113F) on Subaru Select Monitor. It is a known issue with models with their original CVT transmission, but rather than issue a recall, theyre extending warranties and fixing as they break. 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. Hello, Because we do gather certain types of information from visitors to our sites, we have developed a privacy statement to help you understand the terms and conditions surrounding the collection and use of that information. I don't tow or go off road, just normal city and highway driving. gear to suit any driving style and road condition, while a stepped variable Cookies are small files placed on your hard drive that assist us in providing you with a customized browsing experience. Information provided by site visitors through the use of such interactive functions may be available to both our dealership and our partners. This is especially true at full throttle. For me, normal operating temperature is around 200 degrees. data will be stored in protected databases on secured servers with restricted access). Our dealership respects the privacy of individuals who visit our Web sites, send us e-mail, or participate in features/services we offer online. Full synthetic? If my transmission belt had broken while I was driving 75 miles an hour on the highway, I might not be here writing this report. CVT temperature readout which is best way to monitor live data? Uphill, when you needed all your power at a slow Have to shift into park and restart the vehicle.. 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. Max i've hit was around 220 but it quickly cooled down when i started moving again. Fans engage about 185 (because of where the because its mounted at the bottom of the engine. I mean, first off, you really should never experience dangerous oil temps, even on the track, if Subaru did their homework. Our dealership will not share any information you've provided to us with anyone without your consent other than to provide the service you've requested. In the course of less than two years, I have had all these issues.". You need a gas gauge so you dont run out of gas, you need a tach so you dont redline your engine. 6. Seems to read 185-205 for me in regular driving. To understand the operating characteristics of a CVT we need to understand why CVTs were developed and what they are designed to accomplish. Our dealership may use a browser feature known as a "cookie." I asked Honda and they refused to tell me. 2018 Forester 2.5i CVT Sold for 2018 Toyota Tacoma. Hans nailed it. These are all good product suggestions. This could've ended much differently had I been driving on the highway. The fluid churns inside the torque converter, gears, bearings, clutch plates, and other parts and its temperature increases with the car in motion. Here's some info from the FSM. 1) Its a CVT not a trans with clutch packs, different animal and hard to make a direct comparison between the two without a lot more background knowledge and data. y0d40n3 Your FSM information is correct. My fuel light had just turned on minutes before this, but I still had 60 miles to go before empty. The Drive has put together additional resources you can use to educate yourself on Subarus CVT Problems: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Our sites allow users to opt-out of receiving such communications at the point where personal information is requested, or through other means as identified. pedals (no needed, calling up higher engine speeds (or RPM) for better It also provides superior cooling and excellent low-temperature fluidity for smoother operation in cold weather. 240+ is. . "All ignition coils replaced. I have a 2015 FXT that I bought recently with 90K miles on it. 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. It's not like engine oil. As our Web sites have been designed to take advantage of the use of cookies. ('14-'18) - 2015 - CVT overheating with trans General Troubleshooting and Technical Help. Because the moisture will evaporate from the oil? I'm sure that is related to how the colors register for me with color-blind issues. When the transmission computer determines a new gear ratio is required the engine computer reduces the power output of the engine to reduce Shift Shock and possible damage to the transmission and resumes once the gear change is complete. Ask Your Own Subaru Question. Thought that would take care of the AT temp light but it did not . Subscribers or site visitors will never receive unsolicited e-mail messages from agents working on our behalf. 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. When at a steady higher RPM during acceleration, the frequency remains constant and may resonate. In addition, we gather certain navigational information about where you go on our Web sites. Recommend it. I google'd it but since many WRX's did not have oil temp gauges previously, the choosing of whether or not they should install these gauges dominated the discussion lol. So, for those of you who tow, if you have one of the very few specific OBD dongles that work with ActiveOBD and an Android phone, you can monitor your CVT temp when towing. Make the most of your secure shopping experience by creating an account. I will no longer own a Subaru. The CVT requires fluid pressures up to 1,200 psi to operate and it must pass through small passageways, which may result in a momentary hiss or squeal sound. ten-speed bicycle you rode as a teen? industry SPECIFICATIONS Meets Dexron-IIIH, Mercon 220 is not hot. As it gets closer to the ideal operating temp, it'll go back to normal RPMs. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. When driving a car with a Do some research and you will find that 175 degrees F is an optimal temperature for an automatic transmission to run at. When accelerating from a stop, a vehicles transmission uses lower gear ratios to allow for acceleration and once a steady speed is achieved, the transmission uses a gear with a much higher ratio to keep the vehicle in motion. My thought was that it was due to the recall but evidently had no relation, as per Subaru dealer on Maui. He owns a car repair shop at downtown Osaka, and he put all that experience to good use in his sharing posts. That's 115C normal and 130C+ racing. power range. Before you check the fluid level use your scan tool and make sure the transmission fluid temperature is between 95-113F. I do live in Texas, so we do get 100+ temps in the summer. The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. I believe you are correct! The winter of 2022/23 was 2.7 degrees too warm, as the DWD announced. Driving around town and in traffic cools it down. I no longer believe my Subaru is a safe vehicle. On the contrary, its alarming when it crosses 225F. The CVT (continuously variable transmission), the Hyundai sourced 6 speed automatic and the 5 speed manual transmission. If your transmission fails while your vehicle is in this hot condition, you may be at risk of serious injury or worse. Thanks for your very useful blog! For me, I have a 1 mile commute to work. This is the normal operating temperature for a transmission. A CVT was first used in a car in 1896 and has moved in and out of popularity over time. 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. Also, its not causing any issues as far as decreasing performance of the CVT unit in efficiency or power delivery long term. With the ability to continuously vary the gear ratio, the CVT is able to have a lower gear ratio for quicker acceleration and a higher final gear ratio for fuel economy when compared to a traditional automatic transmission. View attachment 2340. Resulting stall means loss of power brakes and steering. While it's by no means a poor design, it presents its own list of possible issues. If you're used to a manual transmission, a CVT may feel like a slipping clutch when you first hit the gas. I think that Temperature is too hot. 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.