FLUIDS/OILS/LUBE - Brands used,mixing dif brands,advice

[B1B2andB4]

Hello all,

Just wanted to start a thread on oils/brands,mixing brands etc.
Doing a little lube top up and want to check as there is a lot of confusing info out there.
When speaking to subaru of course everything has to be SUBARU brand.
What about Autobarn/supercheap?
interested in best lubes/fluids to use for
- oil
- transmission DEX3?
- power steering (book says dex 3 also)
- diff
-coolant
- brake

anything else i missed

also what about mixing brands, i always have serviced, so not sure of brands used (am i best to call the workshop and ask)
when it says dont mix different brands is this going to harm things?
i recently bought coolant from autobarn thats apparently okay to mix with ALL brands.

ALL HELP APPRECIATED.

[Spec B Wgn]

if you can help it ... its best not to be mixing different brands especially on some items.

If your doing full lube changes this is the best time to change brands

Brake fluid , power steering and coolants for one should never be mixed.

I use this oil http://ulx110.com.au/

redline shock proof light and heavy for my diffs

elf brake fluid

& tectalloy coolant

[B1B2andB4]

Okay i need to add a little power steering fluid i think.. although the fluid in there is a little brownish (apparently there is no service where the workshops change this unless requested)
In morning i get a little bit of a whirring sound when turning first few corners for the day, then stops.

Checked the fluid and is a little low but not anywhere near empty, both JOHN FRENCH and SCORPIAN SUBARU use DEX 3 for power steering.
Scorpian suggest it sounds like air in the system and will need to be bled out.
Is this hard to do? can any one advise me on power steering fluid change instructions?
Ill have a go!

[tangcla]

Stick with KY.

[teK--]

Power steering system flushes out air quite easily by itself if you turn the wheel to full lock in either direction a few times. Do it when the car is rolling or if the wheels are jacked up, don't do it whilst stationary as it puts enormous stress on the system.

If you want to flush the fluid just disconnect the return hose from the power steering cooler (right next to the reservoir) and stick it into a plastic bottle. Suck all the old fluid out of the reservoir first with a syringe, baster or pump. Then fill the reservoir with new fluid.

Get a helper to start the engine whilst you steadily pour fresh fluid into the reservoir, since the level will immediately start dropping as the p/s pump sucks the new fluid through and dumps the old stuff into the plastic bottle. You will need anywhere from 500ml to 1L to get all the old stuff out. Once clean fluid is coming out into the bottle stop the engine, hook the hose back up and top up the reservoir if needed.

Then do the full lock to full lock a few times, go for a drive and top up fluid again if needed. (Or suck some out if you have overfilled). The fluid according to the manual never needs to be changed but it's good idea to do it every couple of years because the fluid does go off. $15 of fluid every 2 years is better than thousands for a new rack.

I just use the standard Castrol power steering fluid it's fine.

[B1B2andB4]

Power steering system flushes out air quite easily by itself if you turn the wheel to full lock in either direction a few times. Do it when the car is rolling or if the wheels are jacked up, don't do it whilst stationary as it puts enormous stress on the system.

If you want to flush the fluid just disconnect the return hose from the power steering cooler (right next to the reservoir) and stick it into a plastic bottle. Suck all the old fluid out of the reservoir first with a syringe, baster or pump. Then fill the reservoir with new fluid.

Get a helper to start the engine whilst you steadily pour fresh fluid into the reservoir, since the level will immediately start dropping as the p/s pump sucks the new fluid through and dumps the old stuff into the plastic bottle. You will need anywhere from 500ml to 1L to get all the old stuff out. Once clean fluid is coming out into the bottle stop the engine, hook the hose back up and top up the reservoir if needed.

Then do the full lock to full lock a few times, go for a drive and top up fluid again if needed. (Or suck some out if you have overfilled). The fluid according to the manual never needs to be changed but it's good idea to do it every couple of years because the fluid does go off. $15 of fluid every 2 years is better than thousands for a new rack.

I just use the standard Castrol power steering fluid it's fine.

Thank you!!! AWESOME INFO this forum is helping me heaps.
Okay - just so i got this straight before i break something (using all my car knowledge to try to explain)
Its hard to see what hoses are where cos i have this big plastic black thing (tech term) above my steering reservoir.

Is the "return hose from the power steering cooler (right next to the reservoir)" connected to the reservoir?
I can see one hose from the bottom of the reservoir, i am guessing this is the hose to the p/s pump?... are the wheels the black rubber things that touch the road?
Sorry to ask such stupid questions, just dont wanna pump fluid into any old ho..se

[swingn]

Would not mix fluids at all... Obviously it's more significant in areas such as transmission fluid etc, but each brand tend to have a different chemical compound. So although you could mix engine oils etc, it's just not a risk I would be taking.

[teK--]

are the wheels the black rubber things that touch the road?

Actually maybe you should get someone knowledgeable to help you or take your car into a shop!

[B1B2andB4]

ha ha, when are you free? ill give you a box o beer.
I'll jump into it tomorrow, your advice will get me through it im sure.

[Spec B Wgn]

you can drain the power steering fluid from the reservoir with a syringe.. no needle needed..

[smythie]

are the wheels the black rubber things that touch the road?

[Spec B Wgn]

where's andygt when you need him

[Breeze91]

You can get an airlock in your PS hose and it sounds bloody awful. You think you have stuffed you PS pump. This can happen if you loosen the top hose off the pump and you get air in there.

Also it should be trans fluid in Subarus - not PS fluid - again weird. I ran PS fluid for a while in one of mine and the noise was louder and the steering heavier. Going back to trans fluid fixed it. Check your manual.

The standard to bleed the pump in the old manual was to turn the steering from side to side 7 times.

You can use Tek's method above but it does take some skill and co-ordination and fluid can easily go everywhere. After succeeding in being drenched before when trying to do this on my own I now prefer to replace the belts at the same time and when the belt is off you turn the ps pump by hand and top up as you go. Much easier that way. Tek is correct - for some reason only known to subaru, nissan and honda - they think you don't need to change the fluid BUT you do get a burn't smell to the PS fluid over time.

Sounds like you have an Auto - but when you do the diffs drain the oil then poke your finger in there wiggle it all around ( you will be suprised how much gunk is on the bottom). Run some more fluid through there to flush then top up.

Brakes - I wouldn't go there if I were you but if you did start by bleeding the furthest wheel from the master cylinder until the new fluid colour comes out. Then work around till you get to the closest wheel to the MC. Crack them one more in the same order for a couple of pumps for good measure.

[coyote]

where's andygt when you need him

At the dealership, getting something checked.

[Spec B Wgn]

where's andygt when you need him

At the dealership, getting something checked.