hey i was wondering about changing my trannsmission oil and rear differential oil in my 1984 subaru Brat GL. and in my owners manual it says to use 80w or 85w or 90 depending on the temperature, but im confused because it says the transmission and differential takes the same kind. if you could verify if that sounds right, that would be great, i dont want my brat screwed up by a mistake, thanks!

Unless its an automatic, the book is correct. Every manual transmission ive come across has taken gear oil: because it's just essentially a "gear box".

They would both take oil suitable for a ring-and-pinion gear set, since the tranny also contains a "diff".

but when i get on autozones website i will enter my car and search for oil suitable for the transmission and it just comes up with ATF oil, not the oil that is specified in the manual?

but when i get on autozones website i will enter my car and search for oil suitable for the transmission and it just comes up with ATF oil, not the oil that is specified in the manual?

 

Autozone is wrong.

 

It's not a magical know all auto guru.

 

It's just a database that's been entered in by somebody....and they made a mistake.

Do you want to go by what the Autozone website is telling you what to put in your Subaru or do you want to go by what the company that manufactured the vehicle is telling you to put in your vehicle?

 

Gear oil goes in manual transmissions.

 

Gear oil goes in manual transmissions.

 

Ussually

 

I've seen some fords that spec ATF.

 

I even had an 83 honda civic that spec'd 10w40 engine oil!!! I could not believe it when I read it in the owners manual. Sold that car when the tranny blew up....go figure.

Ussually

 

I've seen some fords that spec ATF.

 

I even had an 83 honda civic that spec'd 10w40 engine oil!!! I could not believe it when I read it in the owners manual. Sold that car when the tranny blew up....go figure.

 

 

LOL! You know what's funny? I had it typed in there about the fox-body mustangs I heard that ran ATF but I took it out because I couldn't remember the specifics. I do know that a couple people I know personally had those mustangs with ATF in the gearbox from the factory (It shifts so smooth!) but the trannys all wound up grenading. hahaha

80-90 gear lube as stated for your trans.

 

Keeping with the ATF in manual trans'd vehicles;

I had an '76 Olds Starfire, 231 CI V6, 5-speed manual, used ATF in the trans.

Same trans that one would find in the HURST OLDS of that same era.

I do know that a couple people I know personally had those mustangs with ATF in the gearbox from the factory (It shifts so smooth!) but the trannys all wound up grenading. hahaha

 

Shifts smooth, and helps gas mileage. Kills the tranny.

Assuming the car is an automatic, the trans takes ATF dextron II/III, BUT, there is a front differential tat takes regular gear oil. A lot of AT failures can be blamed on the wrong or no fluid in the front diff. Be aware that there are 2 dipsticks and 2 drainplugs on all subaru auto trans.

 

manual trans just takes straight up gear oil as the rear diff would. Manual trans has one drain plug and dip stick.

I use ATF and have for 100K+, 3 vehicles. Gear oil wont work here in the winter. I suppose synthetic would though.

And 75W90 Gear oil. I use Extra S From the subaru dealer but many don't sell it in less than 20 liter amounts.