2001 VDC 3.0 Outback  wagon, automatic. What type gear oil to use, and how can I tell if it is a LSD rear differential or not. Want to make sure I have the right oil.  thanks

H6 VDC's are LSD - but the unit is a self contained VLSD so it doesn't matter in terms of which fluid to get. 

 

follow the owners manual - an 80W gear oil is fine.  rear is like 0.8 quarts i think.  an owners manual is great for fluids, capacities, fuses, tires, etc, i'd get one.  sometimes they're available free online digitally. 

^^ what he said.

 

If you're curious about whether you have LSD in the rear;  chock front wheels, put car in N,  lift the rear of the car, spin a rear wheel - if the other rear wheel moves in the same direction, you have LSD.

 

when changing the fluid, remove the fill plug first, drain plug second. Clean the sludge from the magnet - there should be no large particles. I had to use a floor jack on the handle of a 1/2" breaker bar to loosen the plugs.

 

filling is easier with something like this;

 

Edited September 6, 20169 yr by 1 Lucky Texan

Correction, VDCs do NOT have an LSD. LLBeans, and cold weather package 4-cylinders do, but the VDC cars rely on the extra traction/stability control system.

 

 

But, either way, modern LSDs are sealed units, and do not effect what fluid to use. Off the top of my head, I thought it was just over 1 qt of fluid for the rear, but I'm not sure. We use 75w90 syn blend at the dealership where I work. But the rear diffs are not terribly picky, really any GL-5 gear oil is fine.

Thanks

oh yeah right VDC doesn't have rear LSD and probably can't/shouldn't or not needed. 

 

the cars 101 site suggests VDC's have LSD but it's just a typo.  it says "Limited Slip" on XYZ models and then "H6 VDC adds on to those XYZ model features" - i'm implying it has all the same stuff as that previous 4 banger, but not the case.