I never thought I'd be posting one of these major goof-up threads, but here goes...

 

I walked into my darkening garage and grabbed what I thought was the tranny fluid bottle. It is the same shape but a different color than the oil bottles. Needless to say as I start pouring it in I notice the color is not right and that I have indeed grabbed 10w-30 oil. I stopped immediately and filled the rest with the correct tranny fluid. Maybe 2-3 oz of oil was poured in.

 

Am I ok?

 

Any need to flush the rack now, or will it be alright... TIA.

Was the car running? If not, you might be able to get away with just suctioning (yes, turkey baister) the resevour out. If it was running, a flush might be in order. It depends on how much was put in and how it reacts.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If you haven't started the car, I would just siphon as much back out of the reserviour like the previous post. If you have driven the car around, I wouldn't worry about that either. It's gotta be better for the system than air, as I assume it has been leaking anyway???

 

I've done the same thing in an automatic transmission, about a whole quart! I was in a bind so I didn't drain it out and I have since put about 10k on it that way!

 

I'm no expert on the matter but I would guess that the oil will just not has as much of a firmness to it under pressure, but I doubt you would even notice a difference.<img>

You'll be fine - the subaru PS systems are almost bullet proof. Crack the high pressure line off the pump (the 17mm one) and run the engine till it drains the system. Then refil with ATF. Oil and ATF mix readily, so no worries. 10w30 just isn't a hydrualic fluid, so probably wouldn't work well in the pump for long-term (cavitation and such), but I wouldn't hessitate to use it in a pinch.

 

GD

yeah you have to remember this IS a subaru were talking about here... itl take anything you wana give it... i bet if you peed in the fuel tank , just to get home, it would work!

yeah you have to remember this IS a subaru were talking about here... itl take anything you wana give it... i bet if you peed in the fuel tank , just to get home, it would work!

dang i almost pissed in the tank one time i was low on fuel but then i found a stray 10 buck bill that had gotten lost in the jungle i call my suby!!! no i was just kidding about pissing into the tank but the lost bill and low fuel are true.

We drink enough around here, we joke that we piss 80-proof, and that it'll work as ethanol in the tank:) just let it settle, strain off the alky, and dump it in. Tempted to test that theory on a lawnmower one of these days...