i drove my 98 outback about 40 mi. then stopped on a STEEP hill pointing downhill i turned the car off for about 2 min. then restart when i started the at oil temp light flashed about 4 or 5 times im not sure it caught me off guard

first...check the fluid level and condition....

looks good

 

that is the only time it has happened so far

i drove my 98 outback about 40 mi. then stopped on a STEEP hill pointing downhill i turned the car off for about 2 min. then restart when i started the at oil temp light flashed about 4 or 5 times im not sure it caught me off guard

 

It means the TCM has stored a fault code for the transmission. I don't recall how to read them offhand, I've done it before it's not hard, but search on this site and you'll find the procedure.

For a 98 I believe you have to use a scan tool. You can have a dealer read the codes. Have them tell you the excact code #, not just a general description of what they say the code is for.