I have a 97 impreza 3.9 manual that I am swapping in a 4.11 manual from a outback legacy this weekend. The transmission is from a junkyard. I need to know what is the factory recommended trans fluid, or a cheap good alternative to use. So I can see if the transmission is good or has problems. If it has problems I can return it, but if it is good I will drain out the cheapo fluid and I have the redline and motul mixture to put in it. those fluids cost around 70 bucks and I don't want to waste it on a bad tranny. I just need a fluid that will allow me to try out the tranny and not hide any problems it might have. Anybody that has a manual transmission please post up what you use and have used, how it works, what the cost is, and which worked better, synthetic or regular

 

Thanks in advance

Edited July 31, 200916 yr by oooo

If its just for a short time just use the proper weight gear oil. Ain't gonna hurt it to go a few miles just to see if it works.

I have a 97 impreza 3.9 manual that I am swapping in a 4.11 manual from a outback legacy this weekend. The transmission is from a junkyard. I need to know what is the factory recommended trans fluid, or a cheap good alternative to use. So I can see if the transmission is good or has problems. If it has problems I can return it, but if it is good I will drain out the cheapo fluid and I have the redline and motul mixture to put in it. those fluids cost around 70 bucks and I don't want to waste it on a bad tranny. I just need a fluid that will allow me to try out the tranny and not hide any problems it might have. Anybody that has a manual transmission please post up what you use and have used, how it works, what the cost is, and which worked better, synthetic or regular

 

Thanks in advance

 

I assume this car is a front-wheel-drive only?

 

Dave

no the car is all wheel drive. I am also swapping in a 4.11 rear diff to match the 4.11 manaul trans. I just heard subaru's seem to work way better on certain types of fluid and are like crap on others, hence my redline shock proof and motul combo going in once the condition of the tranny is determined. So I guess I should go with something like one of these: Valvoline 75w90, Mobil 1 75w-90, or Castrol dino 80W90

Drain the fluid out of your old trans and use it :lol:

 

Yes, all of those fluids are fine. In my experience with the manual trans you're not going to have any problems running anything in it.

 

If anything the lower end stuff might show you warn synchro's that the others cover up. I'd go with the regular weight oil (non synthetic) shown in the manual.