I've had two experiences now with changing the CVT fluid, dropping the factory fluid & putting in Amsoil CVT fluid. 35 years now working on cars, trucks motorcycles etc and it's still hard to believe the very tangible difference in performance. These CVT transmissions really like Amsoil CVT fluid!
I have a 2018 Subaru Legacy 3.6R with CVT. It's my second CVT Subaru. (2015 Forrester) I have had no problems with either of those cars and would recommend them to anyone. I am a car guy from a car family. Driving, for me, is one of the most enjoyable parts of life. I'm passionate about it! Get it? It's such a boring, stale, and old meme to hate on CVT transmissions. Yeah, I'd get a manual if I had a Porsche or even a Mustang GT. But seriously, this Subaru CVT transmission isn't unreliable or "gay" (comment by a moron). I drive mine really aggressively at times and the thing just takes it and asks for more. So please understand that some of us have different opinions from the haters. Finally, electric cars mate beautifully to CVT's. They'll work perfectly for that application and will only get better over time.
You've clearly never gone up a hill on a dirt road with either of those cars. My stick subaru does it no problem. there are literally tons of youtube videos showing the cvt can't make more than like 40 to 60ft-lbs of torque in certain circumstances
LOL, you've had the car for just a few years and haven't driven far no doubt. My 2011 Liberty CVT just had a "solenoid" or something that controls the oil pressure for the torque converter (the drive phase where the gearbox/converter locks up into full CVT mode) fail so it feels like it clunks into gear when it used to smoothly convert to full CVT mode. The car has done 256000km so I'd expect things to fail but not be basically unservicable. These things are designed to not be serviced (as told to me by Subaru) so will cost $1500 - $2500+ to fix (parts are $2000 before labour, or I could get a second hand CVT to save a few dollars) as the whole thing has to come out and be pulled apart. I love how a CVT drives but whoever designed it is a dick head considering my 23 year old Ford Falcon has hardly any issues at 318000km and if it does it costs a couple hundred dollars to fix. I'm going to contact Subaru about this as their CVT's are known to have issues (Google it)
These Transmissions have been around for years on large Industrial Punch Presses. I've got a 2016 Forester and love it, though I am a very gentle driver. I really like not shifting. Guessing that this transmission is not for Trailer pulling or other rough use.
I've been an industrial mechanic worked on hundreds of these which has common Reeves drives and us drives what is basically the same thing cvts a little more complex Commonly used before the innovation of variable frequency drives to control motor speed
I know Subaru is recommending service only if you are towing or driving under extreme conditions, but maybe the cvt fluid should just automatically be changed every 30k miles. Preventative maintenance
That will actually cause more leaks and discount mechanic misadventures than it would do to prevent CVT failure. Unfortunately the alternative puts it out of warranty. Just getting over my first serious hatch...sadly she had already been out of warranty right about that time where we found out she had CVT (disorder). Fortunately I was able to blame it on the electrical component recall causing uneven resistance at the breaks, dif and CVT like I did. Dealer was happy to fix it on Subaru's dime. Now she's not just running tight...Dare I say she might be tighter than die hard catholic girl's father hopes for when even though she's off to band camp. Knew she wouldn't stay like that forever so I quit while I was ahead. Gave up on my dream to make it as a pro skater with his sold the rights to that brand of personal vaporizers that's always getting suit...Now I spend my days writing elaborate bullshit in the comments section under youtube videos. It ain't much but it's enough to take care of the Porsche and I and still come out ahead on quality time and repair costs. (Even paying 700 dollars for her expensive taste in lube I'm now debt free and 500,000 dollars ahead of last year not having to worry about CVT repairs and all the court charges associated with blowing sick clouds at the 5.0 to block them out for being haters. After growing the fuck up and refining my taste I've learned a there 3 key considerations when deciding whether to cut your losses . 1. CVTs are have been around for a while but just haven't had the same number or R&D hours thrown at them as a trusty stick or most newer geared autos. Despite the reduction in complexity on paper the R&D needs to catch up for most of their theoretical advantages to be genuinely worth the drawbacks. 2. Keep in mind that Subaru decided to trust Nissan to design and supply their CVT. (Toyota was outbid but supposedly their CVT is bulletproof...but still a CVT.) 3. This issue affects about 5% of units. To put this in perspective of every 25 guys and gals who make the decision bring these cars into your life 1 will be emotionally abusive, gaslighting them into becoming hollow shells of their once happy selves - Know what to look out for and put your foot down early...If that fails hiring a professional is likely covered by the powertrain warranty if you don't ignore the signs. Be careful with the latter of the 3 however...she's still like that crazy red headed catholic girl and just leave you like the social studies Prof she's calling daddy. Eventually you'll probably catch on to her antics but after after putting up with her drama but realize a moment of clarity too little too late because she spent all your money on the "body work" with your only solution left being to insert your 2nd favorite mötley crüe album into the single CD slot ...Couldn't use kickstart the heart because it's on your android that is constantly ignored by the ice cold temperament of the 2015 subaru starlink headunit. Settling for "home sweet home" You realize you've made just another poor decision to add to the snowball of mediocrity that have ultimately become you and proceed to floor it 0-59mph in a blazing 15 seconds balling your eyes out as you run it off a cliff before you can even get a taste of 60. Not that you'll have had any business expecting better for yourself given your low expectations coupled with that acquired deranged taste of yours to punish and blame yourself. This time will come well before it's time to replace the CVT so don't worry about prolonging it's life. You're only feeding your disease. Instead... KILL IT WITH FIRE! SELL IT TO A FLATULANT 300LB UBER DRIVER ANYTHING BEFORE IT CONSUMES YOU!
jake lami have you seen the transformation of the fluid after 50k miles? It’s pretty degraded. All fluid gets hot, breaks down, and gets contaminated. The manual itself states several factors like weather, towing, where it recommends the fluid to be changed. Also, pretty sure Subaru made their own cvt, not jatco.
@@MrFloydroy You are correct, Subaru has been making their own CVTs for over a decade. They also recommend fluid changes at 30km & 60km in Japan & Canada. It's only the US manual that states 100k miles (15k if towing), most likely to lower the cost to own for marketing purposes. I am not a mechanic but I recommend swapping the fluid out more frequently than the US owners manual.
I dont mean to be so off topic but does anyone know a method to log back into an Instagram account?? I somehow forgot the account password. I would love any help you can offer me
@Marc Kaden I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process atm. I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I have a 2012 Impreza Sport Limited with the 2.0 and CVT, bought it from a Subie dealer at 106k with a 30k Extended Service Agreement... Subaru replaced the trans valve body last year for free at 115k, and after failing an oil consumption test at 121k 10 months ago Subaru replaced my short block for free, then two months ago at 127k my input shaft bearing went out and Subaru replaced my entire trans for a $200 deductible. Now I’m about to replace a gasket on the rear differential myself that is leaking...
While no secret was revealed, other than full disassembly required for filter change, your Oz accent gave the video a "Richard Attenborough" like effect which was enjoyable. Great video. Thank you.
Walter Black Not to mention killing starters and batteries extra quick. Hmmm.... Save a few liters of fuel or burn through lots of batteries and starters in record time? You drive a hard bargain...
I have not see these features cause these issues. The auto start/stop is only an issue if stop is prolong for hours. This could cause problems with starters if they are not built robustly though. Batteries can suffer if the engine can not respond quickly to the start up though. However, AC, even with alternators, have caused more damage as well as the older style halogen headlights. It's a common reason for Subaru's to have failed alternators and batteries, because people drive with all of their accessories and lights on. (Lost 3 alternators and 2 batteries and learned... way to late, even killed the wiring connected to the alternator, that sucked. This was on an older car and contamination was a factor.) In fact a AC takes around 20 amps and a starter between 20-30 amps. This can cause stress on the battery either way. Thing is, for a well maintained car, it take less than a revolution of the engine to restart the car. This means it takes very little of the car or the starter. I would mimic the start stop method at lights with my subie to save gas, the only thing that wore after 21 years was the lock cylinder. Which was a cheap and easy replacement.
From what i hear, consistently changing the fluid will prolong the life of the transmission. Also because the transmission has a lot of intricate parts, a "power flush" is typically not recommended.
If it helps anyone, I have the 2010 liberty with CVT transmission and a few months ago around 120k mark the CVT fluid was discoloured and needed a full flush. I used aftermarket fluid because the genuine subaru stuff is crazy expensive.. hopefully that helps people wondering what type of average life span you get out of the oil. The car was never uses for towing and hardly ever driven fast, plus there were no metal particles in the fluid. I think I'm gonna change it every 100k myself to be safe.
This is why I drive since new a 2009 Mazda 3 s hatchback 2.3 with 5 speed auto and 195,000 miles. I have been dumping money lately for suspension parts at all four corners and a trans module. A trans module is not a rebuild. At the end of the last 5000 mile oil change interval I got back from a 2000 mile Marathon trip in 50 hours. Car ran like a champ. Did not burn or leak a drop of synthetic oil.
Nice video, but I hoped you were going to delve more into their long-term reliability vs traditional transmissions. Also, you said the belt gets wider or narrower and that is not true.
This happens on any car, any history. Some failures are expected. I have seen this happen on tried and true technologies. Bearings sometimes come with defects, this is true even for high end wheel bearings for example. I had to replace a wheel bearing after 6 months because of a defect caused premature death by noise. (Which is all they noted here, it was noisy and would fail.)
And I've got a 2013 SSS Pulsar that I've given hell to with no problems. To suggest that one failed bearing in one transmission consigns them all the the dustbin is plain stupid. CVT is the future for non-performance internal combustion engine cars, which are 99% of cars on the road.
I gave a couple of my auto enthusiast friends a ride in my 2016 Legacy 3.6R. They both thought it was a stepped automatic transmission. CVTs have gotten a lot better from a performance perspective. Reliability wise...time will tell.
Any update on your 3.6 please... I've got similar (2017) with 165k kms about to do the CVT fluid as a precaution... any issues, and do ya drive it enthusiastically?
@@peterlattimore6013 Yeah I'm still driving it with spirit lol. I'm at 74k miles (119km). Still no transmission issues and only really minor stuff generally! Had my CVT fluid drained and filled around 50k miles
Exactly right. Alison transmissions, THE name in heavy duty transmissions, has an external spin on filter just like the oil filter. Gets changed with every fluid drop and the equipment remains happy.
The oil does not get dirty, so the filter is just a failsafe measure. The elements should be good for the lifetime of the transmission. If you are making metal, you will know, and you will be in the shop before the filter is full.
I have a 2006 Outback and it has an external filter that you can change like an oil filter, much better design. You still have another oil filter you can reach by taking off the oil pan. That new design is just plain stupid. CVT transmissions are not working out so well. They break and the cost to repair in many cases means you need a whole new transmission. As these cars age, you will see people junking these cars with CVT's as the cost to repair or buy a new one will just be too much. Progress is not always a better design or more reliable.
There is but the labor is so expensive most dealers just replace the entire transmission. It is much cheaper to do that and you don't have to worry about the remaining parts. If one part is worn out most likely the rest are on their way.
Thanks for the look inside. Wouldn't have minded some video of the teardown, explanation of any special tooling and such, since it looks like I'll be pulling one soon. I had been pretty happy with my wife's 2012 Outback with the CVT, until recently when the car started hesitating coming into a stop, then started stalling. Apparently there were some defective torque converters that aren't unlocking as the vehicle comes to a stop and stalls the engine. Last thing I was expecting from a Subaru was a transmission failure at only 75,000 miles, which, of course, is out of warranty. Worse, when we bought the car and I questioned the dealer about the transmission dipstick, he said there was none and went on to say there was no need to ever check or change the transmission fluid. Now, I hear the manuals are calling for changing it every 25K miles or so. Not happy.
If you've got a torque converter issue then that's comparable to having a clutch issue in a manual gearbox, and likewise would've had the same torque converter issue in a standard automatic gearbox.. No reason to throw any negativity towards the CVT at this point.
"The part that I want to show you is what the gearbox looks like." Having no gears, no gearbox is needed! The ratios that the transmission changes are pulley diameter ratios. They are contained within a transmission housing, not a gearbox! "This belt expands and contracts." No! The belt stays the same size at all times. The same length, the same width. In order for the belt to stay the same size, the functional diameter of the pulleys has to change. As one pulley gets larger in diameter, at the place where the belt makes contact with it, the other pulley must get smaller.
awesome video! cvt trans are totally alien to me but me and the wife are getting an XV soon so I've been doing my research. nice to see all the internal bits to help understand how it works.
@@DidioFRodriguezLee we bought a brand new 2015 XV not long after watching this video and it's had no problems at all. The CVT transmission works perfectly and better than most automatics I've driven.
Cool video. I can't control myself though from feeling angry while watching this because all I can think of is the $2,000 this guy probably had to spend to fix this on what seemed like a fairly new car. He's probably still paying off the car and has this added expense now.
Try that x3 or more... these things are not fun to loose and is why I'm here researching them for when I start towing occasionally with my 2016 outback.
@@Keys879 Toyota does not seem to have issues with its CVT transmissions. Toyota made a great 6-speed automatic transmission. They are having issues with the new 8 speed though. Those are not CVT transmissions. Nissan makes garbage CVT transmissions, (Jatco is the Nissan brand).
I like my 2001 Nissan Primera P12 CVT, it has 110000 Km on the clock, it still goes like new, Being aware that a CVT transmission is in your vehicle and how they work especially knowing what not to do to them like, Putting the gearbox in the opposite gear that the vehicle is moving and towing heavy loads. The gearbox will last as long as a normal automatic. Just remember DON"T MISS A SERVICE, keep the oil clean and she will last a lot longer!
The worst part of that CVT is that oil changing is essentially futile. Virtually none make it past 150,000 miles, and most die between 80 and 120,000 miles. The Nissan drive belt and most all early Jatco trannies have a dependable failure time because the design of the belt elements is flawed.
Good reason to lease Subi's. They do have a high residual so lease payments are pretty good compared to other brands. Unfortunately most mfgs are going to CVT's as they help with CAFE requirements. Yes you can partly blame the govt for the CVT craze.
I own a 2003 subaru forester which has done 300,000 klm. The old 4 speed auto has only just started slipping and needing attention. I assume the new CVT gear boxes would get no where near this amount of kilometres before needing an overhaul. So my question is if maintain and serviced what sought of life span could one expect from a CVT gear box?
I'm approaching 100,000 hard kilometers and so far no issues. My car spends most of it's time in stop start traffic with a bunch of red light racing in between. If I get 200.000 out of the CVT I'll be very impressed. I've destroyed clutches in far less time.
As I understand it, it is Subaru's intent to eliminate the standard transmission entirely. You'll never guess why... safety. Well, kinda. It is their commitment to the EyeSight technology that is driving that decision. EyeSight requires control of the gearbox so that it can stop the car by applying the brakes, and a manual transmission cannot give that control to a computer (unless you have a double clutch or something like that, but that costs more in money and weight so they likely want to stay away from that). So essentially it is EyeSight's control in the name of safety that causes them to prefer CVT or auto type transmissions. Stupid, I know. As far as I'm concerned a Subaru without a standard transmission is, no longer, a Subaru. Sorry Subaru but it's true.
While I do prefer a standard transmission, my Impreza with it's cvt is actually pretty enjoyable. Stomping on it, it's pretty quick to react, although definitely slower than a standard. I can never complain about 43mpg on the highways here, and while it does whne or whirr under load, it's not very loud about it. It's fun, but I am afraid of the day it gets worn out and has to be replaced, as that transmission is also 1/3 the price of the whole car.
I would love to buy a new outback but I don't trust cvt transmissions and they no longer offer a manual option , that's to bad because I loved my manual legacy wagon
They come with a 10 year warranty now. I’ve had my 2018 3.6 liter Outback for 6 months now. I just love it. Lots of snow here in Canada, she heats up fast and nothing stops her. They say the 3.6 has a better CVT transmission than the 4 cylinder.
do you mind telling how it happened? I have a 14 forester xt with 89k miles, the check engine light just recently flashed transmission issues, it's gone away but I think it's a problem waiting to happen...
LowInformation my 2014 subaru cvt just went out today. I complained to dealer about shuddering when accelerating, they never dealt with the real issue apparently now I'm at 114k miles and over the warranty :/
Good day, I have one question for you, I just busted my Impreza 2015 cvt transmission at 99600km. It would be replace under guaranty. My question: I often use the steering paddle to down shift when I arrived to a stop or to slow down instead of using the brakes. Is this a problem for the CVT along the time? Thanks for the answer. Alain from Quebec Canada
Have a Subaru Forester 2.0 D, new since 66. Best car we have ever owned (I'm 70 yrs old and have had all the main competitor brands from new at some point). My only criticism of the Forester gearbox is that the manual electronic change (paddles) is totally unnecessary and just adds cost.
My 2015 XV was just diagnosed with this issue. My question is what kinds of issues could arise if that bearing was not replaced in a timely manner or at all. The dealership here is quoting $3,500 for a used and $8k + for new. We put a lot of miles on the car and didn't realize this was going to be that expensive of a repair. Thank you for taking the time and putting together these videos.
So, my question is how long will that metallic belt/chain last. Is it the same as a clutch. How much will it cost to replace the belt/chain? For me if it won't go 200,000 miles, no good.
Good video thanks for making and posting. I have a Subaru xv and have been told that it's a sealed unit and does not need a fluid change, I don't believe that. Do you recommend fluid changes in the Subaru cvt and if so at what km intervals?
You need to change oil fluid for every transmission at 80 km at most or at 70km for safety don't believe any one said tbe oil in transmission is lifetime
Informative video. I was considering buying a Subaru Crosstrek, I made up my mind before watching this video that it is not a wise decision to purchase one. Why can't these manufacturers have a regular automatic transmission as an option they're shooting themselves in the foot!
good thing I had the 60K ext warranty, My fucking forester needed all of it! overall Subaru is the POS I will never buy again, working good now after all the extra repairs I will go another 30000 miles then Get rid of it
It don't pay to change the cvt oil yourself the oil is 13dollars a quart a u need 7 quart s to do the job the dealer want's 220 00 let them do hassle free
@@michaelschreiber9528 you have to pump the oil in through the bottom to replace transmission fluid which the dealership has that equipment. there is no way to put oil in the transmission from above
Hi in the video you mention very special needs to keep it running well. What are they? Ie how to maintain/use it to last as long as possible? I don't suppose manual mode vs non manual mode makes a difference? Drain oil and change external filter? How often? Thank you. And how often to change the diff oil?
My dad's 2015 Outback's transmission only lasted 4 years / 95k miles, so it wasn't even paid off before the transmission failed. It's $11,600 to replace at the dealership, so it essentially "totaled" the car since it's only worth about $15k. You'd have to be out of your mind to buy one of these in my view.
1. I have heard that replacement parts and quality ones are currently hard to find, true? 2. If driven properly and quality fluid used/changed regularly, what is a reasonable expectation of duration? 3. Are these transmissions (or any automatic) made by certain companies and utilized by the different car makes? This is an excellent and concise video with great filming quality!
Thank you very much for information. So, This subaru lineartronic belt is a pull-belt, actually pull-chain. It is not a push-belt like in toyota multidrive isn't it???
I have a 2016 Forester with a CVT. The only problem I have with the CVT is the 2 second delay when you shift to or from reverse. This is a major issue if you are trying to rock the vehicle when you get stuck in snow. When I took the vehicle to the dealer to fix this problem the tech said that is normal and there is nothing they can do. He never talked about a "CVT relearn". Will the "CVT relearn" make the CVT act like a normal automatic transmission when shifting to and from reverse?
Best to upgrade Foresters that might get to drive on dirt, mud or snow to 'All Terrain & Snow' tyres - larger chunky knobs of rubber that won't get stuck in snow!
@@GraemeHarrisonAU , I agree tires make a big difference, but you still can get high centered and sometimes rocking the vehicle will get you out. Thats why I asked the question.
@3min : That tranny fluid pump should be driven directly from the engine and not from the input shaft via torque converter. There's a funky fundamental design flaw, I believe. TOYOTA employ this design to have continuously variable pressure control to operate the CVT pulley more effectively
My 07 Nissan Murano just hit 123k miles and I have a complete transfer case failure along with extreme cvt failure due to flawed design. I’m extremely wary of any car now with a CVT. Gonna try and get trade in value HA
What I'm wondering is that in most of what I've seen and read everyone says that the WRX runs out of boost after about 4000rpm, and when I watch videos of the WRX with the CVT being pushed hard the rpm's stay up near redline. So isn't the car out of it's powerband?
D Rock 75 I've got the Forester turbo, which is the same as the WRX. the torque curve is flat from 2,000 rpm to redline. It is a great drivetrain. Little to no CVT or turbo lag.
The older Subaru Transmissions had an external filter similar to an oil filter that could be changed easily on the outside of the transmission. To me the filter inside that cannot be changed without tear down looks like the sort of filter that will get dirty and clogged way before the strainer type in the sump. Sad to see and say but looks like a design flaw in my book. I love how the CVT drives though and would like a CVT Forester Turbo one day but the compromises are hard to swallow Subaru.
In 2017 I was interested in a new 2017 Forester and when I found out that the towing capacity was 1500 pounds and that was because of the CVT my interest in the Forester or any car with a CVT ended.
Great video! One question How would you test for Glycol (Antifreeze) presence in CVT Fluid or ATF Fluid). In case of transmission cooler leakeage Appreciate your Assistance. Thank you
HELLO, NOT SURE WHY BUT I'VE TRIED TO WATCH IN 3 DIFFERENT BROWSERS ON 3 DIFFERENT COMPUTERS AND THERE IS NO AUDIO. MAYBE THERE WAS IN THE PAST BUT RIGHT NOW THE AUDIO HAS BEEN DISABLED.
My friend took her car to the shop. They messed with the Transmission and the car started smoking when she got it back. They refused to fix it. She eventually traded the car for a Toyota because they do not break. Any idea what would make the car smoke really bad?
No it means you should buy something else. I'm opting out of Subaru. I had a 2012 Outback, flawless at 82k, but I'm not keeping a car with the likelihood that it'll puke its CVT after the 100k extended warranty is up. $8000 CVT replacement will more than exceed value of car. Also worried about my 2015 Crosstrek with the same CVT. Subaru should be recalling these CVT's. I didn't buy 2 Subs to have to sell them before 100k to avoid the huge hit that a CVT failure would cost. Subaru has lost my trust, confidence and business.
@bizkitgto He has no clue. But he is running on the possibility of failure. Probably has a negative personality. Just because a car blows up does not mean all cars will blow up.
In my own experience, the CVT in Subaru is quite reliable. However, the reverse gear the capabilities to climb up hill is the worse and nightmare. It could not even back up hill in light sand surface if above 20°. The Rogue and Outlander never had this issue.
CVT valve body issues are creeping up on imprezas, outbacks, and foresters I've found out recently. which is a $1200 - $1900 repair bill. I only know this now because my 2014 forester XT with 89k miles recently had a check engine light relating to transmission solenoid/TCC issues (p0700, p2763, p2762) while driving. Scary ordeal. I pulled over and got those codes before shutting off engine for 20 minutes. the CEL did go away on it's own, but that didn't give me any good feelings and may be a symptom of future issues. After a lot of research this weekend, it's most likely the valve body electronic "brain" that's faulty. this isn't uncommon in the Subaru CVT's...
Have a 2010 outback went to mechanic for engine light after they put on computer wouldn’t start. Subaru now says a inhibitor switch inside transmission has failed and I new a full new transmission as they are not able to be reconditioned. Had no transmission noise or issues prior to this diagnosis.. please help 6000 seems like a stupid outcome
I got a problem with my subaru xv crosstrec 2013 cvt, when the car rolling and push the accelration pedal any noise look like something splin. When we check the error code P0700 and P0841 What excaly the problem, and why the dealer say must replace the transmission assy?
Seems to me that Suburus that are old last longer than the new ones. My mum gave my son her old 1990 Suburu Legacy 4 door last year....my son is 17, the car is 28!...and it runs really well. Meanwhile, my neighbour has a 2012 or 13 Outback that always seems to have issues. A guy I work with has a Forrester that is always costing him money, not sure what year but it is fairly new. He says he'll never buy another one. What up, Suburu? You used to make good cars that lasted but now they are getting as unreliable and costly to fix as lesser brands.
The only issue we've had with our 2012 Outback was it began stalling occasionally when coming to a stop, due to a bad design in the torque converter. Bushing used instead of a bearing and debris was clogging a solenoid. Started around 74,000 miles, well after the warrantee expired and without any action from us, we got a letter from Subaru stating that a design flaw was causing problems in some cars & if you were having issues, post warrantee or not, bring it in to have the issue repaired at no cost. They replaced the torque converter free of charge at over 100k miles. In and out of the dealership in three hours and no further issues. Have had dozens more issues with multiple GM cars & trucks and never, ever had the level of commitment from them that we get from Subaru.
I've got a 2015 Forester I've had since 2014 (5 years) and only had two problems in 60,000 miles. A bad brake switch (which caused some really strange electrical problems making the dash light up like a Christmas tree) and a bad RR wheel bearing. Overall, pretty reliable I'd say.
Not according to Consumer Reports. Sure you will have problems with some of their cars, there is not one car in the world that is perfect, look on the internet, and you will see there are lemons, universally throughout the car world, the key is the % of lemons to peaches. You can not go by anecdotal posts, "my neighbor had this problem", "I heard about someone that had that problem". I built a computer in 2012, when I was buying the parts, from numerous online sources, I found that every single part, from every company, had some reviews saying they were bad or had some problem or other, so what I did, was buy the parts that had the highest percentage of good reviews, with a large amount of reviews. I have not had any hardware problems with it, since I built it. Knock on wood, "ha,ha".
May I ask a typical rebuild cost for the smaller cvt transmission? I have a relative whose forrester trans just failed 6 months out of warranty and of course Subaru wont help.
The stock Subaru CVT cooler is a coolant based heat exchanger. My Forester coolant normally operates at about 198 degrees F once at operating temperature. That means the CVT fluid being routed through the exchanger is being heated to at least 198 degrees F. I have an OBD device and app that is showing my CVT running at 210-212 degrees F. This is stock. I understand the exchanger provides a dual purpose, to heat the CVT fluid also, but it is my understanding CVT fluid supposed to be kept at 175 degrees F and 198 and up is too hot. Has this been a contributor to CVT failure in your opinion?
Subaru seems to be using a link chain for the meat of the CVT, which is quite different to Jatco (read Nissan) units which relies on a thinner steel push-belt design (demonstrated here: th-cam.com/video/PiwRUfFEc5k/w-d-xo.html). The contact area is a lot larger so hopefully Subaru has gotten the reliability down where Nissan still struggles in this department with belt snapping & wrecking the entire transmission.
Would you advise a manual gearbox if doing a lot of heaving towing at full weight? Also, quite a lot of off road use as well. Many thanks. Great video, thoroughly enjoyed watching.
CVT's aren't designed to tolerate pulling heavy loads. NEVER go beyond the recommended tow rate! If you plan on pulling things like large campers and boats, CVT's aren't for you.
Many thanks, I tow two large trailers with a gross weight approaching 2 tonnes so it's at full weight much of the time. Also, quite a lot of time in fields as well. I think the manual is going to be the way forward. I'm in England and we don't have much snow, but the relentless wet winters do take a toll when towing through mud etc. Many thanks.
@@simonbroddle754 If I remember correctly, the tow rates in the UK for Subaru are nearly double of the US which is around the 2k or 3klbs range. Not sure WHY exactly, might be a efficiency thing and the transmissions are geared differently. But something to consider and always just follow your user manual. Also, the rating are the SAFE level and probably at least half of their true capacity since the amount of force is variable while driving, I wouldn't test it though since tongue weight at least is something you do NOT want to over do, unless you want your front wheel to loose traction from lift. But depending on distance, you can get away with pushing it a bit. Same can be said for manuals btw.
@@darksd3626 Hi Darks D, Thank you for your reply. I do tow up to 20,000 miles/yr with one trailer now which has a gross weight of 4,400lbs, this is higher as it's a manual car. That said it is rarely loaded to that level. You raise an interesting point though about brakes. We use overrun brakes in the UK which are ok but not the best. I am very curious watching the video's and reading up on the US system of electric brakes. I like the idea of altering the bias depending on weight etc and think they offer a much better solution. Regarding tongue weight we generally have a lighter weight as it can impeded the overrun brakes if there is a lot of weight on the braking compression unit. Still love the Forester. Great tow car although, if there's one problem is that 1st gear is quite high compared to my previous two VW Tiguan's. Thank you for your advice and thoughts.
I've heard of the Subaru CVT transmission, but I've not seen one here in the USA with the Lineartronic CVT. I'd buy one if I could get it with the Lineartronic and the EE20 Boxer Diesel.
what are the differences between the the standard and wrx cvt that you say is bigger? i have been told they are called high torque models. and are available in the wrx,3.6 legacy and the forester turbo models are these all the same models?
You didn't tell us how to maintain or tell us how to drive properly to promote longevityfor this transmission. I think that's what people expected from this video. I'm an engineerbut I still would like to know if it's really OK to use the paddle shifters as I do or if it's betterfor the transmission to let it do it's own thing. I'm not racing but I live in hilly and snowyconditions so I need to gear down a lot. Is this bad for these transmissions?
Subaru say you don’t need to service it. The oil lasts the life of the transmission. I hate the sou d of that. How often would you recommend the transmission be serviced u der gentle driving on my wife’s Liberty?
that's all fine and dandy but my concern is this new technology (cvt) hase been notably problematic in comparison with traditional automatic transmissions where the main difference is how ever is in the cost of repair or even a used transmission the cost is 4 times as expensive so all or any gas (savings?) end up being lost in the expensive repairs
while i personally haven't had a cvt i'm afraid to buy one because i've yet to feel that they last to 100,000 miles they can gernade as soon as 20-30k if not even sooner. for me its an investing thing i bought the 08 when it was 5 years old, and felt i definately could get 5+ more years out of it solid EJ25 peek of its game, then 2012 rolled around and subaru started playing with shit. the CVT is one thing but those oil burning motors that replaced the EJ line ugh.
If the CVT get deteriorated over time, then 1) Can we replace only the belt. ? 2) shall we replace also the pulley ? 3. how much is the cost for replacement VVT ? 4. how many kilemeter subari CVT would typicall survive ?
My 2013 Outback (140,000) failed within a week of me driving it off the used car lot, which is how I learned about the existence of the CVT. Yikes. Apparently your best bet it to order a refurbished CVT from Subaru, which has a 12,000 miles / 1 year warranty. The cost quoted to me was $7,200.
Here in the U.S. we call them Continuously Variable Transmissions. Constantly variable sounds like a problem.
Thanks for the video. Excellent job.
I've had two experiences now with changing the CVT fluid, dropping the factory fluid & putting in Amsoil CVT fluid. 35 years now working on cars, trucks motorcycles etc and it's still hard to believe the very tangible difference in performance. These CVT transmissions really like Amsoil CVT fluid!
I have a 2018 Subaru Legacy 3.6R with CVT. It's my second CVT Subaru. (2015 Forrester) I have had no problems with either of those cars and would recommend them to anyone. I am a car guy from a car family. Driving, for me, is one of the most enjoyable parts of life. I'm passionate about it! Get it? It's such a boring, stale, and old meme to hate on CVT transmissions. Yeah, I'd get a manual if I had a Porsche or even a Mustang GT. But seriously, this Subaru CVT transmission isn't unreliable or "gay" (comment by a moron). I drive mine really aggressively at times and the thing just takes it and asks for more. So please understand that some of us have different opinions from the haters. Finally, electric cars mate beautifully to CVT's. They'll work perfectly for that application and will only get better over time.
Not much of a testimony. Your oldest CVT is 3 years old. Get back to us in 10 years.
I bet you you never drive ou of the city. Go take the Forester on some dirt road every weekend and you will slowly hate the CVT when it start slipping
You've clearly never gone up a hill on a dirt road with either of those cars. My stick subaru does it no problem. there are literally tons of youtube videos showing the cvt can't make more than like 40 to 60ft-lbs of torque in certain circumstances
LOL, you've had the car for just a few years and haven't driven far no doubt. My 2011 Liberty CVT just had a "solenoid" or something that controls the oil pressure for the torque converter (the drive phase where the gearbox/converter locks up into full CVT mode) fail so it feels like it clunks into gear when it used to smoothly convert to full CVT mode. The car has done 256000km so I'd expect things to fail but not be basically unservicable. These things are designed to not be serviced (as told to me by Subaru) so will cost $1500 - $2500+ to fix (parts are $2000 before labour, or I could get a second hand CVT to save a few dollars) as the whole thing has to come out and be pulled apart. I love how a CVT drives but whoever designed it is a dick head considering my 23 year old Ford Falcon has hardly any issues at 318000km and if it does it costs a couple hundred dollars to fix. I'm going to contact Subaru about this as their CVT's are known to have issues (Google it)
I think the CVT cars with "fake shifts" and a manual mode are a joke. No true car guy would want one.
OK 6 speed manual, 100% convince by your clever explanation. thanks for your outstanding knowledge and experience.
Excellent video despite its age. Thanks for posting. Not surprising how many companies are switching over to CVTs.
These Transmissions have been around for years on large Industrial Punch Presses. I've got a 2016 Forester and love it, though I am a very gentle driver. I really like not shifting. Guessing that this transmission is not for Trailer pulling or other rough use.
With a cooler and staying on the fluid change intervals, you could do mild to moderate towing, but nothing extreme. Look at the Ascent.
I've been an industrial mechanic worked on hundreds of these which has common Reeves drives and us drives what is basically the same thing cvts a little more complex
Commonly used before the innovation of variable frequency drives to control motor speed
I know Subaru is recommending service only if you are towing or driving under extreme conditions, but maybe the cvt fluid should just automatically be changed every 30k miles.
Preventative maintenance
That will actually cause more leaks and discount mechanic misadventures than it would do to prevent CVT failure. Unfortunately the alternative puts it out of warranty.
Just getting over my first serious hatch...sadly she had already been out of warranty right about that time where we found out she had CVT (disorder).
Fortunately I was able to blame it on the electrical component recall causing uneven resistance at the breaks, dif and CVT like I did. Dealer was happy to fix it on Subaru's dime. Now she's not just running tight...Dare I say she might be tighter than die hard catholic girl's father hopes for when even though she's off to band camp.
Knew she wouldn't stay like that forever so I quit while I was ahead. Gave up on my dream to make it as a pro skater with his sold the rights to that brand of personal vaporizers that's always getting suit...Now I spend my days writing elaborate bullshit in the comments section under youtube videos.
It ain't much but it's enough to take care of the Porsche and I and still come out ahead on quality time and repair costs.
(Even paying 700 dollars for her expensive taste in lube I'm now debt free and 500,000 dollars ahead of last year not having to worry about CVT repairs and all the court charges associated with blowing sick clouds at the 5.0 to block them out for being haters.
After growing the fuck up and refining my taste I've learned a there 3 key considerations when deciding whether to cut your losses .
1. CVTs are have been around for a while but just haven't had the same number or R&D hours thrown at them as a trusty stick or most newer geared autos.
Despite the reduction in complexity on paper the R&D needs to catch up for most of their theoretical advantages to be genuinely worth the drawbacks.
2. Keep in mind that Subaru decided to trust Nissan to design and supply their CVT. (Toyota was outbid but supposedly their CVT is bulletproof...but still a CVT.)
3. This issue affects about 5% of units. To put this in perspective of every 25 guys and gals who make the decision bring these cars into your life 1 will be emotionally abusive, gaslighting them into becoming hollow shells of their once happy selves - Know what to look out for and put your foot down early...If that fails hiring a professional is likely covered by the powertrain warranty if you don't ignore the signs.
Be careful with the latter of the 3 however...she's still like that crazy red headed catholic girl and just leave you like the social studies Prof she's calling daddy.
Eventually you'll probably catch on to her antics but after after putting up with her drama but realize a moment of clarity too little too late because she spent all your money on the "body work" with your only solution left being to insert your 2nd favorite mötley crüe album into the single CD slot
...Couldn't use kickstart the heart because it's on your android that is constantly ignored by the ice cold temperament of the 2015 subaru starlink headunit.
Settling for "home sweet home" You realize you've made just another poor decision to add to the snowball of mediocrity that have ultimately become you and proceed to floor it 0-59mph in a blazing 15 seconds balling your eyes out as you run it off a cliff before you can even get a taste of 60.
Not that you'll have had any business expecting better for yourself given your low expectations coupled with that acquired deranged taste of yours to punish and blame yourself.
This time will come well before it's time to replace the CVT so don't worry about prolonging it's life. You're only feeding your disease.
Instead...
KILL IT WITH FIRE!
SELL IT TO A FLATULANT 300LB UBER DRIVER
ANYTHING BEFORE IT CONSUMES YOU!
jake lami have you seen the transformation of the fluid after 50k miles? It’s pretty degraded. All fluid gets hot, breaks down, and gets contaminated. The manual itself states several factors like weather, towing, where it recommends the fluid to be changed.
Also, pretty sure Subaru made their own cvt, not jatco.
@@MrFloydroy Maybe I'm wrong. Nissan owns the big share in Jatco for sure. Maybe it was Shitsubishi paying the dumb kid to do their homework.
@@MrFloydroy You are correct, Subaru has been making their own CVTs for over a decade. They also recommend fluid changes at 30km & 60km in Japan & Canada. It's only the US manual that states 100k miles (15k if towing), most likely to lower the cost to own for marketing purposes.
I am not a mechanic but I recommend swapping the fluid out more frequently than the US owners manual.
Secrets or not, it's neat to see the internals of an actual production unit take apart, thanks!
I dont mean to be so off topic but does anyone know a method to log back into an Instagram account??
I somehow forgot the account password. I would love any help you can offer me
@Damien Dalton instablaster =)
@Marc Kaden I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process atm.
I see it takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Marc Kaden it worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thanks so much you saved my account!
@Damien Dalton glad I could help :)
Such a depth of knowledge ! No guess work at all. Speaks volumes for the MRT business
I have a 2012 Impreza Sport Limited with the 2.0 and CVT, bought it from a Subie dealer at 106k with a 30k Extended Service Agreement... Subaru replaced the trans valve body last year for free at 115k, and after failing an oil consumption test at 121k 10 months ago Subaru replaced my short block for free, then two months ago at 127k my input shaft bearing went out and Subaru replaced my entire trans for a $200 deductible. Now I’m about to replace a gasket on the rear differential myself that is leaking...
Maybe it's time to sell it
Harbinger lol
While no secret was revealed, other than full disassembly required for filter change, your Oz accent gave the video a "Richard Attenborough" like effect which was enjoyable. Great video. Thank you.
I bet the auto start/stop function is what killed the bearing. Horrible technology that doesn't save much fuel but kills engines and transmissions.
Walter Black
Not to mention killing starters and batteries extra quick.
Hmmm.... Save a few liters of fuel or burn through lots of batteries and starters in record time? You drive a hard bargain...
I have not see these features cause these issues. The auto start/stop is only an issue if stop is prolong for hours. This could cause problems with starters if they are not built robustly though. Batteries can suffer if the engine can not respond quickly to the start up though. However, AC, even with alternators, have caused more damage as well as the older style halogen headlights. It's a common reason for Subaru's to have failed alternators and batteries, because people drive with all of their accessories and lights on. (Lost 3 alternators and 2 batteries and learned... way to late, even killed the wiring connected to the alternator, that sucked. This was on an older car and contamination was a factor.) In fact a AC takes around 20 amps and a starter between 20-30 amps. This can cause stress on the battery either way. Thing is, for a well maintained car, it take less than a revolution of the engine to restart the car. This means it takes very little of the car or the starter. I would mimic the start stop method at lights with my subie to save gas, the only thing that wore after 21 years was the lock cylinder. Which was a cheap and easy replacement.
Walter Black Subaru does not have start stop.
Barclay Brett says it himself in this video, they do.
can confirm 2018 WRX does not stop start, I know manual impreza's and CVT impreza's with smaller CVT's use it to get fuel economy.
From what i hear, consistently changing the fluid will prolong the life of the transmission. Also because the transmission has a lot of intricate parts, a "power flush" is typically not recommended.
If it helps anyone, I have the 2010 liberty with CVT transmission and a few months ago around 120k mark the CVT fluid was discoloured and needed a full flush. I used aftermarket fluid because the genuine subaru stuff is crazy expensive.. hopefully that helps people wondering what type of average life span you get out of the oil. The car was never uses for towing and hardly ever driven fast, plus there were no metal particles in the fluid. I think I'm gonna change it every 100k myself to be safe.
Can you please give me an update how it's going without the OEM fluid? I'm looking at the penrite chain CVT fluid
My Subaru Levorg has a scheduled CVT fluid check/change at 120,000 kms.
my 2010 subaru outback gearbox was whining now the sound has gotten worse with grinding noises. thinking its a bearing.
This is why I drive since new a 2009 Mazda 3 s hatchback 2.3 with 5 speed auto and 195,000 miles. I have been dumping money lately for suspension parts at all four corners and a trans module. A trans module is not a rebuild. At the end of the last 5000 mile oil change interval I got back from a 2000 mile Marathon trip in 50 hours. Car ran like a champ. Did not burn or leak a drop of synthetic oil.
Nice video, but I hoped you were going to delve more into their long-term reliability vs traditional transmissions. Also, you said the belt gets wider or narrower and that is not true.
that is correct
People like me LOVE the Subaru EXCEPT for worry about the transmission; the question is, what brand/model is a better choice?
Jmichael Isbell never ever can go wrong with Honda or Toyota 👍
Great video. It shows that CVT technology is just not there yet in terms of reliability. A transmission should not be failing after 3.5 years
Motuariki Dub I know I was thinking the same thing I got a 25 year old 4Runner with the original four speed still running strong as hell lol
This happens on any car, any history. Some failures are expected. I have seen this happen on tried and true technologies. Bearings sometimes come with defects, this is true even for high end wheel bearings for example. I had to replace a wheel bearing after 6 months because of a defect caused premature death by noise. (Which is all they noted here, it was noisy and would fail.)
And I've got a 2013 SSS Pulsar that I've given hell to with no problems. To suggest that one failed bearing in one transmission consigns them all the the dustbin is plain stupid. CVT is the future for non-performance internal combustion engine cars, which are 99% of cars on the road.
Depends how the guy drove it also
Hah! Tell that to Ford and VW owners. Their horrible DCT fail regularly and often.
I gave a couple of my auto enthusiast friends a ride in my 2016 Legacy 3.6R. They both thought it was a stepped automatic transmission. CVTs have gotten a lot better from a performance perspective. Reliability wise...time will tell.
Any update on your 3.6 please... I've got similar (2017) with 165k kms about to do the CVT fluid as a precaution... any issues, and do ya drive it enthusiastically?
@@peterlattimore6013 Yeah I'm still driving it with spirit lol. I'm at 74k miles (119km). Still no transmission issues and only really minor stuff generally! Had my CVT fluid drained and filled around 50k miles
Why not install the filter where you can access it without tearing the whole thing apart to get it out,
Or am I just an idiot?
Exactly my thoughts
Exactly right. Alison transmissions, THE name in heavy duty transmissions, has an external spin on filter just like the oil filter. Gets changed with every fluid drop and the equipment remains happy.
Just Subaru things.
The oil does not get dirty, so the filter is just a failsafe measure. The elements should be good for the lifetime of the transmission. If you are making metal, you will know, and you will be in the shop before the filter is full.
I have a 2006 Outback and it has an external filter that you can change like an oil filter, much better design. You still have another oil filter you can reach by taking off the oil pan. That new design is just plain stupid. CVT transmissions are not working out so well. They break and the cost to repair in many cases means you need a whole new transmission. As these cars age, you will see people junking these cars with CVT's as the cost to repair or buy a new one will just be too much. Progress is not always a better design or more reliable.
Thank you for sharing this. Informative.
Excellent explanation of how it works, and description of all the bits, thank you! I'm very glad there are smart people who know how to fix these :-)
There is but the labor is so expensive most dealers just replace the entire transmission. It is much cheaper to do that and you don't have to worry about the remaining parts. If one part is worn out most likely the rest are on their way.
Interesting to see inside this and to have it explained clearly. Thank you.
Thanks for the look inside. Wouldn't have minded some video of the teardown, explanation of any special tooling and such, since it looks like I'll be pulling one soon.
I had been pretty happy with my wife's 2012 Outback with the CVT, until recently when the car started hesitating coming into a stop, then started stalling. Apparently there were some defective torque converters that aren't unlocking as the vehicle comes to a stop and stalls the engine. Last thing I was expecting from a Subaru was a transmission failure at only 75,000 miles, which, of course, is out of warranty. Worse, when we bought the car and I questioned the dealer about the transmission dipstick, he said there was none and went on to say there was no need to ever check or change the transmission fluid. Now, I hear the manuals are calling for changing it every 25K miles or so. Not happy.
If you've got a torque converter issue then that's comparable to having a clutch issue in a manual gearbox, and likewise would've had the same torque converter issue in a standard automatic gearbox.. No reason to throw any negativity towards the CVT at this point.
"The part that I want to show you is what the gearbox looks like." Having no gears, no gearbox is needed! The ratios that the transmission changes are pulley diameter ratios. They are contained within a transmission housing, not a gearbox!
"This belt expands and contracts." No! The belt stays the same size at
all times. The same length, the same width. In order for the belt to
stay the same size, the functional diameter of the pulleys has to
change. As one pulley gets larger in diameter, at the place where the
belt makes contact with it, the other pulley must get smaller.
Pretty much like a snowmobile.
awesome video! cvt trans are totally alien to me but me and the wife are getting an XV soon so I've been doing my research. nice to see all the internal bits to help understand how it works.
Do not buy it.
I hace a Forester 2017, I will prefer Otero than the cvt.
@@DidioFRodriguezLee we bought a brand new 2015 XV not long after watching this video and it's had no problems at all. The CVT transmission works perfectly and better than most automatics I've driven.
Cool video. I can't control myself though from feeling angry while watching this because all I can think of is the $2,000 this guy probably had to spend to fix this on what seemed like a fairly new car. He's probably still paying off the car and has this added expense now.
Does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling to go out and buy a Subaru.
Try that x3 or more... these things are not fun to loose and is why I'm here researching them for when I start towing occasionally with my 2016 outback.
@@darksd3626 on my third cvt in wrx 58k miles lol
@@don-cw1yz Unfortunately all makes are starting to incorporate this type of technology. Less duty time more shop time.
@@Keys879 Toyota does not seem to have issues with its CVT transmissions. Toyota made a great 6-speed automatic transmission. They are having issues with the new 8 speed though. Those are not CVT transmissions. Nissan makes garbage CVT transmissions, (Jatco is the Nissan brand).
Can you swap a CTV from a 2016-present Subaru for a 9 speed automatic transmission?
Joseph Dugan the 9 spds aren't much better imo.stick to 6-7max gears
Joseph Dugan get a manual
No. In fact, no other auto trans will fit in any Subaru.
I like my 2001 Nissan Primera P12 CVT, it has 110000 Km on the clock, it still goes like new, Being aware that a CVT transmission is in your vehicle and how they work especially knowing what not to do to them like, Putting the gearbox in the opposite gear that the vehicle is moving and towing heavy loads. The gearbox will last as long as a normal automatic. Just remember DON"T MISS A SERVICE, keep the oil clean and she will last a lot longer!
The worst part of that CVT is that oil changing is essentially futile. Virtually none make it past 150,000 miles, and most die between 80 and 120,000 miles. The Nissan drive belt and most all early Jatco trannies have a dependable failure time because the design of the belt elements is flawed.
gelul ik rij in een ecvt van '97 met meer dan 3 ton op de teller
Good reason to lease Subi's. They do have a high residual so lease payments are pretty good compared to other brands. Unfortunately most mfgs are going to CVT's as they help with CAFE requirements. Yes you can partly blame the govt for the CVT craze.
I own a 2003 subaru forester which has done 300,000 klm. The old 4 speed auto has only just started slipping and needing attention. I assume the new CVT gear boxes would get no where near this amount of kilometres before needing an overhaul. So my question is if maintain and serviced what sought of life span could one expect from a CVT gear box?
I'm approaching 100,000 hard kilometers and so far no issues. My car spends most of it's time in stop start traffic with a bunch of red light racing in between. If I get 200.000 out of the CVT I'll be very impressed. I've destroyed clutches in far less time.
I have a 2005 subaru forester and the 4 speed automatic transmission is doing fine after 200k miles on it, I'd get a manual over a cvt.
As I understand it, it is Subaru's intent to eliminate the standard transmission entirely. You'll never guess why... safety. Well, kinda. It is their commitment to the EyeSight technology that is driving that decision. EyeSight requires control of the gearbox so that it can stop the car by applying the brakes, and a manual transmission cannot give that control to a computer (unless you have a double clutch or something like that, but that costs more in money and weight so they likely want to stay away from that). So essentially it is EyeSight's control in the name of safety that causes them to prefer CVT or auto type transmissions. Stupid, I know. As far as I'm concerned a Subaru without a standard transmission is, no longer, a Subaru. Sorry Subaru but it's true.
YOU NEED TO SERVICE YOUR CVT EVERY 100 000 km that's all there is to it... ;)
Nice videos. Interesting viewing the inside of this transmission.
It would be nice to see a video on the maintenance of this transmission.
While I do prefer a standard transmission, my Impreza with it's cvt is actually pretty enjoyable.
Stomping on it, it's pretty quick to react, although definitely slower than a standard. I can never complain about 43mpg on the highways here, and while it does whne or whirr under load, it's not very loud about it.
It's fun, but I am afraid of the day it gets worn out and has to be replaced, as that transmission is also 1/3 the price of the whole car.
I love my fb20 Impreza w cvt as well. Not fast at all but great on gas and excellent in and weather
Excellent post! I'm shopping for a 2018 outback with 6 cyl engine. I hope they are reliable transmission. Thanks for posting. Prescott AZ USA
I would love to buy a new outback but I don't trust cvt transmissions and they no longer offer a manual option , that's to bad because I loved my manual legacy wagon
They come with a 10 year warranty now. I’ve had my 2018
3.6 liter Outback for 6 months now. I just love it. Lots of snow
here in Canada, she heats up fast
and nothing stops her. They say the 3.6 has a better CVT transmission than the 4 cylinder.
I had a complete failure at 87k mi. Noticed a noise at 60k mi. 14 forester. The 17 has 3 definate shifts wheras mine had one.
What did you end up doing with your car?
do you mind telling how it happened? I have a 14 forester xt with 89k miles, the check engine light just recently flashed transmission issues, it's gone away but I think it's a problem waiting to happen...
LowInformation my 2014 subaru cvt just went out today. I complained to dealer about shuddering when accelerating, they never dealt with the real issue apparently
now I'm at 114k miles and over the warranty :/
Good day, I have one question for you, I just busted my Impreza 2015 cvt transmission at 99600km. It would be replace under guaranty. My question: I often use the steering paddle to down shift when I arrived to a stop or to slow down instead of using the brakes. Is this a problem for the CVT along the time? Thanks for the answer. Alain from Quebec Canada
guess if it is a choice between a $3000 transmission (if not under warranty) or $25 brake pads, I would use the brakes!!!
Manual shifts and downshifts are harder on the cvt, or ANY automatic transmission. Just use your brakes…much cheaper to replace!
Have a Subaru Forester 2.0 D, new since 66. Best car we have ever owned (I'm 70 yrs old and have had all the main competitor brands from new at some point). My only criticism of the Forester gearbox is that the manual electronic change (paddles) is totally unnecessary and just adds cost.
My 2015 XV was just diagnosed with this issue. My question is what kinds of issues could arise if that bearing was not replaced in a timely manner or at all. The dealership here is quoting $3,500 for a used and $8k + for new. We put a lot of miles on the car and didn't realize this was going to be that expensive of a repair. Thank you for taking the time and putting together these videos.
No warranty? :(
So, my question is how long will that metallic belt/chain last. Is it the same as a clutch. How much will it cost to replace the belt/chain? For me if it won't go 200,000 miles, no good.
It can go 300k+ if you change the CVT fluid regularly.
Good video thanks for making and posting. I have a Subaru xv and have been told that it's a sealed unit and does not need a fluid change, I don't believe that. Do you recommend fluid changes in the Subaru cvt and if so at what km intervals?
You need to change oil fluid for every transmission at 80 km at most or at 70km for safety don't believe any one said tbe oil in transmission is lifetime
@@MyLife2020 45.000 km
So did the owner of the car tune it so it went over 400 NM of torque and that caused the damage? Or what damaged damaged it?
Don't think it was tuned. Just not a reliable design.
My 2015 CVT already gave out. I might be trading it for a Toyota.
Well done Sir. Really professional explanation.
really cool. I just leased a Legacy 3.6R with the High Torque CVT in it. interesting to see what its guts look like
mschiavoni1288
That car must be fun to drive 😏
actually, it turned out to be horrendously unreliable and i just traded it in
The CVT was unreliable or something else?
Thx.
no, it was the car as a whole... very frustrating
Can you share what issues you faced? I really like the Legacy, but getting more and more bad reports from owners.
Informative video. I was considering buying a Subaru Crosstrek, I made up my mind before watching this video that it is not a wise decision to purchase one. Why can't these manufacturers have a regular automatic transmission as an option they're shooting themselves in the foot!
They can theoretically get better MPG with a CVT, but that is before the fake shifts are added. (a $7K trans replacement will buy a lot of gas)
The CVT in my Subie is awesome. So is the extended warranty I bought to back it :)
good thing I had the 60K ext warranty, My fucking forester needed all of it! overall Subaru is the POS I will never buy again, working good now after all the extra repairs I will go another 30000 miles then Get rid of it
Lube Oil filter intervals??? Chain replacement intervals???
It don't pay to change the cvt oil yourself the oil is 13dollars a quart a u need 7 quart s to do the job the dealer want's 220 00 let them do hassle free
@@michaelschreiber9528 you have to pump the oil in through the bottom to replace transmission fluid which the dealership has that equipment. there is no way to put oil in the transmission from above
@@NoboDY-qu7zs that’s completely incorrect. There are dozens of how-to videos on TH-cam showing the drain and fill plug.
Como se revisa el nivel de fluido en la caja de transmisión automática del Subaru Impreza Premium 2.0 Lt. 2012.
@MRT Performance , any thoughts on a 4EAT swap?
Hi in the video you mention very special needs to keep it running well. What are they? Ie how to maintain/use it to last as long as possible? I don't suppose manual mode vs non manual mode makes a difference? Drain oil and change external filter? How often? Thank you. And how often to change the diff oil?
My dad's 2015 Outback's transmission only lasted 4 years / 95k miles, so it wasn't even paid off before the transmission failed. It's $11,600 to replace at the dealership, so it essentially "totaled" the car since it's only worth about $15k. You'd have to be out of your mind to buy one of these in my view.
1. I have heard that replacement parts and quality ones are currently hard to find, true?
2. If driven properly and quality fluid used/changed regularly, what is a reasonable expectation of duration?
3. Are these transmissions (or any automatic) made by certain companies and utilized by the different car makes?
This is an excellent and concise video with great filming quality!
Nice video. Have a 13 Outback setting a P0841, secondary pressure low. If it is an actual low pressure, where would you look?
Thank you very much for information. So, This subaru lineartronic belt is a pull-belt, actually pull-chain. It is not a push-belt like in toyota multidrive isn't it???
I have a 2016 Forester with a CVT. The only problem I have with the CVT is the 2 second delay when you shift to or from reverse. This is a major issue if you are trying to rock the vehicle when you get stuck in snow. When I took the vehicle to the dealer to fix this problem the tech said that is normal and there is nothing they can do. He never talked about a "CVT relearn". Will the "CVT relearn" make the CVT act like a normal automatic transmission when shifting to and from reverse?
Best to upgrade Foresters that might get to drive on dirt, mud or snow to 'All Terrain & Snow' tyres - larger chunky knobs of rubber that won't get stuck in snow!
@@GraemeHarrisonAU , I agree tires make a big difference, but you still can get high centered and sometimes rocking the vehicle will get you out. Thats why I asked the question.
For more torque you need a thicker belt and more pressure on the pulleys, that's logic. But how many Km/Miles did that filter service?
@3min : That tranny fluid pump should be driven directly from the engine and not from the input shaft via torque converter. There's a funky fundamental design flaw, I believe. TOYOTA employ this design to have continuously variable pressure control to operate the CVT pulley more effectively
My 07 Nissan Murano just hit 123k miles and I have a complete transfer case failure along with extreme cvt failure due to flawed design. I’m extremely wary of any car now with a CVT. Gonna try and get trade in value HA
What I'm wondering is that in most of what I've seen and read everyone says that the WRX runs out of boost after about 4000rpm, and when I watch videos of the WRX with the CVT being pushed hard the rpm's stay up near redline. So isn't the car out of it's powerband?
D Rock 75 I've got the Forester turbo, which is the same as the WRX. the torque curve is flat from 2,000 rpm to redline. It is a great drivetrain. Little to no CVT or turbo lag.
Ed Hayes , Cool. Thank you
Please explain what stops the belts from slipping inside the pulleys.
The older Subaru Transmissions had an external filter similar to an oil filter that could be changed easily on the outside of the transmission. To me the filter inside that cannot be changed without tear down looks like the sort of filter that will get dirty and clogged way before the strainer type in the sump. Sad to see and say but looks like a design flaw in my book. I love how the CVT drives though and would like a CVT Forester Turbo one day but the compromises are hard to swallow Subaru.
Putting a turbo with a CVT makes NO SENSE. One of the reasons is the CVT can't take it.
In 2017 I was interested in a new 2017 Forester and when I found out that the towing capacity was 1500 pounds and that was because of the CVT my interest in the Forester or any car with a CVT ended.
I do hear that Bill, just now, we pulled out of a deal for the 2016 Outback for that--and for general reliability issues.
Great video!
One question
How would you test for Glycol (Antifreeze) presence in CVT Fluid or ATF Fluid).
In case of transmission cooler leakeage
Appreciate your Assistance.
Thank you
HELLO, NOT SURE WHY BUT I'VE TRIED TO WATCH IN 3 DIFFERENT BROWSERS ON 3 DIFFERENT COMPUTERS AND THERE IS NO AUDIO. MAYBE THERE WAS IN THE PAST BUT RIGHT NOW THE AUDIO HAS BEEN DISABLED.
How much worse is the maintenance of this CVT compared to a discrete transmission?
The Subaru non-turbo cvt, when would you change oil?
How many fun tickets is it roughly to replace the metal belt when it shits the bed?
My friend took her car to the shop. They messed with the Transmission and the car started smoking when she got it back. They refused to fix it. She eventually traded the car for a Toyota because they do not break. Any idea what would make the car smoke really bad?
Great video, can you compare 2 diferent cvt from subaru the hi torque and the other une to see the diferent.please
I just bought a 2018 Subaru Legacy. Is this mean that I should trade it in after 4 years and get me a brand new Legacy 2022 ?
No it means you should buy something else. I'm opting out of Subaru. I had a 2012 Outback, flawless at 82k, but I'm not keeping a car with the likelihood that it'll puke its CVT after the 100k extended warranty is up. $8000 CVT replacement will more than exceed value of car. Also worried about my 2015 Crosstrek with the same CVT. Subaru should be recalling these CVT's. I didn't buy 2 Subs to have to sell them before 100k to avoid the huge hit that a CVT failure would cost. Subaru has lost my trust, confidence and business.
@bizkitgto He has no clue. But he is running on the possibility of failure. Probably has a negative personality. Just because a car blows up does not mean all cars will blow up.
In my own experience, the CVT in Subaru is quite reliable. However, the reverse gear the capabilities to climb up hill is the worse and nightmare. It could not even back up hill in light sand surface if above 20°. The Rogue and Outlander never had this issue.
My sister has a new outback and her drive is fairly steep. The car is on it's second CVT trans. in less than 1 year.
I understand that overheating can cause some serious problems for a cvt. Does it make sense to install extra cooling even on a everyday driver?
CVT valve body issues are creeping up on imprezas, outbacks, and foresters I've found out recently. which is a $1200 - $1900 repair bill. I only know this now because my 2014 forester XT with 89k miles recently had a check engine light relating to transmission solenoid/TCC issues (p0700, p2763, p2762) while driving. Scary ordeal. I pulled over and got those codes before shutting off engine for 20 minutes. the CEL did go away on it's own, but that didn't give me any good feelings and may be a symptom of future issues. After a lot of research this weekend, it's most likely the valve body electronic "brain" that's faulty. this isn't uncommon in the Subaru CVT's...
I have a 2012 impreza. Got 140k, cvt took a shit. Yet all the while dealer kept saying theres nothing to do to it. BS fluid should have been changed.
Have a 2010 outback went to mechanic for engine light after they put on computer wouldn’t start. Subaru now says a inhibitor switch inside transmission has failed and I new a full new transmission as they are not able to be reconditioned. Had no transmission noise or issues prior to this diagnosis.. please help 6000 seems like a stupid outcome
4eat at about 240k .. Slips a bit on gear changes... Any updated valve body or repair suggested?
What causes the fluid whine from the front of the first gen CVT like in a 2012 Subaru Legacy USDM?
So does the CVT use the same kind of torque converter with a hydraulic fluid as a regular automatic transmission?
I got a problem with my subaru xv crosstrec 2013 cvt, when the car rolling and push the accelration pedal any noise look like something splin. When we check the error code P0700 and P0841 What excaly the problem, and why the dealer say must replace the transmission assy?
Seems to me that Suburus that are old last longer than the new ones. My mum gave my son her old 1990 Suburu Legacy 4 door last year....my son is 17, the car is 28!...and it runs really well. Meanwhile, my neighbour has a 2012 or 13 Outback that always seems to have issues. A guy I work with has a Forrester that is always costing him money, not sure what year but it is fairly new. He says he'll never buy another one.
What up, Suburu? You used to make good cars that lasted but now they are getting as unreliable and costly to fix as lesser brands.
We have a 2013 Outback and have had zero issues with the car.
The only issue we've had with our 2012 Outback was it began stalling occasionally when coming to a stop, due to a bad design in the torque converter. Bushing used instead of a bearing and debris was clogging a solenoid. Started around 74,000 miles, well after the warrantee expired and without any action from us, we got a letter from Subaru stating that a design flaw was causing problems in some cars & if you were having issues, post warrantee or not, bring it in to have the issue repaired at no cost. They replaced the torque converter free of charge at over 100k miles. In and out of the dealership in three hours and no further issues. Have had dozens more issues with multiple GM cars & trucks and never, ever had the level of commitment from them that we get from Subaru.
I've got a 2015 Forester I've had since 2014 (5 years) and only had two problems in 60,000 miles. A bad brake switch (which caused some really strange electrical problems making the dash light up like a Christmas tree) and a bad RR wheel bearing. Overall, pretty reliable I'd say.
Not according to Consumer Reports. Sure you will have problems with some of their cars, there is not one car in the world that is perfect, look on the internet, and you will see there are lemons, universally throughout the car world, the key is the % of lemons to peaches. You can not go by anecdotal posts, "my neighbor had this problem", "I heard about someone that had that problem". I built a computer in 2012, when I was buying the parts, from numerous online sources, I found that every single part, from every company, had some reviews saying they were bad or had some problem or other, so what I did, was buy the parts that had the highest percentage of good reviews, with a large amount of reviews. I have not had any hardware problems with it, since I built it. Knock on wood, "ha,ha".
May I ask a typical rebuild cost for the smaller cvt transmission? I have a relative whose forrester trans just failed 6 months out of warranty and of course Subaru wont help.
The stock Subaru CVT cooler is a coolant based heat exchanger. My Forester coolant normally operates at about 198 degrees F once at operating temperature. That means the CVT fluid being routed through the exchanger is being heated to at least 198 degrees F. I have an OBD device and app that is showing my CVT running at 210-212 degrees F. This is stock.
I understand the exchanger provides a dual purpose, to heat the CVT fluid also, but it is my understanding CVT fluid supposed to be kept at 175 degrees F and 198 and up is too hot. Has this been a contributor to CVT failure in your opinion?
Typical CVT failure is not effected by trans oil temps, fitting a trans cooler will not make the trans stronger.
@@MRTPerformanceAustralia Interesting. If overheating transmission is not a cause for failure what is?
@@MRTPerformanceAustralia Not trying to make it stronger, just cooler so it won't overheat and cause the fluid to deteriorate.
So if I wanted to make 500 whp with a cvt Subaru wrx would this be possible
Love all your video very educational keep it up
Hello, I have 2003 forester xt blown the centre diff, and I want to swap in 2005 xt gear box. Is there any problem with compatibility issues?
Subaru seems to be using a link chain for the meat of the CVT, which is quite different to Jatco (read Nissan) units which relies on a thinner steel push-belt design (demonstrated here: th-cam.com/video/PiwRUfFEc5k/w-d-xo.html). The contact area is a lot larger so hopefully Subaru has gotten the reliability down where Nissan still struggles in this department with belt snapping & wrecking the entire transmission.
Great video! What years are these transmissions used? Thanks.
thanks brett good info . Just one question why is there a lemon on the shelf above your assembly bench ?
restolad lemon implies that every car w/ cvt is a "lemon car"??? 😆✌
Would you advise a manual gearbox if doing a lot of heaving towing at full weight? Also, quite a lot of off road use as well. Many thanks. Great video, thoroughly enjoyed watching.
CVT's aren't designed to tolerate pulling heavy loads. NEVER go beyond the recommended tow rate!
If you plan on pulling things like large campers and boats, CVT's aren't for you.
Many thanks, I tow two large trailers with a gross weight approaching 2 tonnes so it's at full weight much of the time. Also, quite a lot of time in fields as well. I think the manual is going to be the way forward. I'm in England and we don't have much snow, but the relentless wet winters do take a toll when towing through mud etc. Many thanks.
yes,manual trans
@@simonbroddle754 If I remember correctly, the tow rates in the UK for Subaru are nearly double of the US which is around the 2k or 3klbs range. Not sure WHY exactly, might be a efficiency thing and the transmissions are geared differently. But something to consider and always just follow your user manual.
Also, the rating are the SAFE level and probably at least half of their true capacity since the amount of force is variable while driving, I wouldn't test it though since tongue weight at least is something you do NOT want to over do, unless you want your front wheel to loose traction from lift. But depending on distance, you can get away with pushing it a bit. Same can be said for manuals btw.
@@darksd3626 Hi Darks D, Thank you for your reply. I do tow up to 20,000 miles/yr with one trailer now which has a gross weight of 4,400lbs, this is higher as it's a manual car. That said it is rarely loaded to that level.
You raise an interesting point though about brakes. We use overrun brakes in the UK which are ok but not the best. I am very curious watching the video's and reading up on the US system of electric brakes. I like the idea of altering the bias depending on weight etc and think they offer a much better solution. Regarding tongue weight we generally have a lighter weight as it can impeded the overrun brakes if there is a lot of weight on the braking compression unit.
Still love the Forester. Great tow car although, if there's one problem is that 1st gear is quite high compared to my previous two VW Tiguan's. Thank you for your advice and thoughts.
I've heard of the Subaru CVT transmission, but I've not seen one here in the USA with the Lineartronic CVT. I'd buy one if I could get it with the Lineartronic and the EE20 Boxer Diesel.
I liked my CVT until it died. I had less the 75k on a 2014 Subaru Outback. Will never buy a CVT again.
they have extended warranty coverage now
what are the differences between the the standard and wrx cvt that you say is bigger? i have been told they are called high torque models. and are available in the wrx,3.6 legacy and the forester turbo models are these all the same models?
You didn't tell us how to maintain or tell us how to drive properly to promote longevityfor this transmission. I think that's what people expected from this video. I'm an engineerbut I still would like to know if it's really OK to use the paddle shifters as I do or if it's betterfor the transmission to let it do it's own thing. I'm not racing but I live in hilly and snowyconditions so I need to gear down a lot. Is this bad for these transmissions?
Subaru say you don’t need to service it. The oil lasts the life of the transmission. I hate the sou d of that. How often would you recommend the transmission be serviced u der gentle driving on my wife’s Liberty?
that's all fine and dandy but my concern is this new technology (cvt) hase been notably problematic in comparison with traditional automatic transmissions where the main difference is how ever is in the cost of repair or even a used transmission the cost is 4 times as expensive so all or any gas (savings?) end up being lost in the expensive repairs
while i personally haven't had a cvt i'm afraid to buy one because i've yet to feel that they last to 100,000 miles they can gernade as soon as 20-30k if not even sooner. for me its an investing thing i bought the 08 when it was 5 years old, and felt i definately could get 5+ more years out of it solid EJ25 peek of its game, then 2012 rolled around and subaru started playing with shit. the CVT is one thing but those oil burning motors that replaced the EJ line ugh.
Question. Could I in theory get a JDM ECU and transmission ECU and get their HP #S???
If the CVT get deteriorated over time, then 1) Can we replace only the belt. ? 2) shall we replace also the pulley ?
3. how much is the cost for replacement VVT ?
4. how many kilemeter subari CVT would typicall survive ?
My 2013 Outback (140,000) failed within a week of me driving it off the used car lot, which is how I learned about the existence of the CVT. Yikes. Apparently your best bet it to order a refurbished CVT from Subaru, which has a 12,000 miles / 1 year warranty. The cost quoted to me was $7,200.
I agree Walter ,why do so much to save fuel when you chance breaking something more expensive than gasoline