Great video! I plan do change the diff and gear box oil on my 2005 Forester since a shop quoted me $340 + tax to have all 3 changed. Also , a charge of $300 to change the squeaking alternator belt...Damn inflation...Thank you for posting this detailed video!
nice work with this video. nothing like an impromptu bath in old diff oil! mmm, the fragrance lasts for days. seriously, changing diff fluids is so overlooked, especially with 4wd/awd vehicles. use high-quality (preferably synthetic) fluid and your car will thank you. those tapered-thread rear diff plugs can really be tight - yours isn't even all rusty & crusty like many rust belt examples are. some of those ones are just about welded in. I did the same job on our 09 Forester (both diffs) and found a way to make it a lot easier to get the fill/drain plugs loose: - get a couple of 20" 1/2-inch extensions and a 13mm square socket (NAPA sells the 13mm for $10). the 13mm square is a perfect fit for the rear plugs (a 1/2" is actually 12.7mm) - the 40" worth of extension is long enough to run right out past the bumper so you can hook up your breaker bar in back of the car and apply ALL the leverage, instead of wasting time mucking about underneath. - supporting the extension end at the breaker bar on a spare jackstand perfects this method. a word of caution - you never ever want to use an impact wrench on those plugs no matter how frustratingly tight they might be, since they are steel plugs in an aluminum casing. a seized fill plug with the drain plug out might be a bad day, but a cracked diff casing is an outright disaster.
how did it drive after you serviced the front and rear diff? anything noticeable. also thank you for always bringing us forester content, and putting in the time to link the products you use. super appreciated.
Not trying to be rude but that’s the oil pan and oil filter not the transmission oil filter. Just thought I’d mention this so people don’t drain and fill one with the wrong intention..
No, that is the transmission oil pan and filter. The engine oil pan is not flat like that, and the oil filter is near the headers. Not to be rude or anything, just being informative 👍
Not to be rude or anything but the engine oil filter and oil sump drain hole is in the front of the engine and you could literally change the oil yourself by reaching under the bumper and unsrewing the filter and the oil plug screw. Let the oil drain out onto a basin from under the kitchen cupboard (you can wash and reuse it no one would know) then put in a new filter and add one quart less than a gallon oil. Just remember to screw back the oil plug before and make it tight. The filter is usually a hand tight and loosen.
Someone earlier here said it was a 13 mm. square socket. Alternately, you could use a 1/2” drive with NO socket at all, just the bare square drive, but thats only 12.7 mm.
You probably mean LSD. Limited Slip Differential. I have the 2005 and before 2.5XT and it has the LSD according to Internet people. Limited Slip Differential 😅
Keep the car on the ramps, or push it off the ramps to even ground. The ramps are there to make it easier to get under the car. I filled the diff then started the car and drove off the ramps so it was even, then added a tiny bit more once on the ground, not much is needed
For the rear I had to use my feet, one to press the half inch into the plug and the other to push up as hard as I could on the breaker bar, then it freed up
Great video! I plan do change the diff and gear box oil on my 2005 Forester since a shop quoted me $340 + tax to have all 3 changed. Also , a charge of $300 to change the squeaking alternator belt...Damn inflation...Thank you for posting this detailed video!
Just did mine and your video was the only one I needed! Thanks man!
nice work with this video. nothing like an impromptu bath in old diff oil! mmm, the fragrance lasts for days.
seriously, changing diff fluids is so overlooked, especially with 4wd/awd vehicles. use high-quality (preferably synthetic) fluid and your car will thank you.
those tapered-thread rear diff plugs can really be tight - yours isn't even all rusty & crusty like many rust belt examples are. some of those ones are just about welded in. I did the same job on our 09 Forester (both diffs) and found a way to make it a lot easier to get the fill/drain plugs loose:
- get a couple of 20" 1/2-inch extensions and a 13mm square socket (NAPA sells the 13mm for $10). the 13mm square is a perfect fit for the rear plugs (a 1/2" is actually 12.7mm)
- the 40" worth of extension is long enough to run right out past the bumper so you can hook up your breaker bar in back of the car and apply ALL the leverage, instead of wasting time mucking about underneath.
- supporting the extension end at the breaker bar on a spare jackstand perfects this method.
a word of caution - you never ever want to use an impact wrench on those plugs no matter how frustratingly tight they might be, since they are steel plugs in an aluminum casing. a seized fill plug with the drain plug out might be a bad day, but a cracked diff casing is an outright disaster.
This is under-rated advice. Thank you.
how did it drive after you serviced the front and rear diff? anything noticeable. also thank you for always bringing us forester content, and putting in the time to link the products you use. super appreciated.
Absolutely love your Fozzy! I just replaced my diff fluid on my 05 OBXT. Not too difficult luckily. I subbed man!
That exhaust looks nice. Although great tip about removing the fill plug BEFORE removing the drain plug haha.
Love the Subaru content. I got an 05 forester ll bean edition.
This looks about the same procedure on a 2006 Outback XT. Thanks for the vid!
You're a king. I just did this myself thanks to you!
Not trying to be rude but that’s the oil pan and oil filter not the transmission oil filter. Just thought I’d mention this so people don’t drain and fill one with the wrong intention..
No, that is the transmission oil pan and filter. The engine oil pan is not flat like that, and the oil filter is near the headers. Not to be rude or anything, just being informative 👍
Not to be rude or anything but the engine oil filter and oil sump drain hole is in the front of the engine and you could literally change the oil yourself by reaching under the bumper and unsrewing the filter and the oil plug screw. Let the oil drain out onto a basin from under the kitchen cupboard (you can wash and reuse it no one would know) then put in a new filter and add one quart less than a gallon oil. Just remember to screw back the oil plug before and make it tight. The filter is usually a hand tight and loosen.
Dude you really do sound like Ryan Reynolds lol but great video!
Mad, super helpful mate thanks
Try placing a flattened cardboard box underneath your work are as there will inevitably be spills.
Came for the video , stayed for the laughs 👍🙃
Great video! Quick question, what's the measure for the allen wrench on rear differential?
He said it was a 1/2” drive. Just use a socket wrench or breaker bar with a 1/2” drive - no socket.
Someone earlier here said it was a 13 mm. square socket. Alternately, you could use a 1/2” drive with NO socket at all, just the bare square drive, but thats only 12.7 mm.
8:36 You can even see it labeled : Diff Oil
Thank you!
I’m not sure the 2005 has the VDC/VDT thing that brakes slipping wheels to drive it on the one wheel not spinning?
You probably mean LSD. Limited Slip Differential.
I have the 2005 and before 2.5XT and it has the LSD according to Internet people.
Limited Slip Differential 😅
@@jorickjoetoep yeah it does, even the XS had LSD then as well. the X did not
Quick question how did you get the car off ramps once fluid was out you said the same thing for atf flush. Did you start the car?
Keep the car on the ramps, or push it off the ramps to even ground. The ramps are there to make it easier to get under the car. I filled the diff then started the car and drove off the ramps so it was even, then added a tiny bit more once on the ground, not much is needed
That was pretty funny.
Hey bro quick question what mm size hex bit socket do you use for the diff plug ???
The rear diff is 13mm square drive (not hex), but you can use a 1/2 inch ratchet/breaker with no attachment. The front is T70 Torx bit (not hex).
Ferris!
This should work for a 2004 xt right?
Yes
1:04 😂
If you lift the car from the back,you won't drain it properly.
He lifted it to get a better grip on loosening the fill and drain plugs, not to actually drain anything. For that he made the car level again.
Do you have to do both the front and rear at the same time?
No, you can do just one if need be
They shouldn’t be that tight!
For the rear I had to use my feet, one to press the half inch into the plug and the other to push up as hard as I could on the breaker bar, then it freed up