sea foam for anto tranny

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:05 pm

Why does crap like this happen to me…. The used Subaru I just bought for my son has some tranny issues. He’s says it’s slipping between 1st and 2nd. We drove that thing for a few miles before we bought it and it showed no sign of slipping, oh well, it’s mine now. I was talking w/ a friend of mine earlier and he mentioned to add some sea foam to the tranny and drive for about 100 miles and then change the fluid. From what I can tell, the tranny fluid was changed at about 130k according the receipts I have on the car. I’m prepared for the worst and hoping for the best. I’ve had good luck in the past w/ the valvoline high mileage formula tranny fluid. Did wonders for that green camaro I had.

So, the question is, is it worth adding the sea foam or just change the fluid and see what happens.

Also, are there any other additives you would recommed adding to the transmission to keep this thing afloat for a few more months?

TIA!!

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... t=sea+foam

Searched for more, but that's all I found to contribute.

Subaru sells some kind of high-performance fluid that they put in the 5 spd autos. I put it in our 05FXT 4spd auto at Ryan Davis' recommendation, and it did make it shift crisper. Will put it in the 08FXT when it's time to change the fluid.

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

Oh, also - you did check the level & make sure it's auto transmission fluid, right? Because lots of places love to put gear oil in the auto trans and auto trans fluid in the front diff. They also love to drain the transmission and add 4.5 qts of oil to the engine. (happened at the dealership in Fayetteville shortly before I worked there) :lol:

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:18 pm

Rodney, I would likely try Lucas Stop Slip over Seafoam. Do a true transmission flush with the car and put in a high quality fluid with a quart of Stop Slip. It may do the trick. - AB

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Aaron Buckley wrote:

Rodney, I would likely try Lucas Stop Slip over Seafoam. Do a true transmission flush with the car and put in a high quality fluid with a quart of Stop Slip. It may do the trick. - AB

x2 - the Lucas syrup is letting me get a few more miles out of the trans on my truck.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:53 pm

I've had good luck with Trans-X in a couple of slushboxes.....even used some in a crappy PS pump and it helped alot.

We used some in an Olds Delta 88 that belonged to my wife's grandfather after he died. The tranny was slipping like a mofo, we put in a QT of trans-X and drove it around the block and it was literally like magic how it worked.

Of course, we promptly sold it so I can't tell you how long the magic lasted........

:shock:

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:53 pm

Kevin Allen wrote:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=548621&highlight=sea+foam

Searched for more, but that's all I found to contribute.

Subaru sells some kind of high-performance fluid that they put in the 5 spd autos. I put it in our 05FXT 4spd auto at Ryan Davis' recommendation, and it did make it shift crisper. Will put it in the 08FXT when it's time to change the fluid.

Is this Subaru specific or does any other place sell this tranny fluid under another name? If it's subie specific, do I just need to ask for the high performance trans fluid at the parts counter? How would a mix of the HP fluid + a quart of the Lucas trans fluid be? That a little over kill?

Thanks Kevin...

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:26 am

RodneyWright wrote:

Is this Subaru specific or does any other place sell this tranny fluid under another name? If it's subie specific, do I just need to ask for the high performance trans fluid at the parts counter? How would a mix of the HP fluid + a quart of the Lucas trans fluid be? That a little over kill?

Thanks Kevin...

I would think if it is slipping in 1st and 2nd gear already, nothing is overkill. - AB

RobLupella · **Posted:** Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:36 pm

Is this the same son that blew up his paseo? If so, you might think about a new son. This model sounds kinda expensive. :wink:

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:02 pm

RobLupella wrote:

Is this the same son that blew up his paseo? If so, you might think about a new son. This model sounds kinda expensive. :wink:

LOL, yeah, same one. Unfortunately, I signed some long term papers, so I have to keep him a while longer. Hiring a lawyer to review options :wink:

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:42 pm

OK, here's what happened so far. I pulled out about 3 quarts of tranny fluid and refilled w/ 2 quarts of valvoline maxlife and 1 quart of lucas stop slip. Drove about 30 miles and it still slips, but found something interesting while driving the back roads. On either a straight take off or a right turn take off from a stop, the tranny slips going from 1-2.

Now what's interesting, is every time I take off from a stop and go left, it's just as tight as it can be, no slips and I can do this consistantly. I think these cars have a viscous coupling for the tranny. And I on to something here or am I still screwed transmission wise?

Comments from you subie owners?

I guess I also need recommendations for a good transmission shop. Rex at happy jap's says he doesn't do trannies.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:21 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

OK, here's what happened so far. I pulled out about 3 quarts of tranny fluid and refilled w/ 2 quarts of valvoline maxlife and 1 quart of lucas stop slip. Drove about 30 miles and it still slips, but found something interesting while driving the back roads. On either a straight take off or a right turn take off from a stop, the tranny slips going from 1-2.

Now what's interesting, is every time I take off from a stop and go left, it's just as tight as it can be, no slips and I can do this consistantly. I think these cars have a viscous coupling for the tranny. And I on to something here or am I still screwed transmission wise?

Comments from you subie owners?

I guess I also need recommendations for a good transmission shop. Rex at happy jap's says he doesn't do trannies.

problem solved
3 lefts = 1 right
4 lefts = straight

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2008 4:56 pm

Ok, I know like nearly zero about auto transmissions, so this is a totally wild guess and I am making this up as I go. But to me this sounds like some type of starvation issue. From what little I know auto transmission, the hydraulic pump in the transmission should pull fluid from the sump. I don’t know how they do this. If it is a pipe or if it is a channel that is cast/machined into the case. But let’s say it has a pickup issue (like maybe there is a leak in the pipe or the end is not down deep in the sump, or an internal baffle is loose or missing) and that if you accelerate or turn right, that it can’t pickup properly and then starves for fluid and creates a low pressure situation and then you feel it slip. But if you turn left, it somehow is able to pickup fluid OK and you don’t have a slip.

Good luck on figuring it out.

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

Since I read Richard's post, I just wanted to add that there is an internal filter in the Subaru automatics, and maybe if it hasn't ever been replaced, it's coming apart. You remove the pan on the bottom to replace it.

Okay, now that I've started thinking about looking stuff up in the service manual, which I have an electronic copy of, duh!, I just looked up your symptom. Here is what the manual says:

Symptom:
slippage occurs from first to second gear

Problem parts:
TCM
throttle position sensor
2-4 brake duty solenoid
ATF temp sensor
line pressure duty solenoid
control valve
2-4 brake
2-4 brake timing solenoid
high clutch

If you want a copy of what I have, I can put it on a CD and take it to the rallyx school tomorrow. It's for 2002 Impreza, but the transmission should be very similar, maybe even the same.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:01 pm

Could the turning and slipping issue be realted to motor/trans mounts?

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sea foam for anto tranny

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