Subaru Impreza - Gearbox/Diff Dipstick

[101RRS]

I am doing an oil change on a 2004 GD Subaru Impreza 2.5l RS (peanut lights). As usual the engine oil does not register on the dipstick and there is no coolant in the overflow bottle - both now fixed.

I doubt that at 155,000km the front diff/gearbox oil (one unit) has been changed nor the rear diff. Is a 5 speed manual box.

The car's handbook indicates that there is a dipstick with a yellow handle on the drivers side - sort of under the air cleaner and that gearbox oil is filled through the dipstick tube - problem is there is no dipstick and no dipstick tube.

Any clues and how do get the oil into the gearbox - rear diff is no issue - just drain and refill through the filler hole like any landy.

Thanks

Garry

[101RRS]

The gearbox dipstick is right under the airfilter snuggled right up to the rear of the block - the yellow handle was covered in crud and not visible in the garage but out on the driveway a bit of sunlight highlighted where it was.

Went to change the oil but could not get the gearbox sump plug off - is a 7.0 Torx plug. In the end I had to use a 3' breaker bar to crack it [bigsad]. Why do people want to torque sump plugs up so tight - it really only has to be tight enough to seal and not come off - really to have to use a 3' breaker bar is ridiculous.

Same with the rear diff - the plugs are 1/2" drive plugs and were done up extremely tight - one would move using the rattle gun on max torque but the other would not budge - not enough room for the breaker bar so I had to use the jack under the 1/2" rachet to crack it - again really why do they need to be so tight [thumbsupbig].

It been years that I have had to work on cars with such low ground clearance - landies are easy to roll under even if not jacked up. The Subaru would not even fit on the ramps because of its low front clearance and had to be jacked up with the associated safety concerns so - jack stands also go under but is still a tight fit.

Oh - an rotated the tyres and found the jack and wheelbrace etc are Toyota - the jack works bit the wheel brace is the wrong size - the owner has had the car for 8 years so is lucky never to have had a flat as it would not have been possible to change the wheel. So new wheel brace is needed.

Garry

[donh54]

Re: sump plugs - my pet hate was spark plugs that were done up to about 550 ft/lbs. You used to buy plug spanners with a 6 inch handle- no need for anything longer!

[trout1105]

The sump and diff plugs were most likely that tight because they have never been removed in the last 14 years [bigwhistle]

[101RRS]

The sump and diff plugs were most likely that tight because they have never been removed in the last 14 years [bigwhistle]

Yep - would have been the same with the engine sump plug too if the owner had his way. [bigsad] Until I became wise to it, the owner used to drive his old Corolla until the oil pressure light came on and then put oil in the engine - he thought the oil pressure light was the light to tell you to put oil in - when I check the dipstick in the Subaru it is usually on the stick but below the low mark.

[trout1105]

HeHe
If I got a dollar from everyone that didn't do regular under the bonnet inspections/checks I would be a millionaire many times over [bigwhistle]