Ran without AT fluid for 45 miles
Asked by SubaruTraveler Sep 13, 2019 at 07:06 PM about the 2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Valvoline tech drained my Trans fluid instead of engine oil. Then I drove it home over 40 miles with it shuddering when going between 20-30 mph. I had brought it back immediately and they said tires needed to be balanced after the rotation. They also added 5 qts of oil without draining oil, so I was also driving it with too much oil. Am in process of working with Valvoline and Subaru dealership. Should I be worried about long term damage if it seems to be driving fine after AT fluid added and oil drained to reasonable levels???
5 Answers
SeymorBFudd answered 5 years ago
Wheels may have been waiting for balancing?? Did you notice that before said calamity?? When I, myself, out of mistake, emptied, say 1-2 litres of fluid in the CVT I was told "do not drive the car" !! So I had to call a break down lorry! A total of 12-14 litres fluid in the CVT compartment is required. So nothing happened. But you drove 40, albeit very slow. Too much oil in the engine?? Some info here: https://mechanicbase.com/engine-oil/overfilling-engine-oil/ So: what might happen with the CVT? 1)mechanical wear 2)over heating etc. Serious damage could be the result. And read: https://mechanicbase.com/transmission/low-transmission-fluid-symptoms/ If this was my car I would claim some sort of examination of the CVT (not a big thing for a qualified repair shop/garage) - and get myself a written assertion that any upcoming problem should be taken care of by the agency in question.
SubaruTraveler answered 5 years ago
That's my concern. Valvoline has acknowledged their mistake and said they would fix it, but both of these problems can cause long term damage to the car that might not be evident immediately. My concern is the longevity of my engine now being compromised, and Valvoline not compensating me when problems creep up in the future. I tend to drive cars till the tires fall off, and had planned on keeping this car for at least another 100,000 miles... it is currently at 120,000.
They owe you a new transmission. Don't wait, make them rebuild it now. The engine may or may not have been damaged. I would press them for a $15,000 cash settlement or make them buy the car for full retail price.
Tell them you have no confidence in the car, get a lawyer and threaten to sue.
