Mingin
Flood Motorsport install a type of Gear Box oil that is cheaper than Redline LWSP and is much better on syncros’s. I use it today in my 12.8 sec 5 speed MY99 that has survived hundreds of smoking launches with original GB! I used the RL LWSP for several years then flipped to "Tony's love lube" about 2 years ago. It’s his "top secret" fix it oil.

If a Subaru dealer uses a different oil to solve your problem whilst under warranty be very, very careful...they have a huge conflict of interest. i.e. they do not want to spend big $$ repairing your gearbox/diff. Diluting the GB oil with Auto Fluid sounds suss to me.

I agree, you have tried your best to look after the car. Unless you have had the misfortune of Polarbear test driving it before you bought it either way it sounds like you may need repairs. Not sure how far out of warranty you are but consider escalating your complaint to Subaru Australia after having a professional like Tony Flood check your car over.

yep Tony installed my new box i would reccomend him!!

i get the same problem, but only in cold weather -1st to 2nd. It goes away once theres some heat in the oil

I have used RL lightweight shockproof - stay away from this. The only 6-speeds I have seen that have blown have used this oil. It eventually cloggs up the galleries.

I have switched to Penrite 10/10s 100% synthetic for my box. Its awsome - way better than the RL stuff.

BTW - I change my gearbox oil every 10 000kms

Any more info about this Tony Flood special oil??

i'll speak with tony flood and get some love lube.
cheers maddog.

i bought the car from NSW and it was a one owner, he bought it new. i know there is some unknown with him and i bought it with 19000kms on it and within 2000kms the clutch started slipping, so he definitely gave it a hard time. maybe this 4th gear issue is from the previous owner, but i drove it for nearly 12 months no issue, subaru changed ALL my oil to auto, not diluted, fixed the early morning, cold oil 1st/2nd problem, then i start getting a notchy 4th gear.

i'll give the oil a go, and when it becomes impossible to change, i'll rip out the box and put new synchros and whatever else it needs in it...

cheers

AFAIK, its a mobil1 based oil, dunno what he mixed it with though...

warm your car up 1st i have the same problem with mine on the odd occasion that i've started driving before its properly warmed up.

yer wrx boxes are so shit, specially makes it worse wid a quick or short shift

Its one of Tony's trade secrets. I know he told me the make but I have forgotten, I think it was Mobil? Its not mixed, its just a good oil that does the job. He may well use another type for the 6 speeds.

The Redline Shock Proof range is a race oil only! It is not designed to go more than 5000km! Nor is it recommended by the manufacturer for road going synchros. If not changed regularly it can gum up the oil gallery's.

Just got back from Docklands last week and met the STi Technical operations manager,I just rang him and asked if he has ever heard of this problem and he has never encountered this,but he said they always used the full synthetic Castrol Syntrax on all the Sti's,so you might want to give that a try,
hope that helps.