Genuine Subaru CVTF-II fluid for Lineartronic CVTs; six quarts covers a full drain-and-fill on Forester, Outback, Legacy, Crosstrek and Impreza.
Owners of a Subaru Outback, Legacy, Forester, Crosstrek or Impreza with the Lineartronic CVT usually land here for one of two reasons: the car is due for its first fluid service, or it has started to judder, flare or drone on acceleration and someone said to change the fluid first. This is genuine Subaru CVTF-II, part number SOA427V1660, in a case of six one-quart bottles. That is enough for a typical drain-and-fill on these transmissions, with the exact fluid the factory calibrated the chain and pulleys around.
The Lineartronic is a chain-type CVT. Instead of a push belt, it pulls a link-and-pin chain between two variable pulleys, and only the rocker pins touch the pulley faces. Clamp force on those pins comes from hydraulic pressure that ATRA puts at roughly 800 to 1,000 psi in operation, so the fluid has to do two jobs at once: carry that pressure through the valve body and solenoids, and give the pins a predictable amount of grip on the steel sheaves. A fluid that has sheared down or picked up contamination changes that grip, and the transmission control unit reads the result as chain slip or a pressure fault.
Subaru has changed CVT fluids over the years. ATRA's breakdown lists the original blue C-30, which was discontinued in 2015; green CVTF-II, which replaced it; a low-viscosity green CVTF-III used in both TR580 and TR690 units depending on the vehicle; and separate high-torque fluids for turbo models. Subaru's catalog shows SOA427V1660 replacing the earlier SOA427V1650 bottle. These fluids are not interchangeable, so the VIN decides which one goes in.
Scan for codes and look at fluid condition through the check plug before deciding fluid is the cure. Fresh fluid helps a unit that is running on tired oil; it will not fix a failed lock-up or transfer clutch solenoid. Our Subaru Lineartronic CVT service guide covers the fluid chart, resistance checks and the drain-and-fill in detail, and CVT slipping under load helps separate fluid problems from hard failures.
This listing covers 2013-2019 Crosstrek CVT and 2014-2016 Crosstrek Hybrid, 2014-2023 Forester 2.5 non-turbo CVT (not the Wilderness), 2010-2019 Legacy and Outback 2.5 and 2010-2014 3.6, and 2012-2023 Impreza 2.0 non-turbo CVT. It is not for CVTF-III applications, high-torque turbo units, conventional automatics or manual transmissions. Because Subaru switched fluids by model and year, check the label on your fill area or send us your year and VIN and we will confirm it. All of our CVT parts are in the CVT collection.
| Fluid specification | Subaru CVTF-II (green), full synthetic |
| Volume | 6 quarts (six 1-quart bottles) |
| OE part number | Subaru SOA427V1660 |
| Transmission | Lineartronic chain-drive CVT |
| Applications | Crosstrek 2013-2019 (and 2014-2016 Hybrid), Forester 2.5 NA CVT 2014-2023 (not Wilderness), Legacy/Outback 2.5 2010-2019 and 3.6 2010-2014, Impreza 2.0 CVT 2012-2023 |
| Not for | CVTF-III applications, turbo high-torque units, conventional automatics, or manual transmissions |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
It covers the Lineartronic applications listed on this page, including 2010-2019 Outback and Legacy 2.5 and 2014-2023 Forester 2.5 non-turbo. Subaru also uses CVTF-III and high-torque fluids, so confirm with your fill-area label or send us your year and VIN.
For a typical drain-and-fill on these transmissions, yes. You refill with roughly what drained out and then set the level hot. A full replacement of all the fluid in the unit takes more than one drain-and-fill.
No. Subaru's CVT fluids have different viscosity and friction properties, and ATRA warns that using the wrong one leads to performance problems and unit failure. Use the fluid your VIN calls for.
Warm the car, then read CVT fluid temperature with a scan tool and check at the check plug while the fluid is between 95 and 113 F (35 to 45 C). Checking outside that range gives a false level.
It often helps when the old fluid has sheared down or is contaminated, and P0841 is one fault that Subaru tied to contamination. If judder or codes return after a correct service, diagnose the solenoids, valve body or chain.
