posted this on another forumn but didnt get much joy.basically car is 53 plate wrx with full subaru service history.59 k on clock .does about 10 miles per day in week.subjected too very cold temps last few weeks...down too minus ten.basically went too shops the other day after first snowfall.put it in reverse and went back and heard whing sound.yer i know there straight cut box and do make whine noise but this was noticalbly louder than anythin i have heard since owning the car a year.the whine is defo louder than was the other day before bad weather set.took too subaru who said dnt worry but if im concerned they could get in,take apart but probaly wouldnt find anything
took too a garage i have used for over 20 years who specialiesd in escort cosworths,turbos etc over the years
the guy reckons 1. the oil properties have broken down and perhaps causing the whine
2.the extreme cold weather is preventing the gearbox oil getting warm and i only use car for an hour at max at any one time...and the causing whine
going in 2mrw too have gearbox oil renewed incase it hasnt been done in the service schedule.
my last 1 showed 4 litres of trannsmisson oil on the invoice but could that just have been used in the diffs and not the gearbox > ? the service shcedule only say inspect gearbox oil and replace at 50 k
any ideas ?
the car isnt abused and it boggled me it only come on since we had bad weather
any thoughts?

 

It soumds like old oil and cold weather is causing it so dont worry to much mate. Just remember that it takes a few miles to get oil upto running temp and you should avoid hard driving for the first 10miles. Also you should use a good quality gearbox oil like Castrol syntrax universal 75-90 which can be purchased from Halfords.

 

cheers thats was what i was hoping for.going in a 3 2mrw too have freash stuff put in.fingers crossed when temps pick up it go too.i had visions gearbox being knackerd or something