4EAT dipstick spraying, won't seat properly

[free5ty1e]

So...yeah. I discovered what was causing one of the many leaks on my '92 AutoTragic. When the car is running, the 4EAT sprays transmission fluid up out through the dipstick tube. The dipstick itself doesn't appear to sit in there right; is that seal something I can replace separately or am I looking at replacing the entire dipstick & tube assembly? Can this be done from the topside by an amateur mechanic without removing the transmission or engine from the car? Any ideas?

[Legacy777]

Just for clarification, is it the dipstick on the passenger or driver's side?

The only reason I can think it is spitting up fluid would be if it's overfilled. Have you verified the fluid level is the appropriate amount?

[free5ty1e]

I have not. It was in the hands of someone who did not care to maintain cars properly.... I plan to change transmission fluid anyway for that same reason (no idea what he might have put in there if he ever decided to check and top it off like he does sometimes), does Subaru have a special auto fluid like their 5MTs need Extra-S? Or just use dexron3 ATF in there?

And the dipstick is on the passenger side, and I just went and started it up and checked the fluid level and it's about 1cm over the full line. It wasn't spraying at idle, I haven't observed it spray yet, but that's what the mechanic reported when he went to check it out for me while he was replacing the axles (both boots were torn bad and clicked rapidly and loudly turning either left or right under any acceleration whatsoever).

However, I did observe that it did not feel as a dipstick should... I did not feel as though it was pressing into rubber. It's just sitting in there; I can wiggle it around and hit the metal sides, I have maybe a couple mm of play there. Is that part possibly fallen into the transmission? Or is that perhaps a rubber boot that might just be replaceable with a quick trip to my local Subaru dealership?

I'm not familiar enough with the assemblies in that area to know what I'm dealing with just yet.

[Legacy777]

Chris,

Regular Dextron 3 or higher ATF is fine.

Regarding the dipsticks, the dipstick on the passenger side is for the front diff. If someone put ATF in there instead of gear oil, the front diff is probably fubar'd or may be fubar'd in the future. The front diff fluid should be 80w90 gear oil. The dipstick for the front diff is just a relatively short dipstick. If it doesn't fit in there properly, I'd suggest maybe finding a used one from another 4EAT trans.

The dipstick on the driver's side (which can be a little difficult to find) is for the AT fluid and is where you need to put the fluid in. To properly check the fluid level, the trans should be up to temp (driven for 10 miles or more), parked on a flat surface, all the accessories should be turned off, and the engine should be idling normally. Slowly cycle the gear selector from park to 1st and then back to park again. With the engine still running, pull the AT dipstick out, wipe the dipstick, reinsert, and then check the level against the HOT fill marks.

[free5ty1e]

Chris,

Regular Dextron 3 or higher ATF is fine.

Regarding the dipsticks, the dipstick on the passenger side is for the front diff. If someone put ATF in there instead of gear oil, the front diff is probably fubar'd or may be fubar'd in the future. The front diff fluid should be 80w90 gear oil. The dipstick for the front diff is just a relatively short dipstick. If it doesn't fit in there properly, I'd suggest maybe finding a used one from another 4EAT trans.

The dipstick on the driver's side (which can be a little difficult to find) is for the AT fluid and is where you need to put the fluid in. To properly check the fluid level, the trans should be up to temp (driven for 10 miles or more), parked on a flat surface, all the accessories should be turned off, and the engine should be idling normally. Slowly cycle the gear selector from park to 1st and then back to park again. With the engine still running, pull the AT dipstick out, wipe the dipstick, reinsert, and then check the level against the HOT fill marks.

oh! Thanks -- I didnt check the correct dipstick then, oops! Timely info, that. I have not worked much with autos