Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

February 28, 2016, 06:34:34 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159061

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I posted this on techsnoz but just in case...

Our '89 TK Chevy is in our daughter's yard in Arizona and we're in NJ. She told me that this is the second time she started the engine and transmission fluid squirted out and pushed up the dipstick. She shut it off immediately. We've never had transmission trouble and when we parked it back in June everything was fine. I was told that it could be a clogged hose? We'll be back out there in a couple of weeks and need to get this taken care of as soon as we her there. She's moving and poor Ladybug has to leave the yard by the end of March. What can cause this?

Karen aka oldjerseylady, getting older by the day!

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #2 – February 28, 2016, 07:21:22 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159063

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Garry, that was my first thought - invasion of critters! This could get tricky. We'd like to know if the fridge and hot water heater are ok but spiders or may be clogging something there so we asked our daughter not to turn anything on. The generator is fine and that's one less worry.

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #4 – February 28, 2016, 07:44:41 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159065

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Ouch! That's a bit more worrisome.

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #6 – February 28, 2016, 08:19:54 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159067

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Grumpy, I love that name! It's hard to find a good mechanic in a strange town.

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #8 – February 29, 2016, 06:22:32 am

Yahoo Message Number: 159071

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Shouldn't be Andy.
Gear Vendor unit hooks in like a drive shaft and has it's own lube best I remember?

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #10 – February 29, 2016, 11:37:02 am

Yahoo Message Number: 159073

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Karen

Has the transmission fluid level been checked to see if it is overfilled? That can cause overflowing.

The fluid that normally fills the various pistons and passage may have drained back into the oil pan while the rig was sitting. Running the engine for a a minute or two should reestablish the level, if this is the cause.

If that does not cure the problem, then I would go with Gary's suggestion to check the vent hose for plugging.
The vent hose can be removed and blown clean with compressed air or spray carburetor cleaner.
If you do have the transmission serviced, resist the sales pitch for power flushing, it can cause an older transmission to fail.
I prefer a flush that uses the transmission's oil pump to expel the old fluid and to keep filling the pan until the expelled fluid changes color from dirty to new.
Below is a link on how I safely flush automatic transmissions.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/lifewithalazydazerv/conversations/messages/111199

The Turbo 400 transmission is a simple but stout trans. If it does need work, they are much simpler to work on than modern day transmissions.

Larry

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #12 – February 29, 2016, 12:11:16 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159075

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Larry, thanks for the detailed information. Judie has a trusted mechanic in Sierra Vista and he's just a few miles from our daughter's house. This isn't something George and I want to tackle ourselves so we'll contact him when we get to Sierra Vista. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the settling oil in the pan solution! We'll run it long enough to move away from her carport.

The transmission is due for servicing so we'll have it flushed and hopefully we won't get the sales pitch.

One question - can we drive Ladybug for a short distance? I would think not if the oil isn't circulating properly.

Thanks to all for your help. Any other ideas are welcome :-)

Karen

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #14 – February 29, 2016, 12:32:23 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159077

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"One question - can we drive Ladybug for a short distance? I would think not if the oil isn't circulating properly. "

Karen

Have you daughter run it again and let it run for a at least a couple minutes or more to see if the fluid stops overflowing. As long as it isn't driven, nothing should be damage by idling.
To keep the mess under control, have her place some cardboard under the rig, to soak up the expelled fluid.

If the overflowing stops, check the fluid level and top off as necessary, then go for a test drive.
If the overflowing continues, I would not want to drive it until the problem is solved.
How far is a 'short distance', it may be different out West than it is on the East Coast.

Larry

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #16 – February 29, 2016, 12:45:39 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159079

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Hello Karen. If this was my situation, I would NOT drive the RV, but rather use the towing benefit contained in my RV insurance policy. The risk of potential damage to the transmission is too high in judgement. Hope this helps.

Ed & Margee Fort Worth

Re: Transmission fluid squirting out and pushing up dipstick

Reply #18 – February 29, 2016, 02:39:01 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159081

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Larry,

I'll call my daughter tonight and let her try running it again for a couple of minutes.

The mechanic, according to my trusty source, is .4 of a mile away. My source also thinks the mechanic may come to us if we mention Gary to him ;-)

Karen

transmission

Reply #20 – February 29, 2016, 03:02:59 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 159083

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Sorry about the double post.

Judie sent a map of the route to the mechanic. We'd be on two back roads that are almost always empty. This may be a bad idea but we could give the LD a little gas and coast most of the way. I think it might entail putting it in drive twice for very short distances. Possibly safe???