Transmission Fluid Leak From Dipstick??

[crazyshuffle]

I've got a 65 fastback 289 with c-4 auto trans, and was driving it this past weekend when transmission fluid leaked all over the header and smoked badly. I saw where the dipstick was loose, and that was where it was leaking from. What would have caused this? The trans was shifting perfectly fine. I went a bought a fire extinguisher, but want to fix. Could it just be over filled? I would appreciate any ideas.

 

[woodsnake]

There is an "O" ring, that seals the tube into the trans that fails like everything else will. If it's leaking, you may have had a drip at just the right time, to get onto the exhaust...Not a big deal to fix...

 

[NMEMJCM]

you got a fire extinguisher. You can fix the problem with that.... ha ha. Seriously, just swap out the o-ring and put A LITTLE silicone around it for extra insurance if you want. Please read the silicone packages (permatex), when you are buying silicone and make sure you grab the silicone that says , excellent or superior oil resistance. Not all automotive silicone is oil resistant... learned that the hard way!

 

[Loup-garou]

Wait... is the leak at the bottom of the dipstick tube, where it attaches to the transmission housing... or did the fluid spit out the *top* of the tube because the dipstick wasn't seated?

 

[crazyshuffle]

the fluid is spilling out of the top. It is doing it when I haven't cranked the car in a few days, and when I'm driving it. The dip stick feels secure but there is some kind of pressure that is popping it up and the fluid is leaking pretty bad. Gonna try and get the new O-RING this week. Would this be causing the pressure because the only place it is leaking is out of the top??
thanks for the post.

 

[Loup-garou]

Check the top of the transmission near the back, right around where the tailshaft housing attaches. There should be a vent up there with a cap that can move or rattle a bit - see if you can verify that it's not stuck down (going from memory here - I haven't had a C-4 car in many years).

If the vent seems okay, you might want to verify that trans fluid is getting to and from the radiator/trans cooler - after a short trip, is one fluid line hotter than the other?

 

[crazyshuffle]

car is at the shop getting hood pins,bumper guards, correct 65 guages. will tell him to check all that.
So far 3 people have looked at it and they all seem to think it was just an overfill problem. thanks

 

[crazyshuffle]

so, i picked up the car yesterday and on the way home, the dipstick poped up and had a very small leak again..... I checked the levels and the fluid was up about half way the tube. I let the car set while I cleaned it for 2 hrs and cranked it and checked the levels again and it was right under full.
So I'm thinking it's spilling over from a over heating issue. My mechanic checked the vent on the tranny and said it didn't leak a drop with him, but he didn't drive it, just moved it around the shop a few times. ??

 

[crazyshuffle]

Took car to another mechanic and found out the C4 transmission does not have any vent. They are getting a different tail housing for it that has the vent at the top. SO whoever rebuilt it installed the wrong parts. Crazy. Just ready to have this problem fixed.

 

[robbz28]

Yeah, I bet the vent fixes your problem, it reminds me of when I had a transmission rebuilt, after I got it installed I put the car in gear and it wouldnt move....so fortunately I was smart enough to check out the governor and there were no springs inside it (cheap fix, but frustrating) I called the rebuilder and he was like "well they were in there when I rebuilt it" so I said well I guess the tranny just ate them huh....crackerjack, anyway, springs installed and worked like a champ...just thought id share that.

 

[crazyshuffle]

thanks,
some of these mechanics could take advantage of me since this is my first old car, but I usually take it to the 2 or 3 I've known for years. Plus I usually stay with the car because I want to learn as much as possible. Wish I would have took shop class in school but all I was concerned with was Baseball and Gals. lol... THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S ADVICE.

 

[NMEMJCM]

see thats where you went wrong................ I found that my mustang got me more girls than baseball ever did....

 

[crazyshuffle]

Got the new tail shaft housing put on and it drives great!!!!!

 

[Loup-garou]

No more spitting fluid out the dipstick?