Auto Trans fluid, '89 GL AWD Coupe

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

3 speed AT, started slipping the other day so I checked the fluid; nothing
on the dipstick!

I added a quart, and it appreared at the bottom of the dipstick, just. Not
even to the LOW level. I added another half quart, and was at the low
level. Figured I'd drive it and see what happened. For the past two days
it's been puking ATF from the breather hose, at first regularly and then
intermittently.

How the heck do you check the ATF on this thing? Engine running in
neutral, or engine off? Hot or cold?

This makes twice I've added ATF and had it puke out the breather tube!
It's been running well the past few months (I filled it in January, drove
it till April, and then back on the road Nov 1.) As a matter of fact, the
tranny has until now been the best thing about the car!

I also used Castrol "Domestic Car" (Dexron-Mercon) ATF...I can't remember
what I used before!!

 

[Tony Hwang]

3 speed AT, started slipping the other day so I checked the fluid; nothing
on the dipstick!

I added a quart, and it appreared at the bottom of the dipstick, just. Not
even to the LOW level. I added another half quart, and was at the low
level. Figured I'd drive it and see what happened. For the past two days
it's been puking ATF from the breather hose, at first regularly and then
intermittently.

How the heck do you check the ATF on this thing? Engine running in
neutral, or engine off? Hot or cold?

This makes twice I've added ATF and had it puke out the breather tube!
It's been running well the past few months (I filled it in January, drove
it till April, and then back on the road Nov 1.) As a matter of fact, the
tranny has until now been the best thing about the car!

I also used Castrol "Domestic Car" (Dexron-Mercon) ATF...I can't remember
what I used before!!

Hi,
If it pukes oil like that, it is sign of aeration or foaming of oil.
Ever changed filter? It supposes to be full when oil is at operating temp.

 

[hippo]

Hi,
If it pukes oil like that, it is sign of aeration or foaming of oil.
Ever changed filter? It supposes to be full when oil is at operatin

temp.

Dexron iii is ok. Check with engine running, cold if necessary bu
operating temperature preferred. Cycle selector up and down through th
full gate a couple of times then check level in P on level ground.

Agree with changing filter if last done when Noah was a lad or thereabout

 

[Ray O]

3 speed AT, started slipping the other day so I checked the fluid; nothing
on the dipstick!

I added a quart, and it appreared at the bottom of the dipstick, just. Not
even to the LOW level. I added another half quart, and was at the low
level. Figured I'd drive it and see what happened. For the past two days
it's been puking ATF from the breather hose, at first regularly and then
intermittently.

How the heck do you check the ATF on this thing? Engine running in
neutral, or engine off? Hot or cold?

This makes twice I've added ATF and had it puke out the breather tube!
It's been running well the past few months (I filled it in January, drove
it till April, and then back on the road Nov 1.) As a matter of fact, the
tranny has until now been the best thing about the car!

I also used Castrol "Domestic Car" (Dexron-Mercon) ATF...I can't remember
what I used before!!

When in doubt, check ATF with the engine running, hot, in park.

As Tony mentioned, aerated ATF will come out the breather valve. Another
possible cause is some kind of restriction in the valve body or radiator.

 

[ransley]

3 speed AT, started slipping the other day so I checked the fluid; nothing
on the dipstick!

I added a quart, and it appreared at the bottom of the dipstick, just. Not
even to the LOW level. I added another half quart, and was at the low
level. Figured I'd drive it and see what happened. For the past two days
it's been puking ATF from the breather hose, at first regularly and then
intermittently.

How the heck do you check the ATF on this thing? Engine running in
neutral, or engine off? Hot or cold?

This makes twice I've added ATF and had it puke out the breather tube!
It's been running well the past few months (I filled it in January, drove
it till April, and then back on the road Nov 1.) As a matter of fact, the
tranny has until now been the best thing about the car!

I also used Castrol "Domestic Car" (Dexron-Mercon) ATF...I can't remember
what I used before!!

On the stick when cold not running it should look like its nearly 1/2"
up on the stick, it goes down when hot and running so yous a way low
dude to show nuttin.

 

[ransley]

3 speed AT, started slipping the other day so I checked the fluid; nothing
on the dipstick!

I added a quart, and it appreared at the bottom of the dipstick, just. Not
even to the LOW level. I added another half quart, and was at the low
level. Figured I'd drive it and see what happened. For the past two days
it's been puking ATF from the breather hose, at first regularly and then
intermittently.

How the heck do you check the ATF on this thing? Engine running in
neutral, or engine off? Hot or cold?

This makes twice I've added ATF and had it puke out the breather tube!
It's been running well the past few months (I filled it in January, drove
it till April, and then back on the road Nov 1.) As a matter of fact, the
tranny has until now been the best thing about the car!

I also used Castrol "Domestic Car" (Dexron-Mercon) ATF...I can't remember
what I used before!!

Dont drive it till its fixed, maybe the oil isnt circulating

 

[HLS]

On the stick when cold not running it should look like its nearly 1/2"
up on the stick, it goes down when hot and running so yous a way low
dude to show nuttin.

But Ray-O is right about the way to check most transmissions. He needs to
check it
correctly, top up appropriately, and go from there.

 

[johngdole]

I tried looking up GL under Subaru, but couldn't find a 3-speed match
to Legacy. Probably a Nissan-Jatco model. Jatco barked up the wrong
tree with their bet on CVT in recent years. What a shame.

Anyway, check the TRANSMISSION VENT PORT. All have them. If it's
plugged the air space expands as it heats up and pushes the ATF out
the dipstick tube.

On heavy duty trucks the dipstick is often the "locking" type to help
minimize overflows during heavy towing etc, but *not* in a small car.

 

[Ray O]

I tried looking up GL under Subaru, but couldn't find a 3-speed match
to Legacy. Probably a Nissan-Jatco model. Jatco barked up the wrong
tree with their bet on CVT in recent years. What a shame.

Anyway, check the TRANSMISSION VENT PORT. All have them. If it's
plugged the air space expands as it heats up and pushes the ATF out
the dipstick tube.

On heavy duty trucks the dipstick is often the "locking" type to help
minimize overflows during heavy towing etc, but *not* in a small car.

********
Top posting corrected...
According to the original post, the ATF was coming out of the vent port, not
the dipstick tube.

 

[ransley]

3 speed AT, started slipping the other day so I checked the fluid; nothing
on the dipstick!

I added a quart, and it appreared at the bottom of the dipstick, just. Not
even to the LOW level. I added another half quart, and was at the low
level. Figured I'd drive it and see what happened. For the past two days
it's been puking ATF from the breather hose, at first regularly and then
intermittently.

How the heck do you check the ATF on this thing? Engine running in
neutral, or engine off? Hot or cold?

This makes twice I've added ATF and had it puke out the breather tube!
It's been running well the past few months (I filled it in January, drove
it till April, and then back on the road Nov 1.) As a matter of fact, the
tranny has until now been the best thing about the car!

I also used Castrol "Domestic Car" (Dexron-Mercon) ATF...I can't remember
what I used before!!

Now when my 84 canary trans slipped to bad to make it into second I
used 90 w gear oil, it worked so well I used 140w gear lube and got
30000 more out of it. Sawdust used to be a trick I heard

 

[Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/(B]

temp.

Dexron iii is ok. Check with engine running, cold if necessary but
operating temperature preferred. Cycle selector up and down through the
full gate a couple of times then check level in P on level ground.

Agree with changing filter if last done when Noah was a lad or thereabouts

I had this same problem in January when I did it, and if I recall, I
dropped the pan and checked the filter, clean as a whistle. i cleaned it
and put it back in. The car wasn't run too much after April, it's a winter
only car...(I put the plates on my Supra in April...VROOOM VROOM!!!