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My name is KC and i live in Switzerland, since last Saturday i am a new proud Owner of a 1969 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight (Was in a Package with a Firebird from 1989.). Its the first US Oldtimer i have ever bought my self the only oldies i own are Europeans. Both have ben sitting quite long the Olds was sitting the last 5 Years and the Pontiac for the last 17 Years.
For restauring i will start with the Oldsmobile since it has only one major Problem when starting the engine right after a few seconds the Transmission Oil is getting pushed out from the Oil dipstick. Did someone had the same problem and what might be the cause of it. Just to say i allready have ordered a Transmission Vacum Modulator. Im going to pick it up tommorow with a Trailer and he gave me the option to use his lift for smal repairs before loading it.
Im thankfull for any help from you guys.
Best greetings from Switzerland.
When I've seen this happen, it's because the transmission is overfilled. I presume that, if you run the car long enough, fluid will eventually stop coming out of the fill tube as the amount of fluid in the transmission decreases to the level it should be at.
If you've not done so, it might be a good idea to simply change the transmission fluid. It's not difficult, but it can be a little messy. You loosen the bolts holding the transmission pan in place, letting the pan get a little lower on one side. Fluid will start to spill out on that side, so have a pan underneath to catch it. As the fluid comes out, continue to lower the pan until it you can remove it from the car. You'll want to get a new transmission fluid filter as well, and that's visible as soon as the pan is removed. When doing a drain and refill of the transmission this way, it typically takes 4 quarts of new fluid to refill.
The way to check the transmission fluid is different from checking the oil. For the transmission, the engine and transmission should be fully warmed up (drive the car a couple of miles first), then park the car, leave the engine running with the transmission in Park, and remove the dipstick and check the level.
Thanks for the fast reply, i think it shouldnt be overfilled since its sitting since 5 years i will check that tommorow. If it is so will allready have to do a full maintenance on the Car before getting it on the road. Im affraid it wouldnt be so simple unfortunatly.
Sitting for five years has probably caused the torque converter to drip fluid back into the transmission pan making the pan level way too high. If this happens running then I'd first look for a clogged vent tube about halfway up the right side of the transmission.
Start and check the fluid the converter will refill itself.
As jaunty stated dropping the pan and servicing it is a good idea.
Transmissions require a vent to release pressure which builds inside the transmission during normal operation as heat develops producing pressure, this pressure is released via the vent. If the vent is clogged, there can be a tendency for the transmission fluid to run UP the transmission oil fill tube. Check the vent is not clogged.
The transmission has a vent hole. The transmission must be vented - as heat builds, pressure builds, vent allows pressure to escape in normal operation(s). This vent hole must not be clogged w/ 50+ yrs of driving road sludge. I've known others who've plugged the vent hole not knowing what it was for - it's a vent. It does not go straight through into the trans. case, it makes a quick 90° after entering the trans. case. It must be open to vent. The vent hole originally contained a plastic tube, yours likely is broken off, it happens to many transmissions. The key point here is the vent must be open & operative. If the vent hole is plugged (not open) for any reason, as heat builds pressure in the trans builds, this pressure must be vented, if the pressure is not vented it can/will cause trans. fluid to leak from other areas e.g. seal(s) - that pressure has to go somewhere. Sometimes a tell-tale sign of a plugged vent hole is the inability to adequately/properly fill the transmission from the trans. fill tube - often times taking forever to fill properly as there's no venting of the trans. at the vent. Another sign of a plugged vent tube can be trans. fluid creeping UP the trans. fill tube w/ trans. fluid leaking from the trans. fill tube itself. Finally, if the trans. vent hole is working properly & the trans. was/is overfilled w/ trans. fluid, it will leak from the vent hole.
Well now the statement overfilled makes sense, never tought of it this way. I will put a dripping pan under it leave it running untill it stops and then i will refill the missing amount. Also i will first check the vent tube for cloggs.
Do you perhaps know wich Oil is needed?
But if i remember right the vent is only realy needed when transmission is warm - hot, the problem i have allready starts within the first seconds of engine runtime.
Yes, the vent is needed when operating at normal operating temperatures (e.g. warm/hot). However, if you begin with a cold transmission w/ a clogged vent, when you start the car or even attempt to fill the transmission, where is the transmission oil going to go? Likely, right up the oil fill tube since there is nowhere for any pressure release and the fluid can be expected to walk up the fill tube. Check the vent hole. The vent has a small internal tube which turns 90° directly after entering the transmission case. You can take a small straightened paper clip (or wire), insert into the vent tube and clean the debris (if there is debris). The debris will fall into the oil & be captured by the transmission filter; but, you should really drop the transmission pan, install a new filter, flush the transmission which has already been suggested.
When your car was new, it would have taken Dexron III, I believe, but that has been supplanted several times now. I think the current version is Dexron VI.
For the fluid above, it's kind of hard to read, but it says "Recommended for all Dexron III, Mercon, and many more applications."
Below that, it says "Recommended for all GM, Ford, and select import vehicles before 2006."
This, or its equivalent, is what I use in my three old Oldsmobiles, a '73, a '77, and a '78,
Yes, the vent is needed when operating at normal operating temperatures (e.g. warm/hot). However, if you begin with a cold transmission w/ a clogged vent, when you start the car or even attempt to fill the transmission, where is the transmission oil going to go? Likely, right up the oil fill tube since there is nowhere for any pressure release and the fluid can be expected to walk up the fill tube. Check the vent hole. The vent has a small internal tube which turns 90° directly after entering the transmission case. You can take a small straightened paper clip (or wire), insert into the vent tube and clean the debris (if there is debris). The debris will fall into the oil & be captured by the transmission filter; but, you should really drop the transmission pan, install a new filter, flush the transmission which has already been suggested.
Thanks, transmission isnt my strong suit, makes total sence. Install of new filter and flush will definitly be done.
The other point to remember, in particular if the vent is closed/clogged, w/ old transmission fluid sitting in the transmission you have no idea of the condition of that oil - it likely resembles 90 weight rear differential fluid by now having captured tons of moisture/water just sitting. Since you can't compress water, you'll increase pressure on every component in the transmission e.g. seals, servos, etc. As Jaunty suggested, drop the pan, flush the transmission, new filter, etc. Possibly do it twice to be honest. Water moisture is not a good thing.
When your car was new, it would have taken Dexron III, I believe, but that has been supplanted several times now. I think the current version is Dexron VI.
For the fluid above, it's kind of hard to read, but it says "Recommended for all Dexron III, Mercon, and many more applications."
Below that, it says "Recommended for all GM, Ford, and select import vehicles before 2006."
This, or its equivalent, is what I use in my three old Oldsmobiles, a '73, a '77, and a '78,
also much thanks, i have just checked right now DEX 3 isnt avilable in Europe since tegulations have changed... but DEX 6 is allready orderd now should get it tommorow, i thin 2 quarts should do it for a refill of whats lost. just need it to get on the trailer and move to my garage for further work.
The other point to remember, in particular if the vent is closed/clogged, w/ old transmission fluid sitting in the transmission you have no idea of the condition of that oil - it likely resembles 90 weight rear differential fluid by now having captured tons of moisture/water just sitting. Since you can't compress water, you'll increase pressure on every component in the transmission e.g. seals, servos, etc. As Jaunty suggested, drop the pan, flush the transmission, new filter, etc. Possibly do it twice to be honest. Water moisture is not a good thing.
Thats right i realy dont think it would be that bad since the car has ben sitting in a warm garage the past 5 years. I have just figured out American Oldtimer are alot easier to work on had a mercedes 190E from 1988. took me 3 weeks to get the car running. was a faulty Fuel system called K-Jetronic worst fuel system Bosh has ever invented.
Thank you all very much ALL. The problem has ben solved, it was a bad Transmission Vacum Modulator. Vent was also free. Probably also the torque converter wasa empty after letting it run warm and check the dipstick nothing was shown on it so i will order now the full maintance kit for the tranmission and everything should be working hopefully for the first ride.
A bad Modulator isn't something I would have considered to be involved in sending trans. oil up the trans. oil fill tube since it operates under intake manifold vacuum. However, w/ that said, it does regulate pressure of trans. fluid for maintaining shift points; so, maybe w/ a bad ATM valve it was creating far too much pressure (sending it up the fill tube)? Not sure, it's something I hadn't considered but I do hope it resolved your issue. I think some of them (not sure on this vehicle) you can also adjust by turning them CW or CCW. Good Luck!
Oil Pushing out of Transmission Dipstick
