OK so I'm in Kat, my '97 leg wagon, with an EJ25/4EAT. I'm on "The Dragon", I pull over to let a group of sportbikes pass, only to be greeted by a huge cloud of acrid smoke. I almost s**t myself!

I open the hood & try to blow away the smoke to see it's source. I see black greasy fluid on the side of my bellhousing, and burning off my cat/con.

I grabbed a rag & checked, sure enough it's gear oil. This is on the passenger side.

Can anyone tell me where the dipstick for the front diff is & what it looks like so I can determine for sure mine is missing?

 

Bet ya thought I was gonna ask about torque bind huh?

On the right side of the car (passenger side) near the firewall. The picture shows it being under one of the electrical harness passthrough boots in the firewall. Its a short stick.

 

nipper

Sure the inner CV boot for on that side didn't start puking? Could have a split or a little crack but still look intact. I wouldn't think gearoil would make it to the side of the belhousing. But check it as well. dipstick is right down there short little loop or T stickin up out of the side of Diff.

sounds like cv material. that would be great, it's really annoying but nothing to be immediately concerned about. car is definitely driveable.

The diff dipstick is missing according to your descriptions. There is an empty round hole where it oughtta be. The stuff on the engine/cat is in that general area. I checked the fluid on the bellhousing by dipping a rag into it. Gear oil has a di-STINK-tive smell to it

 

If you've ever been to the dragon you'll understand that even at low speeds, you're making some violent manouvers. I was hustling along on it, so i was pushing Kat for all she was worth at times. I managed to engage the AWD several times & the ABS once or twice. This would fling fluid everwhere if not contained.

 

Anybody got a diff stick layin around?

 

Oh yeah, & I never approached the speed I usually get to in my other car...a modded Ford Pinto

Damn. Yeah a missing dipstick would be about the onl;y way to get oil up on the side of belhousing. Find a spec for the amount of fluid in the diff, drain and refill to the spec. Then put a cork in it, till ya get a stick.

i have a stick for it, 10.00 shipped

don't to forget to drain and refill. if something got out, something could get in.

Yah I'd change the fluid too. Check the new dipstick for fit. The little o-ring thing seems to shrink or something with time. Many Subaru's I've seen have little or no friction to keep the stick seated. The '94 I bought the dipstick was there but was falling out.