weird leaking front diff
Submitted: Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:14
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patrolgu
Greetings. I recently posted a question regarding my 99 2.8td GU and got many useful replies, so thought i'd have another stab.
On three seperate occasions my front diff has leaked diff oil - but it appears to be coming from the breather (at least i think so). The oil looks to be coming from somewhere inder the front wheel arch, and it is not just spraying up there, i can see where it starts. It's very weird. Twice whe it's happened I had recently parked nose down on a steep driveway. Would this be a factor? It happened, maybe 1 to 2 month intervals. So it's not a constant or regular leak.
It's weird and freaking me out, so any suggenstions will be greatly welcomed.
Righto, be kind to small animals.
Reply By: Peter 2 - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:20
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:20
Cracked diff housing? not uncommon on Patrols, could be that it only leaks when twisted/flexed in one position and the oil is over that side due to slope/incline.
AnswerID:
89870
Follow Up By: patrolgu - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:32
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:32
if that's the case, how does the oil get up under my wheel arch? it's pretty bloody weird. it seems to start about 3/4 of the way up
the arch and looks to come from underneath the plastic cover.
FollowupID:
348661
Follow Up By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 14:30
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 14:30
Been around and driving patrols since the late 1970s and the only cracked diff I have seen is on an MQ shorty that misjudged the height of a really solid rock. I've never heard of this (ie diff housing cracking) being a problem - please expand on the info.
Ta
Pete
FollowupID:
348702
Follow Up By: Peter 2 - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 15:22
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 15:22
I misunderstood the question, I thought the oil was ending up on the ground in line with the wheel arch. Sorry.
Patrol22 re the diff cracks the GQ's quite often cracked back near the centre on the long side at the front near the triangular filler piece that is welded in when the housing is made.
I've welded two up, one in the bush and one here at home and have heard of others, it is thought to be due to the diff housing flexing and causing a stress point. The housings don't seem to change shape but just get a hairline crack in them, the first you know is a damp spot.
FollowupID:
348709
Reply By: Member - Geoff M (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:50
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:50
Two things,
You absolutely sure it's diff oil? As you say, weird spot in the wheel arch.
Secondly, is there any oil on the inside of the tyre? Might be getting flung there as the wheel rotates.
Geoff.
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AnswerID:
89875
Reply By: Member - Matt Mu (Perth-WA) - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:52
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 10:52
It could be oil coming out of the Diff breather!! How steep exactly was it? Was it after a very hot run? I have seen vehicles 'boil' diffs before but not a Nissan!!
Might be the angle gets oil in the the breather pipe and then as it heats up from driving pushes that bit of oil out the pipe. Have you lifted the plastic cover to see where its coming from, is it coming from the end of the breather pipe or were you just guessing?
Im sure this would answer your question very quickly!
Matt.
AnswerID:
89877
Follow Up By: patrolgu - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 11:00
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 11:00
that sounds more like it. i have parked it on a steep driveway, then driven for about an hour and stopped at my brother's house both times when i noticed the oil. so it could have seeped into the pipe, then pushed out during the drive and finished leaking when i've stopped. i'm not even sure where the breathers go, but just assumed it could be coming from there. i will check.
so, is this a problem, or should i just avoind
parking on a steep incline like that in future?
thanks.
FollowupID:
348664
Follow Up By: Happy GU Owner - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 12:24
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 12:24
Yes, the breather pipes end quite happily up inside the passanger guard, above the plastic in the wheel arch ( and that is the only thing up there )
Mic
FollowupID:
348673
Follow Up By: Happy GU Owner - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 16:49
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 16:49
It may even be gearbox oil rather than diff oil as both beather pipes are located in the same postion in the inner guard.
Check by smell - diff oil has a different smell to any other oil, it is a putrid
smell that you don't want to get on your hands !!
Mic
FollowupID:
348721
Reply By: Utemad - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 11:42
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 11:42
I would think that if you boil the oil in your GU you must be having problems. As they are part time 4wd so the front diff should be doing nothing when driving around town.
I'd be pulling off the plastic cover for a closer look. Would be very surprised if it was oil from the breather.
AnswerID:
89886
Reply By: bundyman - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 13:11
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 13:11
I'd be checking you haven't got a diff with
water in it. If the oil level is correct you shouldn't ever have to worry about oil coming out the breather unless your doing some extreme 4x4 at very steep angles. If the diff has sucked in some
water though this will increase the level and potentially causing it to leak out the breather. I'd take the drain plug out and let a little bit of oil run into a container and see if there is any
water there or if the oil is milky (mixed with
water). Feel how hot your diff is after a bit of a drive. You should easily be able to hold your hand on the diff. If not you have some problems. Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Hughesy
AnswerID:
89905
Reply By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 14:33
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 14:33
For peace of mind - drain, flush and refill the diff to the right level. Cost you about 1 hour and $10 of oil. Mightn't fix the problem but then again what have you got to lose.
AnswerID:
89916
Reply By: Peter Guy - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 14:35
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 14:35
I think you may haave an overfilled diff.
Park on a level area and undo the filler plug. The oil level should be just at the level where it is about to spill out. If the oil comes out in a rush, it has too much oil in it, so let it drain until it stops and the level will be right. At the service centre they sometimes pump the oil in under pressure and maybe they over filled it.
Cheers.
AnswerID:
89917
Reply By: Willem - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 23:01
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004 at 23:01
My old Patrol G60 used to develop a leak at the start of the hot weather in summer. Normally at the filler plug. I just left it till winter and then topped up if necessary. Tightening the filler plug didnt help
AnswerID:
90000