Differential Fluid Leak
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Sant Clara CA
Differential Fluid Leak
Hey guys, have yet another question for you all, you all have been very helpful and I am really thankful for this forum.
Turns out, I did a differential fluid change, I pumped out the old stuff and put in new with the additive. Then I screwed the plug back in and I thought I would be done as far as differential fluid went. Well it turns out that now my car leaks differential fluid because I have seen differential fluid on my garage floor. It is weird because the car did not previously leak fluid, even before changing the old fluid. Also, it does not seem to be leaking through the plug hole, I looked under and it is not wet by there. Any ideas what it could be? Maybe I over filled it and its coming out from somewhere else?
from what I can tell, the fluid seems to be dripping from that metal sheet that is under the differential.
Well I hope to hear your ideas, thank you in advance.
Turns out, I did a differential fluid change, I pumped out the old stuff and put in new with the additive. Then I screwed the plug back in and I thought I would be done as far as differential fluid went. Well it turns out that now my car leaks differential fluid because I have seen differential fluid on my garage floor. It is weird because the car did not previously leak fluid, even before changing the old fluid. Also, it does not seem to be leaking through the plug hole, I looked under and it is not wet by there. Any ideas what it could be? Maybe I over filled it and its coming out from somewhere else?
from what I can tell, the fluid seems to be dripping from that metal sheet that is under the differential.
Well I hope to hear your ideas, thank you in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
There is a vent on top of the diff.. It is not easy to overfill the diff. however, unless you had the rear of the car high off the ground and the front low, while refilling. Fluid should slightly run out with the plug removed and car level. The plate is to reflect exhaust heat. Get up in there and look for the source. Good luck with it. mike...
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 280
Likes: 1
From: cleveland Ohio
mine was leaking,but from the filler bolt. so i put on a new gasket,snugged it up.waited a few weeks,leak was back.went back in to check again.i took a very fine metal pick,like a toothpick,and tried to spin the gasket to see if it was sealing. and it was not.i could spin the gasket,thou the bolt was tight. so i removed the bolt,made another gasket out of gasket material,put both back on,and so far its tight,and not leaking.hope this helps you.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 71
Likes: 1
pinion seal
Im guessing that your pinion seal is leaking as it is directly above the metal mounting plate for the rear control arms. Chances are there wasnt enough fluid in it to leak out before you refilled to the proper level. Were you able to see how much fluid you siphoned out?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Sant Clara CA
Hello guys, just getting back on here to report what has happened with this little issue. It turns out, it has stopped leaking from what I can tell (I will continue to monitor).
I did have the rear of the car high when I was refilling, so maybe it leaked from the vent that user MDS mentioned? At least I hope thats what it was.
When I removed the old fluid, I want to say I got like 2 quarts out, maybe a little less.
Thank you all for your replys, I will continue to see what happens and write back here if needed.
I did have the rear of the car high when I was refilling, so maybe it leaked from the vent that user MDS mentioned? At least I hope thats what it was.
When I removed the old fluid, I want to say I got like 2 quarts out, maybe a little less.
Thank you all for your replys, I will continue to see what happens and write back here if needed.
