Rear Differential Very Small Leak
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 546
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From: Kansas
Rear Differential Very Small Leak
Last night as I was going through the car and torque checking everything and I noticed that I have a very very small leak at the bottom of the rear differential cover (between the cover, gasket, and housing). There is some slight seeping around 3 of 8 differential cover bolts, and a very small amount of gear lube on the F41 center spring bolt. It doesn't hit the floor. Only enough to get a little on my finger when I touch the gasket.
From what I am tracking minimal seepage is normal and that you are supposed to top off or check the rear differential every 6000mi.
At this point I don't think I am going to take it out for another do over. I think the best solution would be to pull the spring, put RTV on the bolts, and torque.
Anyone else seeing very minimal gear oil seepage? I have done this twice and for the minimal seepage that I have I don't feel like redoing the DIF cover a third time if its not worth stressing over.
thoughts?
From what I am tracking minimal seepage is normal and that you are supposed to top off or check the rear differential every 6000mi.
At this point I don't think I am going to take it out for another do over. I think the best solution would be to pull the spring, put RTV on the bolts, and torque.
Anyone else seeing very minimal gear oil seepage? I have done this twice and for the minimal seepage that I have I don't feel like redoing the DIF cover a third time if its not worth stressing over.
thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
Couple questions before I give an answer...is this seepage happening while the car has sat, or did you notice it AFTER taking a drive? Did you run the car fast (80+mph)?
Basically, if this happened after running the car hard and fast, I would say it's nothing to worry about. If it's happening over the winter, or something...I would take the car out, and run it fast for a few miles...hope on the interstate, or something, then get home, put some cardboard under it, and wait and see. If it doesn't drip, you don't have a problem, in my opinion.
Basically, if this happened after running the car hard and fast, I would say it's nothing to worry about. If it's happening over the winter, or something...I would take the car out, and run it fast for a few miles...hope on the interstate, or something, then get home, put some cardboard under it, and wait and see. If it doesn't drip, you don't have a problem, in my opinion.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 546
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From: Kansas
Couple questions before I give an answer...is this seepage happening while the car has sat, or did you notice it AFTER taking a drive? Did you run the car fast (80+mph)?
Basically, if this happened after running the car hard and fast, I would say it's nothing to worry about. If it's happening over the winter, or something...I would take the car out, and run it fast for a few miles...hope on the interstate, or something, then get home, put some cardboard under it, and wait and see. If it doesn't drip, you don't have a problem, in my opinion.
Basically, if this happened after running the car hard and fast, I would say it's nothing to worry about. If it's happening over the winter, or something...I would take the car out, and run it fast for a few miles...hope on the interstate, or something, then get home, put some cardboard under it, and wait and see. If it doesn't drip, you don't have a problem, in my opinion.
Just curious why that would cause seepage? Heat related?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
Heat and pressure, yes. The oil gets hot, it gets thin, plus, it expands, along with the metal in the diff. Basically, it increases the overall pressure within the diff to above that of atmospheric pressure. It's why you never want to over fill them, and why the fill plug is halfway down the diff. I would say that the synthetic is probably also playing a role, and I would say that it's a non issue. A little bit of seepage has been my experience with cars in general, though someone else might chime in with more experience than my own.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 546
Likes: 7
From: Kansas
Heat and pressure, yes. The oil gets hot, it gets thin, plus, it expands, along with the metal in the diff. Basically, it increases the overall pressure within the diff to above that of atmospheric pressure. It's why you never want to over fill them, and why the fill plug is halfway down the diff. I would say that the synthetic is probably also playing a role, and I would say that it's a non issue. A little bit of seepage has been my experience with cars in general, though someone else might chime in with more experience than my own.
Is it worth pulling the bottom 4 bolts one at a time, putting some RTV on them, and then re-torque them?
Probably not if its due to heat hard driving?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Can't see that it would do any harm. With that said, if I worried about every seeping gasket on every vehicle I own, I'd drive myself crazy, and spend all my time replacing gaskets. I don't worry about it until it makes a mess of my driveway.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Kansas
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
Exactly. Bottom line is, keep in mind, these are old cars. It's just the way they are. They were HANDMADE.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
And just like that, I learn new stuff. It's why this site is awesome. How small is the vent...I have my pumpkin sitting in the driveway, and I don't see anything noticeable...not that I am doubting you...it makes sense to have some form of venting...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
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From: McHenry Illinois
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 546
Likes: 7
From: Kansas
I went out and looked at it again this afternoon and its dry. If i touch the bottom of the dif cover gasket I get a little smear of gear oil on my finger with no drips or drops. Just a tiny bit of sweating.
I can live with that.
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Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Kansas
After all of that work I just want it to be perfect but thats probably unrealistic.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 269
Likes: 9
From: Romeo MI
I noticed a small oil stain on the garage floor, left side of the car. After reading some of the threads on diff. leaks I concluded it was coming from the vent. I put the rear end in the air and sure enough I stuck my hand on top of the differential and felt some oil in one of the crevasses on top of the diff. next to the vent. I have a 2004, second owner, with less than 12k on it, so I assume it still has original fluid in it. Would the factory over fill it or is this a normal occurrence? Any suggestions?
Ray Z
Ray Z
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
I noticed a small oil stain on the garage floor, left side of the car. After reading some of the threads on diff. leaks I concluded it was coming from the vent. I put the rear end in the air and sure enough I stuck my hand on top of the differential and felt some oil in one of the crevasses on top of the diff. next to the vent. I have a 2004, second owner, with less than 12k on it, so I assume it still has original fluid in it. Would the factory over fill it or is this a normal occurrence? Any suggestions?
Ray Z
Ray Z