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So I got back from a spirited drive last weekend, and noticed a few drops of fluid under the rear end. Decided to keep an eye on it.. A few days later, and I discover this-
Seems like the driver side seal is a common problem for the C5's. Not sure what direction to go with this though. I could try to reseal myself, or take it to Abel in Rio Vista. The problem is they are about 60 miles away from me.
Based on how much leaked out in less than a week, how safe would any driving be in this situation? Suggestions anyone?
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The only way to know what is in there is to get the car in the air and pull the fill plug and insert your finger. If you can't feel any gear lube, I would top it off before driving anywhere. It appears you have a substantial leak.
I had the same issue when I got my C5Z... a small puddle on the garage floor under the driver's side rear end. I used that as an excuse to buy a kwik lift ($500 off of CL... woot!)... so I could get it up in the air to check it before I drove it again. Cracked open the fill port on the diff & heard the hiss. At least the diff was still full... was glad for that. Doing the "watchful waiting" thang for the time being, since the car sat a LOT (only 8600 miles on it). Will eventually take it in for some R&R on the diff seals, but want to find the "right" place to do it first.
Okay, so I "jacked up the car" by moving my rears to the edge of my uneven garage.
As you can see, the crack is the highest point, so everything to the left of it tilts down a little bit. Thats why it looks like the fluid was coming from the wheel, but its the other way around. The fluid dripped in the middle, and traveled left under the rear wheel.
Anyways, I cleaned up the underside a little bit, and the fluid seems to come from the big black plastic thing behind the diff. You can see the little hole where its coming from, I think.
Can anyone tell me what that big black plastic thing is?
That is the bottom side of the center storage compartment inside the back of the C5. Normally there is no hole drilled in it. ie it is sealed. Did you have something like an extra qt of oil stored there that spilled?????
Yes!!! Wow... 3 cookies for you 8VETTE7
I put some engine oil and water in the back for the drive just in case.. We have been having 100+ temps here, and the added heat from the drive must have put too much pressure inside the oil bottle. Some leaked out around the cap, and I guess it just took a few days for it to completely soak through and escape out of that hole!
Yes!!! Wow... 3 cookies for you 8VETTE7
I put some engine oil and water in the back for the drive just in case.. We have been having 100+ temps here, and the added heat from the drive must have put too much pressure inside the oil bottle. Some leaked out around the cap, and I guess it just took a few days for it to completely soak through and escape out of that hole!
if your differential is filled a little too high some times some spirited driving will fling oil out the upper vent opening and drip slowly down onto the floor leaving you to believe you have a seal leak for a couple of days.
wipe you differential off and keep an eye on it, if the oil seems to be coming from the top that is probably the culprit ?
Leaky Butt
