Differential leak
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 5
Differential leak
Is there a sensor that'll tell me if my "rear differential fluid" is low? I saw a tiny puddle of something in the driveway today, didn't get to check what it was but just asking to be paranoid.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Re: Differential leak (vectorz)
The simple answer is No.
The only way to know if it's leaking for sure is to get under there and look. If the leak is bad enough you will see fluid stains on the sump for the trunk. I could even see drips coming from the bottom of the rear crossmember when mine was leaking. When I first discovered it, I was no a 400 mile trip and stopped at a rest stop and I could smell the gear lube getting hot on the outside of the diff. That was my first clue it was leaking. Crawled under there after the 300 miles it took to get back home and sure enough there was fluid everywhere. The wind had blown the oil everywhere and it was a pain to clean up after the dealer repaired the leak.
If it's leaking and bad enough you will know it without too much trouble.
The only way to know if it's leaking for sure is to get under there and look. If the leak is bad enough you will see fluid stains on the sump for the trunk. I could even see drips coming from the bottom of the rear crossmember when mine was leaking. When I first discovered it, I was no a 400 mile trip and stopped at a rest stop and I could smell the gear lube getting hot on the outside of the diff. That was my first clue it was leaking. Crawled under there after the 300 miles it took to get back home and sure enough there was fluid everywhere. The wind had blown the oil everywhere and it was a pain to clean up after the dealer repaired the leak.
If it's leaking and bad enough you will know it without too much trouble.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Differential leak (vectorz)
Have you been "exceeding the speed limit" lately? These diffs tend to blow out the vent when they get hot and busy..... Try cleaning it as well as possible and then watch for any return drips. :)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 5
Re: Differential leak (carpe dm)
Have you been "exceeding the speed limit" lately? These diffs tend to blow out the vent when they get hot and busy..... Try cleaning it as well as possible and then watch for any return drips. :)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington DE
Re: Differential leak (vectorz)
Hi Vectorz. How are the Bilsteins working??
Chances are that your rear Diff leak is from the left half shaft seal. This has been a problem and GM designed a new seal in 2003 and started using it. My 2000FRC had that seal replaced 4 times (under warranty) in the 4 years I had the car. The last replacement was with the newly designed seal.
I doubt very much that you are blowing gear lube out the vent, unless you're running T1 races with your car. It doesn't take much leakage to mess up things under the car. I recommend getting that seal replaced, once you've confirmed that it is the problem, and it should never give you any problem again as long as the newly designed seal is used.
Jim Helm
Chances are that your rear Diff leak is from the left half shaft seal. This has been a problem and GM designed a new seal in 2003 and started using it. My 2000FRC had that seal replaced 4 times (under warranty) in the 4 years I had the car. The last replacement was with the newly designed seal.
I doubt very much that you are blowing gear lube out the vent, unless you're running T1 races with your car. It doesn't take much leakage to mess up things under the car. I recommend getting that seal replaced, once you've confirmed that it is the problem, and it should never give you any problem again as long as the newly designed seal is used.
Jim Helm
