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Post by boggissimo on Feb 21, 2020 11:58:01 GMT
I was under the car the other day, moving the fog light to a different place on the rear bumper, and I noticed there was a spray of oil from one side of the final drive unit (and not the other). Pic below. Looks like maybe a seal is not working properly on the diff? The car had its MOT about 50 miles ago with no note about it, but I'm not sure whether that means it has just started happening, or just didn't trouble the MOT tester. There have been no drips on the garage floor so either it's old oil, or it only comes out under load.
What should I be checking? Is it likely to need refilling or is the diff oil shared with the gearbox?
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Post by martiny on Feb 21, 2020 12:15:31 GMT
Looks like diff oil leaked out on one side and drips got flung off the spinning flange plate on the axle, ending up on the subframe and diff carrier arm. It could just be something as simple as a blocked diff breather, so the diff case is pressurising as it heats up in use. The breather is the little widget you can see there on top of the diff case, directly above the oil filler plug. Unscrews with a 12mm spanner. Give it a blast through with something like carb cleaner spray.
If that doesn't fix it you might need a new oil seal on that side.
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Post by atlex on Feb 21, 2020 12:53:35 GMT
give the whole area a degrease once you've cleaned out the little breather as martiny suggested, top off the oil [ captain obviously here ] , and see if the oil comes back where you degreased... even if you need a new side seal, you don't have to remove the diff to do it, it's a fairly simple job with the car up, there are some tricks to pulling the shaft out of course
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Post by boggissimo on Feb 21, 2020 14:58:08 GMT
Brilliant, thanks guys!
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Post by Zed. on Feb 21, 2020 16:03:36 GMT
Also...
Bolt-on driveshafts...
Can ‘leak’ cv-joint grease from the inner cv-joint where it meets the diff’s output-flange.
Although I’d check the breather & oil-level also (low oil level & the oil will ‘boil’ causing mist that can escape through the breather)
Rich.
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Post by dadbif on Feb 21, 2020 21:56:28 GMT
Forget it, it’s a very very minor leak
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Post by wannabe on Feb 22, 2020 0:17:37 GMT
Free rustproofing
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Rasc
Chats A Bit
Nutz troll apparently
Posts: 130
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Post by Rasc on Feb 23, 2020 7:10:51 GMT
Forget it, it’s a very very minor leak Until it gets bigger and the diff runs out of oil and then... Bad advice I’m afraid.
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Post by dadbif on Feb 23, 2020 8:10:52 GMT
The MOT tester who didn’t deem it worthy of an advisory probably had many years of experience and had seen many similar cases, I have been involved with cars and their oily bits for 55 years, if I had treated every light misting of oil as a major leak, then every vehicle I have ever worked on would have been permanently in pieces having oil seals changed. What you are looking at is an accumulation over many years. However, you are entitled to your opinion, so crack on, strip the rear end down, replace the oil seals, and be prepared to be disappointed when you next look under your car. Depending on your ability, you may turn the damp patch into a leak.
Rough rule of thumb, if it drips, change it, otherwise leave it alone.
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Post by Zed. on Feb 23, 2020 11:08:15 GMT
Rough rule of thumb, if it drips, Fuc kit Edited, translated & simplified for you and, if it stops dripping then its empty so needs filling Rich. (I own too many landrovers & vw's )
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