I've noticed recently a small puddle of oil under my truck. turns out its coming from the rear differential.

not a whole lot of oil right now under the truck, but my assumption is that it is a leak in the gasket.

any other possibilities of what it could be?

and how hard is it to change the rear diff fluid?

thanks!

 

Easy to change the fluid. Take off the rear cover, let it all drain out, use RTV as a new gasket bolt back in, locate the fill plug it's a 3/8in drive "square" and fill to that hole then plug it back up

 

Go buy a Haynes manual it gives you step by step instructions on how to change it but yeah I'd say it's the gasket or something

 

thanks! thats what I figured It would be

how does RTV work? Would I be better getting a new gasket or using it?

 

RTV is a sealant somewhat like caulk. Just squeeze it out in a line on the cover where It meets the rest of the housing. It's better than a gasket in this case

 

Ok Thanks! I know what rtv is, just never used it! Ill use it for this though! When I did the trans fluid I used a gasket

 

Fluid can also leak from the pinion seal where the driveshaft connects. Clean the axle well and throw some paper under it and see where the leak is.

 

It is more likely the pinion seal...

 

Ok. Hopefully it didnt raint too much last night and I'll crawl under it and investigate further. got my camera ready too

 

It is definitely coming from the pinion seal. looked under it more closely and with better light, its leaking from the pinion seal and running down to drip under the cover.

Heres the ground under the truck:




Heres the connection




its running down the bottom and dripping from here. You can see the drop forming



Any diagnosis or suggestions?