-40F = oil leak out of front diff breather, ok? - Toyota 4Runner Forum

antexity · 01-29-2019, 11:18 PM

Little chilly today driving home and Mr. Hilux was stiff as well. Did an inspection this evening and noticed some gear oil (2 tbsp worth) on the ground and on my LCA's. Followed it up to my engine bay and noticed my breather is full of oil.

First time this happened, Anything I have to worry about, should I replace anything?

Thanks folks!

desertegal7 · 01-30-2019, 11:58 AM

if gear oil level is OK then everything is fine. unless the gear oil is too old / thin.

spartacus · 01-30-2019, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antexity

Little chilly today driving home and Mr. Hilux was stiff as well. Did an inspection this evening and noticed some gear oil (2 tbsp worth) on the ground and on my LCA's. Followed it up to my engine bay and noticed my breather is full of oil.

First time this happened, Anything I have to worry about, should I replace anything?

Thanks folks!

Ruling out moisture or water contamination of the gear oil.May be the extreme cold froze the internal seals of the diff breather plug causing pressure and the leak. As a precaution I would change the gear oil and the diff plug when possible.

dogtail · 01-30-2019, 12:02 PM

Weird stuff happens at these temps, saw this post earlier today.
What the hell just happened???

96RedRunner · 01-30-2019, 12:12 PM

Chaulk it up as learning experience with climate change. Happens alot that doesn't make it to forums for discussion, ask some old timers that live near you.

thegipper · 01-30-2019, 12:25 PM

In addition to my "what the hell happened" oil leak post, I noticed my front diff breather had a little extra seepage when I was cleaning the engine oil off.

I'm thinking these extreme cold temps are just wreaking havoc on these older trucks and exposing the little gremlins that lay dormant under all normal circumstances (not -30deg temps like it is now, -50 wind chill).

Even with my oil coming out of the spark plug tubes, the engine still started and ran great! I had no other issues driving it yesterday.

JWaldz · 01-30-2019, 12:27 PM

At the temps you guys are experiencing it's possible that not only moisture/water can freeze in the diffs, but if you're running old, low cost brand gear oil it's likely not operating correctly. Could explain any sluggish feeling in the mornings as well as cause the oil out the breather.

Additionally, if you know what brand gear oil you are using it might be worth while to go look at it's normal operating specs.

thennen · 01-30-2019, 12:29 PM

Theorizing here. I believe gear oil can get very thick at those temps, almost gel-like. So I'm wondering if a glob got slung up into the breather hole early (especially if you didn't start out slowly), then as the diff warmed up, the heat/pressure pushed it up the tube and out? I remember seeing pics many years ago when a can (yes, that long ago) of 20W50 was opened after sitting in -60 or so temps, and the oil sort of slid out of the can in a chunk. Maybe -40 does the same thing to 80W-90W gear oil.

Inv4drZm · 01-30-2019, 12:30 PM

If its mounted next to the engine I would have thought it would have been warmed up and thawed by the time the diff oil gets hot, if it was indeed 'frozen'.

Edit: What the guys posted above me makes more sense.

catrains · 01-30-2019, 12:35 PM

looks like this has been going on for a while since it has dirt on the gear oil vent . I have had this happen .. when in 4wd in snow storms driving for 20-30 miles I had this happen.

drive the vehicle for several miles then check the gear oil ..
I check it when the vehicle has operated ... gear oil does expand when heated.

zayne_g · 01-30-2019, 09:19 PM

Odd things have started happening since this arctic blast.
I've not been on the forum for a while and came to look for answers for my issue and it seems everyone is having some problem or another on the older trucks.

Kanoe · 01-30-2019, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antexity

Little chilly today driving home and Mr. Hilux was stiff as well. Did an inspection this evening and noticed some gear oil (2 tbsp worth) on the ground and on my LCA's. Followed it up to my engine bay and noticed my breather is full of oil.

First time this happened, Anything I have to worry about, should I replace anything?

Thanks folks!

This has come up a few times in the past. I've had it once too.

Common theme seems to be you do a front diff drain and fill, then the first time driving for an extended period in 4wd this happens. In my case it was a couple hours in 4wd at 50mph. Only happened the once and never again.

May not be the same in your case, just rehashing what came up before. Consensus seems to be just to wipe it up and drive on.

antexity · 01-30-2019, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertegal7

if gear oil level is OK then everything is fine. unless the gear oil is too old / thin.

Gear oil level is good in diff. I'll keep an eye on the breather the next couple of days. Thanks!

antexity · 01-30-2019, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWaldz

At the temps you guys are experiencing it's possible that not only moisture/water can freeze in the diffs, but if you're running old, low cost brand gear oil it's likely not operating correctly. Could explain any sluggish feeling in the mornings as well as cause the oil out the breather.

Additionally, if you know what brand gear oil you are using it might be worth while to go look at it's normal operating specs.

Did a change over on both Diffs and TC with Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90.

Site Navigation