What makes gear oil come out of axle breather?
Last edited:
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
100 miles from home... Back home, question.
- Thread starter K85 Octane
- Start date
What truck? In a IFS there is a little cup that is suppose to swing that gets stuck up and will hold fluid and blow it out when the axle gets hot. Otherwise overfilling or somehow getting a little fluid in the breather hose.
Short answers would be expansion from heat. So it's either overfilled and purging the excess or its overhot and pushing out cuz it's expanded too much to stay In. Good luck
Well I can't touch the diff cover and I am using a DIY4x cover. I'm not the one that filled it last unfortunately either, so I really don't know the beginning level. I have the breather mounted to the bed, near the rear top shock mount. I noticed the leak cause it was spraying on the exhaust, creating a cloud of blue behind me. It's all over the top of the gas tank, tailgate and soft top, springs, everything. Hoping its done so I can drive home, thinking of just AAAing it home.
I've been driving it around a lot lately. It hasn't had a problem till now. It started about 20 miles into a freeway trip to offroading. Didn't notice it till I was climbing the Grapevine (I5 straight up 4 line mountain freeway. Big cloud behind me.
I've been driving it around a lot lately. It hasn't had a problem till now. It started about 20 miles into a freeway trip to offroading. Didn't notice it till I was climbing the Grapevine (I5 straight up 4 line mountain freeway. Big cloud behind me.
I routed the breather towards the rear, so leaking happens behind the truck.
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
It almost always happens to me in that same area. After it cools, see if you can locate the fluid level. It was probably overfilled and the heat caused the excess to puke out.
I could see grapevine causing a problem too
Mine started pushing it out the breather one day. Ended up being some slushed up water in early spring! It must have settled and froze during the winter. Hence the issues when it warmed up.
I have seen many a car/truck dead on the grape vine.
TheBeast_88K5
Banned
You need a breather overflow tank.. 
ok, screwed around offroad today, since I was already there and it's slow driving I wasn't worried about the rear axle. Driving home it still puked up fluid. Not sure if it was as much as before since it's now routed right out the back, free to spray like a James Bond car. 
Just got home a little bit ago. Too tired to check level, too tired to clean out crap in back.
Actually, how should I go about cleaning the soft top, now that it has oil and caked on dirt/ mud.
Just got home a little bit ago. Too tired to check level, too tired to clean out crap in back.
Actually, how should I go about cleaning the soft top, now that it has oil and caked on dirt/ mud.
rampage
3/4 ton status
Maybe Ivory dish soap, hand cleaner or laundry detergent and a scrub brush.
If its blowing out oil and you think it might blow it all out take your breather tube ( if you have one) and run it under the axle and than back over the top. Kind of like a big p trap it usually keeps the oil in.
If you can't touch the diff cover you have bearing issues or gear issues. If its that hot because of low oil just put oil in it and start saving for new bearings cause they will fail eventually
If you can't touch the diff cover you have bearing issues or gear issues. If its that hot because of low oil just put oil in it and start saving for new bearings cause they will fail eventually
big reaper
1/2 ton status
Its funny that Eric mentioned routing the breather that way because I did that and the axels were the only thing that I didn't have trouble with on my 1300 mile trip. When I first installed my 14 bff it would puke fluid after 100 miles now that I ran it around the axel and up it doesn't.
That is a really interesting trick. I hate the fact that its blowing out now, even when it's been driven several times on the freeway without issue. My friend driving behind me saw smoke rather soon into this trip, maybe 20-30 miles of freeway driving. That's not good. By the time I noticed, it was much worse and about 70 miles later. And yes, the super thick diff cover was untouchable. 
I'll take it back to the shop for them to check. If its bearings ok, but if its gearing I'm going to 5.13 and ditching the 4.88s. I only want a little more gearing. Either way, this sucks.
I'll take it back to the shop for them to check. If its bearings ok, but if its gearing I'm going to 5.13 and ditching the 4.88s. I only want a little more gearing. Either way, this sucks.
Whichever, I recommend synthetic fluid. I have posted the story here somewhere of the guy who went through three or four rear ends hauling horses over the mountains.
After I talked him through installing an electric temp gauge so he could pull over and let the oil cool to save the diff, he switched to Amsoil and never had to pull over again.
The stuff is just that much slicker.
After I talked him through installing an electric temp gauge so he could pull over and let the oil cool to save the diff, he switched to Amsoil and never had to pull over again.
The stuff is just that much slicker.
bp71k5
3/4 ton status
I can second the synthetic recommendation, it helped mine a lot.
Anyone got a recommendation? Not sure where I should buy it. Maybe Summit, not sure if local stores carry this kind of stuff.
