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Gear oil coming out the breather tube, why?

DustinK5

DustinK5

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Ever since I put a Ruff Stuff Specialties diff cover on my 14blt over the summer, gear oil comes out the tube.

It did it once just before Moab 2mo ago. I thought I may have put too much in. It never did it again until 2wks ago. I filled it up after this time...it took about 1/2 a quart. The housing was very warm.

Originally I put Valvoline 80w-90 and when I added more I used 85w-140 (I didn't use the same weight by accident really)

The tube extends up ontop of the gas tank, so it's high.

Any ideas as to why or how to stop this?

I'm thinking that the extra thickness of the diff cover is not allowing to cool verywell.
 
you probably still have too much fluid in there. The fill holes are pretty high on the ruff stuff diff covers, i just use the stock hole on the side of the housing now and everything is fine. The diff takes 4 quarts total, so i just drop 4 exactlly in there and go from there. Mine will spit fluid if im over 1 gallon(4 qts).
 
onetonbb74 said:
you probably still have too much fluid in there. The fill holes are pretty high on the ruff stuff diff covers, i just use the stock hole on the side of the housing now and everything is fine. The diff takes 4 quarts total, so i just drop 4 exactlly in there and go from there. Mine will spit fluid if im over 1 gallon(4 qts).
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I guess I should have said I didn't get diff cover with the fill hole.

Thanks
 
Too much oil. You need to check the fluid level when the diff is completely cold and fill it to the bottom of the fill hole.
 
Or just only add 1 gal. I remember when I was filling it up and then I realized my pinion was adjust and I was on a hill. I had like a gallon and a half in it :)

Wait who the hell has a fill on the cover for a 14b? Mines on the side of the pumpkin.
 
Some aftermarket covers have a "fill or inspection" hole in the cover.
 
The Ruff Stuff covers increase capacity. I'd fill to the bottom of the fill hole on the housing (on flat ground) instead of using 4qts.
 
You can do it my was as well by filling it up with 2 gallons and just keep driving until it stops leaking out. :)
 
BGKYK5 said:
The Ruff Stuff covers increase capacity. I'd fill to the bottom of the fill hole on the housing (on flat ground) instead of using 4qts.
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Unless you had him make you a special cover the ruff stuff covers do not add capactiy. I'm running both a D60 and 14FF cover and the diffs take the factory recommended amount of gear oil.
 
It might be overfull and foaming. You can put a teaspoon of trans fluid in to keep it from foaming. Just remember you don't want to starve the pinion bearings of lube so depending on how far you diff is pointed up you might have to overfill it a little.
 
They do have "regular" and increased capacity versions. That may be what I was thinking of. Mine is the "regular" capacity one. I didn't measure the amount of gear oil I put in, but based on it's shape I would think that it holds at least a pint more. :dunno:
 
wayne said:
It might be overfull and foaming. You can put a teaspoon of trans fluid in to keep it from foaming. Just remember you don't want to starve the pinion bearings of lube so depending on how far you diff is pointed up you might have to overfill it a little.
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Thanks Betty Crocker!:D:p::haha:
 
four_by_ken said:
You say the housing is getting warm. Just how warm are we talking here? Shouldnt be getting warm.
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I just drove north to Sedona (about 100miles) it still is pouring out fluid and the housing was so hot you could fry an egg on it!
 
blazenwhip said:
I just drove north to Sedona (about 100miles) it still is pouring out fluid and the housing was so hot you could fry an egg on it!
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I think it is safe to say that you have a problem.

Either the fluid level is so low that you are cooking bearings, or else you have a bearing problem to start with... or the mesh on your gears is way off.

I would have it looked at, or look yourself if you know ring and pinions good enough... as soon as possible.

Might lock up on your if you are not careful.

We had a guy going down the express way in a Jeep on 36s and the rear end got so hot that it caught fire. I think the crap that was around the axle caught fire... then in turn caught the fluid on fire that was coming out. His didnt lock up on him... luckily.
 
What does you vent tube look like? If there's any loops in it, that can also cause fluid to spray out before it settles back down into the housing.

The diff cover can get pretty hot (mine does) after driving on the freeway, but not enough to cook anything. If you have a temp guage to check it, that might help someone compare.
 
Tube goes straight up, no loops.
I refilled the oil for now. It took 2qts this time. I'll make it home and open it up to see what's cookin'!
 
Really hot gear oil will find its way out through the vent.

How hot does the diff get? Can you hold your hand on it after you drive it?

If you have pinion bearing problems, usually there will be some side to side or in/out play in the pinion.
 
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