Leaky diff.

[Bigvolvo]

Drained and refilled my diff recently. Reversed Excel up ramps; old oil out, new in- up to refill hole.
Went for a drive. Next thing there was a pool of oil on the garage floor. It was then I realised that because of the steep ramps Id backed up onto I had overfilled the diff by 200-300 ml....doh!
So is excess pressure just blowing the spare oil from the breather or could too much pressure be enough to 'crack' a diff seal?

[Hawaiis0]

Had almost same result after my refill last week - only I did mine level. Fresh oil on the floor next morning.

I put this down to the fresher new oil finding it easier to seep through the worn seals which were previously blocked by the gunk that I drained out.

[marky]

Have had my car about a year - when I first had it the diff was not leaking. I changed the oil and filled it to the correct level and a while later discovered the diff was covered in oil which was leaking from the nose seal.

I later purchased a replacement diff and refurbished it myself so that the car would not be off the road for more than one day. Unfortunately I have not had the funds to pay my mechanic to change them over so I have been forced to soldier on with the old diff. I have discovered that if I fill it to the correct level it leaks quite quickly until it has dropped about 150 - 200 ml and then stops leaking! I think I am just going to leave it at that level until I can afford to change them.

Mark.

[AndyC]

Only way to be sure is open the fill hole when level, let it drain to that and monitor form there.

[Bigvolvo]

Levelled the car, drained the excess oil, only about 100ml. It now appears to have stopped leaking; it was coming from one of the drive shaft seals. I shall monitor it, if any more leaks out one of the Lucas oil additives will be administered, no time for any diff rebuilds right now!