I finally got my diff fluid changed today. They front was not too bad. It was pretty dark brown coming out and the plug had a decent amount of fine stuff sticking to it. The rear diff was NASTY though. It was completely grey with streaks of black. The plug was covered with particles. How could that much water be getting in there? I think I remember reading a TSB about it, but I can't find it. Something about water getting into the vent tube maybe? Has anybody else had this problem?

 

You may want to raise your breather tube higher up into the quarter panel, sounds like you have been doing some water crossings. How often do you cahnge your fluids, did you do the t/case at the same time?

 

I only just bought the vehicle. I guess maybe the previous owner look it through the water a bit.

 

Sounds like you have need for my list of stuff to do to your new truck.
This is the parts list for a 60,000 mile service or a high mileage used truck, the way I do it.
1 Oil filter, K&N 3001
1 Air filter
6 Qts of engine oil
12 Qts of ATF
7 Qts of 80/90W gear oil
2 Qts of Brake fluid
2 Qts of synthetic Power steering fluid
2 Gallons of OAT, orange coolant
1 Bottle of Lucas Power Steering additive
1 Bottle of Lucas Transmission additive
1 Can of Spray Carb. Spray
1 Can Of Brake cleaner
8 Spark Plugs, I use Bosch Platium Plus 4's
1 Set of Magnacor 8mm plug wires
1 Serpentine belt if not yet replaced
2 Bottles of SeaFoam


60,000 Mile Service or Major Service for High Mileage Used Vehicle just purchased
Bleed the brakes
Flush and change the power steering fluid adding one bottle of additive
Service the tranny adding one bottle of additive
Flush the coolant system
Do an engine flush before changing the oil
Do an induction cleaning
Clean the throttle body
Add fuel additive to full gas tank
Change both of the diffs fluid
Change the t/case oil
Replace the plugs and wires
Replace the air filter
Lube all the drive shaft grease fitting including the 2 slip shafts
Do full inspection of brakes, hoses, bushings etc.

Hopefully I didn't leave anything out.
Mike

 

Jkid-I had the same problem with my Disco. Turns out that the rear axle breather was clogged and the water couldnt get out. So I replaced the breather tube and no problems. It probaly had been clogged for a long time and handnt had the fluid changed, ever.
I would have to say it is the same for your truck. Drive it until you get a new breather tube and then change the fluid again. I got mine from AB for $20.

 

Great. That makes sense. I took your advise and bought some cheap fluid to put in there for a short time to clean it out. I'll change it and the tube again soon.

 

Make sure that the tubing you use is longer then the current tubing, make sure to run it up into the rear quarter panel corner. Also Water gets into the diff because the vehicle got in deeper then the tubing and if flows into the case, not because the tubing was plugged. If the tubbing was plugged, water couldn't have gotten in in the first place.

 

Weird, now my Jeep has milky rear differential fluid. I've never had this problem before. Now two vehicles at once.I have not been in deep water with the Jeepin some time though. However, I did just replace the pinion seal on it. If gear oil was leaking out of the seal, it stands to reason that water could have been going in I guess.

 

Got to stay on top of those gear oil changes, you can loose some bearing with all that water in the system.

 

You dont have to go wading to get water in your diff. Condensation will do the trick. And if it cannot escape because the vent tube is clogged...well you get the idea.