Cross-posting here...looking for some insight into the fluid leak that is slowly dripping from my rear differential. I don't know if the rear differential is leaking fluid, or something above the rear differential is leaking fluid, and it's making its way down by dripping off of the bolts.

Context:
I have a 2011 LR2 with 101k miles on it. Seems to be a slow leak, after the whole day there's a couple dime-sized spots on my driveway. Does anyone have any experience with this? I want to know am I looking at an entire rear diff replacement or is this a matter of having a shop replace a seal (or multiple seals).

The fluid looks like motor oil and doesn't have a smell. Didn't taste it (I don't think it would taste too good...).

I'm a little bit nervous here, the car drives completely fine, but I don't want to drive something that's unsafe. Am I better off not driving it?

Haven't had this car for very long. Picked it up used a few months ago. I'm in Rhode Island (US) and literally can't get the Land Rover dealership to even return a call to schedule service. I'm going to try some rebuild shops tomorrow to see if they can fit me in.

 

Three possible fluids back there...

1. Gasoline. This would smell like gas of course, and would mostly evaporate although it might stain some driveway surfaces. Probably rule that out since you said it's oil, and that's what it looks like in the pics.

2. Differential oil. This would be a heavy oil, and *should* smell like gear oil (ie sulfur). It's possible but pretty unlikely that somebody put some strange oil in there that doesn't smell.

3. Haldex fluid (aka Active On-Demand Coupling, aka AOC). This is the device mounted on the front of the diff, the prop shaft is connected to the front of the haldex. It uses a hydrualic clutch system to automatically engage the drive shaft to the diff to power the rear wheels when the computers think it's necessary. IIRC this fluid does not smell like gear oil so this is probably what's leaking.

Either way, the leak is probably a seal associated with the haldex so it needs to come out. IIRC there's an o-ring where the haldex attaches to the diff... if that is worn/damaged it would cause diff oil to leak. this happened to me once when the dealer replaced the diff and either re-used the old o-ring or damaged it during installation, very slow leak.

There's also at least one shaft seal in the haldex that can fail and leak haldex fluid. I'm guessing this is what you have going on.

EDIT: Looks like you go some additional info on the Brit forum, also this thread has a pic of the haldex shaft seal...

https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic36365-15.html

My experience: Be careful removing the prop shaft bolts. I sheared one off, use a heat gun and careful back and forth action.

I'd probably replace all the haldex seals and change the filter while you're in there. You'll obviously need to refill the fluid per the shop manual instructions.

 

Thanks for the insight. Spoke with a local independent Land Rover shop and they said to check the breather first, because if it becomes clogged, fluid will be forced out. He explained it all to me so I'll give it a shot. Any experience doing this?

 

I hope he explained to you how to get to the breather tube and how to clear it. From what I can see and have read, it's not exactly an easy job. However, he's right in that the service manual says that is the first thing to check for your symptoms.

 

Yes, I've heard of that issue. But if it's diff fluid it should smell like gear oil, that's hard to mistake for anything else.

IIRC the haldex fluid is more of a hydraulic type fluid and doesn't smell like sulfur.

If it turns out to be the diff, you might want to change the fluid so you know what's actually in there...

 

It does not smell like sulfur. So I'm leaning towards the haldex. But the haldex should also have its own breather he was saying. I don't have the car with me right now it's at another shop getting a ding fixed. So i'll need to see what's going on when I pick it up on Friday.

He made it seem like getting to the breathers wasn't that bad. Does anyone have a diagram or photo of where they are?

 

That fluid looks pretty good for a 2011 with 101K miles. I wonder if you had a Haldex maintenance of some sort and the filter wasn't cleaned as well. Check that while you're checking the breather tube.
Anyways, as our colleagues have suggested, get this looked at, pronto.

Had you seen these:
Volvo and Land Rover Differential Problems ? Out Of Town ? We?ll Repair ? Send To Us ? Atlantic Motorcar
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rov...-guide.367526/

 

Guy do you mean it looks pretty good as in "it looks clean" or it looks pretty good as in "it's leaking really good" meaning this is BAD.

I'm trying to get it looked at asap. Been in the shop getting a bumper hole patched up. Then need to drop it off at the next shop to get the haldex leak figured out.

 

Greetings.
I would expect the fluid to be black, not golden.

Cheers

 

Lack of update here. Local indie shop took a look, doesn't know where the fluid is coming from. It's Haldex fluid, but no fault codes, and it's spilling to multiple areas, so it's hard to pinpoint it. Said the ECU looks like it may even be new. Dropping it off at LR specialist shop (special vehicles, exeter, RI) on Thursday. Will update after then.

On a sidenote, the indie shop says rear passenger shock is pretty shot (leaking oil) and exhaust is beginning to crack and may leak soon. Looking down at that exhaust, it's the only part of the underbody that doesn't have cladding on it...who knows why? So pretty susceptible to picking up salt and rusting out.

Don't you just love surprises?