The Causes and Troubleshooting of a Differential Leak
A differential is a component found in the drivetrain of SUVs and heavy-duty vehicles. Whether the vehicle is a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, finding leaked fluid in the rear indicates a differential leak. The fluid looks like motor oil but has a distinct smell.
What should you do if such a problem occurs? Do you know about the ideal differential stop leak measures?
What Does the Rear Differential Do?
A differential is a gear train featuring three shafts. This component connects to the transmission or transfer case through the driveshaft, transmitting the engine’s power to the wheels.
The main function of a differential is to help the vehicle maintain balance during a turn. The wheels have the same speed when the car is moving on a straight road, so it does not affect balance and stability. When the car turns a corner, each wheel will have its speed to ensure traction. Accordingly, the wheel on the outside of the corner will have a faster speed than the remaining wheels. At this time, without a differential, the wheels will lock together, leading to an extremely dangerous situation of spinning. It enables the outside wheels to rotate quicker than the inner wheels when the vehicle is taking a turn. The average rotational speed does not fluctuate as the increase in one wheel’s speed is balanced by a reduction of the speed in the other.
Simply speaking, the differential helps your vehicle move in balance and stability. In addition, it also contributes to increasing traction for the vehicle to overcome obstacles, especially limiting wheel slippage when going through mud.
How to Repair the Differential Leak?
How do you realize that there is a leak in the differential? You will find grayish or light brown oil under the backside of your vehicle. Do you know the culprit of this problem? The reason can be that the cap gasket or spark plug gasket is one of the main causes of differential leaks in cars. Specifically, the deviation in the size of the rubber gasket makes it impossible to seal the cover and causes the oil inside to flow out due to the engine compartment overheating when the engine puts up with much pressure this situation occurs over a long period of will cause the vehicle’s rubber gaskets to harden and shrink.
The leak could be on the rear differential cover, the axle seals, or the pinion seal. How to stop it and bring the vehicle to normal running condition? Let’s find out:
Rear differential leak sealer
The easiest and hassle-free option to fix the issue. Instead of spending your time finding the leak source, add some sealer to the differential fluid through the oil fill plug. There are several high-quality leak sealer products in the market. It will repair the leak and restore the seal to the previous condition while you drive.
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Replacing the cover
If the cover is leaking or showing deterioration due to regular wear and tear, changing it will bring the differential to the previous condition. The cover is made of either rubber or silicone and replacing it is quite easy. Just don’t forget to clean the sealing surface before resealing the new one.
Resealing the sides
This is the way to rear differential stop leak when the fluid drips onto the rear brakes. The task is time-consuming because you have to remove the axle shafts. Then, you have to take the damaged seals out and install the new ones. Put together the shafts to finish the task.
Replacing the pinion seal
Another differential leak could be at the pinion seal. There is a yoke at the front side of the differential, and the surrounding seal can wear out over time. To replace the seal, you have to dislodge the yoke and pry out the seal. After that, place a new seal and then attach the yoke to its components.
Sometimes, the problems could be bigger than just a tiny leak. In that case, you may have to replace the whole differential with a new one. You should consult a mechanic if it comes to that point.
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Final Thoughts
A differential leak can be caused by several factors, including worn seals, damaged gaskets, or excessive fluid pressure. It is essential to address a differential leak promptly to prevent further damage to the vehicle’s drivetrain and ensure safe and reliable operation. We hope that the article will be somehow helpful for you. Don’t forget to follow our next post to learn more about the car maintenance tips.
