Diff oil leak that looks like a sump oil leak?

[CountP]

I am slowly working my way through the oil leaks on my V8 Disco.

I am getting oil on the side of the sump. When I got the vehicle the side of the sump and starter were caked with oil and grime. I couldn't understand why there was oil dripping off the starter motor. Anyway cleaned it all off yesterday and took it for a run to fetch the new starter motor and then had a good look again. It looks like the oil is spraying out of the front diff pinion seal onto the engine. In a way I'm kind of relieved it isn't rear main oil seal although for so much oil to be coming out of the pinion seal I'm hoping that it doesn't mean the pinion bearing is shot.

Does this all sound logical?
Anyone else had the same problem?

Ryan

[Bearman]

New seal in the front diff, fill it up to correct level, degrease it all to get rid of the excess oil and your'e all good. There must still be some oil in the diff if it still leaking so bearings should be still OK. You would hear the bearings rumbling if they were shot. Also pay to check the area where the seal runs on the pinion flange for pitting or wear marks. If only minor clean up with a bit of fine emery paper, otherwise replace the flange.

[ScottW]

Clean out the breather too. Once everything warms up and expands, the pressure forces air out places, like the seals of the plastic caps at the end of the axles. There is a reason I know this ;)

[Ace]

Clean out the breather too. Once everything warms up and expands, the pressure forces air out places, like the seals of the plastic caps at the end of the axles. There is a reason I know this ;)

ditto on that, i had issues with my diffs, i cut the short plastic hose off the fittings on the diff, went to the mower place, got some rubber fuel line the same size and ran both breathers into the engine bay with a small chainsaw fuel filter in the end of the line to stop dust and **** getting in. If the breathers are shot as the air expands as the diff gets hot it will push through the seals to get out once the pressure is high enough, as oppose to venting out the breathers.

Matt

[PLR]

I am slowly working my way through the oil leaks on my V8 Disco.

I am getting oil on the side of the sump. When I got the vehicle the side of the sump and starter were caked with oil and grime. I couldn't understand why there was oil dripping off the starter motor. Anyway cleaned it all off yesterday and took it for a run to fetch the new starter motor and then had a good look again. It looks like the oil is spraying out of the front diff pinion seal onto the engine. In a way I'm kind of relieved it isn't rear main oil seal although for so much oil to be coming out of the pinion seal I'm hoping that it doesn't mean the pinion bearing is shot.

Does this all sound logical?
Anyone else had the same problem?

Ryan

G`day ,

engine oil and diff oil have different smells .

You need to check your diff level so smell the oil at the same time and compair . The dip stick will give the engine oil smell .

Cheers

[Utemad]

Have another look to make sure it isn't the oil pressure relief O ring leaking.

It is in a machined hole next to the oil cooler line one the block.

I've got a thread on here with photos somewhere.

[LoveMyV8County]

G`day ,

engine oil and diff oil have different smells .

You need to check your diff level so smell the oil at the same time and compair . The dip stick will give the engine oil smell .

Cheers

Yep, beat me to it.

[CountP]

One of the first things I did was to check all the transmission fluid levels.
The front diff needed a bit of a top up but nothing too drastic.

By the amount of gunk I had to scrap off the side of the sump and starter I think it's been doing it for a while but because I cleaned all the gunk off it's now becoming more apparent.

Diff breather is also clear, checked that too. I would be so luck that it was being caused by a blocked breather.