Front diff, no oil - how far?

[nice1guv]

Hi,

I need to repair my front diff as it has a split I think between the front casing and the main bottom part. I'm going to weld it up, or more accurately get someone else to weld it.

Once I have drained all the oil out of it, can I still drive it about 100m or so very slowly? Obviously I'm not going to go cruising around the road on it, just want to know if I can move the car from a carpark into a workshop for example?

[abaddonxi]

Don't know about the driving, but I've heard tell from a few on here of using that kneadable putty - Selly's I think - to temporarily patch a diff hole.

Cheers
Simon

[nice1guv]

Don't know about the driving, but I've heard tell from a few on here of using that kneadable putty - Selly's I think - to temporarily patch a diff hole.

Cheers
Simon

I already have some of that putty sort of stuff on it from the last owner, and it doesn't currently leak. But I know there is hole or split or something under it, so want to get it fixed before I attempt any off roading.

[JDNSW]

Yes. Driving slowly a hundred metres or so should not cause any damage as all the surfaces will still be oily, which will prevent adhesion, and slow driving without hard pulling will not generate enough heat to need oil for cooling.

Driving much more than that or where hard pulling (e.g. up a steep hill) could wipe all the oil off the gear teeth and result in some wear. But there are plenty of cases where diffs have been run dry for several kilometres of driving without oil, although high speed or high load will quickly destroy them, as will replacing the oil with muddy water.

John

[duncanw]

pull the front propshaft out and put it in diff lock, save the diff for another day (still go slow though)

[rangieman]

I would,nt weld it with the diff centre in place , you could end up with a oil fire inside the housing ,even tho the oil has been drained there is still a film of oil in there that could burn:cool:

[tempestv8]

I once had a crash repair place fit a new axle to a Commodore but they didn't fill the diff. It ran fine for many kilometers at 60 km/hr until it overheated.

So if you plan to drive 100 m and it's got an oily residue on the gears, you won't have to worry at all.

[nice1guv]

Thankyou all!

I've been driving it for a while now with the rubber sealant stuff covering whatever hole or split there is, and there have been no problems. When I first got the car I drained the diff and the oil appeared fine and it was full. I refilled it and continued driving. It doesn't seem to make any strange noises or do anything odd. It's just time to get it fixed properly.

I'll drain and clean it, inspect the damage, and drive it maybe 100m max very slowly.

My mate who is going to weld it for me has access to a MIG and TIG, so hopefully it will work out ok. Fingers crossed no fires! I might even fab up a piece of metal to patch over the damaged area as well.

[rovercare]

1. it'll be fine to drive with no oil in it, hell take a spin around the bloke, it'll be fine

2. I've welded them with the centre in place, numerous times, not enough oxygen to make a fire, but don't discount the chane it "may" happen..............but I doubt it