J.H.Boland Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 (edited) Returning from a car show, I discovered a pool of gear oil beside the right rear wheel.It's coming from a spout near the bottom of the axle housing (see photo) .Does this indicate a leaking seal ? I've stuffed paper towel in it for now. Anyone know what seals are used (felt?). Jim Edited July 7, 2018 by J.H.Boland (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raydurr Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 This leak is typically either an overfilled axle housing or the car has been parked leaning to the side of the leak. In more rare cases over heated gear oil could over expand and have a greater tendency to find a path out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.H.Boland Posted July 7, 2018 Author Share Posted July 7, 2018 3 minutes ago, raydurr said: This leak is typically either an overfilled axle housing or the car has been parked leaning to the side of the leak. In more rare cases over heated gear oil could over expand and have a greater tendency to find a path out. Thanks raydurr.I would like to think you're right.It hasn't been parked on an angle but the day was hot.I'll check the diff oil level. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 Differential oil should be very thick so the felt seals will work. I use SAE 250. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27donb Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 That spout is there to drain off any excess lubricant that gets to that area, by design. Compared to my Buicks, your axle is dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.H.Boland Posted July 8, 2018 Author Share Posted July 8, 2018 54 minutes ago, Mark Shaw said: Differential oil should be very thick so the felt seals will work. I use SAE 250. This stuff is a bit light. Some of my old manuals say to use steam cylinder oil "or equivalent". SAE250 sounds like a good "equivalent". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 (edited) Jim, The tube needs to be open. Your "equivalent" is a good choice. Fill to just below the oil coming out the fill plug. Some have said 1/2 to 1" below. This is a cut away drawing of how the rear axle tube works. You may also need new seals (felt or lip seal) in your rear hubs. If you plug the hole you could end up with oil on your brake bands. Hugh Edited July 8, 2018 by Hubert_25-25 (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Rawling Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Make sure that the filler hole on the differential cover is below the center of the housing. Check the oil in trans to be sure that the oil is not leaking down the torque tube from the trans. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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