Just changed oil in rear differential. When I opened the plug on the differential there was air hissing out. When the oil was out in a waste can it had a muddy looking brownish skim on top of it and looked like it had lots of tiny bubbles in it. Have no idea when oil was changed last. Does anyone know if this is usual appearance for used diff oil.
Muddy looking rear differential oil
- Thread starter danielj
- Start date
Help Support Nissan 4x4 Owners Club Forum:
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2006
- Messages
- 7,699
isn't there an air vent on the diff? could it have taken in water? or even be blocked and holding pressure? i dont know just speculating
zippy is right make sure you use the correct lsd oil
zippy is right make sure you use the correct lsd oil
Quick reply. Not sure what you mean but quick reply all the same. I did fill up the differential with whatever the recommended diff oil was until it started to spill out the hole for checking the level. Definately didn't get anything like 3ltrs of the stuff out when I drained it to change it though. Looked more like a litre and a half. No sign of any leaks whatever though.
Another quick reply. Fair play. There does seem to be an air vent thingy on the top. But it could be blocked. It may have taken in water at some point but don't remember being up to the axles in water at any point. I'm sure I put the correct oil in but have no idea whether the stuff I drained out was the correct oil or not as it was not me that put it in. Don't know how long it is in there though. Nothing obvious wrong with the working of the differential in normal road conditions but I was wondering if the mucky oil suggested any potential problems to look out for.
Thanks for that. Will have a look and see if there might be a blocked or kinked tube. Would do it now but there is a distinct possibility I would still be under the jeep in the morning frozen to death it's so cold here.
lacroupade
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2009
- Messages
- 9,208
Dealer rarely changes it and most people don't even go to Nissan after warranty expires so probably its original. Very common for it to be contaminated and its actually a very vital ingredient - the LSD can misbehave significantly when the oil is knackered.
It should definitely take 2.8 litres though so something is wrong there, you may have a load of kack solidified in there or something - and make absolutely sure its spec'd as LSD oil....nothing else will do.
some folk recommend, when its been really bad, that you replace the oil, run it for a month then change it a second time to flush out all the crap.
It could well be the original oil. When I stuck my little finger in to check the level before I decided to change it I couldn't reach any oil. Definately no leak though as its dry as a bone on the casing. Think the idea of running it for a month and changing it again is good as there is bound to be mucky stuff still in there.
lacroupade
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2009
- Messages
- 9,208
sounds like a good plan daniel.
this link is very useful; just type in your reg and postcode (prob only works UK and NI) and it tells you all the oils you need and your nearest stockist:
http://www.commaoil.com/motorists
I've always used Comma LSD oil and had no problems - it sorted the weird noises coming from my LSD in minutes,
this link is very useful; just type in your reg and postcode (prob only works UK and NI) and it tells you all the oils you need and your nearest stockist:
http://www.commaoil.com/motorists
I've always used Comma LSD oil and had no problems - it sorted the weird noises coming from my LSD in minutes,
