Differential smell

[OUdude94]

Coming back from a hunting trip one day I noticed the smell of diff fluid, but there were no leaks anywhere from the front diff. One thing I noticed was a little breather tube coming from the front diff and that hose was loose. anyone else had this problem before?

 

[Rookie]

It was loose from on top the diff? Probably just got hot. If you're not seeing any fluids or having issues I wouldn't be concerned.

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[OUdude94]

my dad and I had the same thought as well. No problems with it this past hunt except that it forever smells like differential fluid now.

 

[FordService]

my dad and I had the same thought as well. No problems with it this past hunt except that it forever smells like differential fluid now.

If you're concerned, OUdude94, it wouldn't hurt to have your dealership check things out. How many miles do you have on it?

Crystal

 

[COBRA90GT]

Mmmm, love the smell of used gear oil...

 

[Ruger]

Mmmm, love the smell of used gear oil...

It smells like victory!

I would check the breather hoses front and rear, but guys they're open to the atmosphere. There's no valve - not even a filter - on either. So there's likely to be some smell if the differentials get good and hot whether the breather hoses come loose or not. (Don't ask me whether my truck smells - I don't have the sense.)

So I wonder if the truck did a water crossing recently, perhaps deep enough to get some water into the differential via the open end of the breather hose. Having some water in there might make the fluid more smelly. (Again, don't ask me about smells.)

 

[JRaptor11]

I got the same thing with my rear diff. I noticed it looks wet above the pumpkin where a connector is plugged into the pumpkin. I smelled it during snoball and still smell it when its just sitting there. Going to have the shop check it out tomorrow when they put the truck on the lift for new tires.