Strange rear end leak

I have a leak, which I believe is from the rear diff, but I can't tell where it's coming from, and am wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar....

Oil is dripping off the rear diff crossmember on the passenger side, but the entire diff (front and rear seals, and fill) is dry. I've looked under the car with flashlight and inspection mirror, and I can't find where the oil is coming from. It's almost as if someone squirted oil up into the crossmember, but I know that's not possible...

Anyone experience something like this?

The diff isn't completely fill with oil. Normal service level is only up to the lower part of the fill port in the rear of the assy. Have you confirmed that it's diff fluid and not a brake line.?

cv boot?

I too have had a strange rear end leak, but only after eating at White Castle.


Tough to say what it is, check all your fluids and see what it low. Top it off, then monitor.

Originally Posted by Silverstar

I too have had a strange rear end leak, but only after eating at White Castle.


Tough to say what it is, check all your fluids and see what it low. Top it off, then monitor.

OK, finally got around to getting some pics...

This just baffles me, as there is no place for the oil to come from.

In the first pic, you can see the mounting x-member for the diff on the passenger side. The clean area is where the oil gathers.



Here's a shot from below:



As you can see, the front seal, rear cover, and both CV joints are dry (except for some spatter from the x-member on the passenger side):






Does anyone know if the bushings in the x-member mount have some kind of damping oil in them??



This is where it appears the fluid is coming from, but it just doesn't make any sense! EVERYTHING except for this bushing and the x-member is dry... there are no lines running above this and the x-member is dry on top, as is the entire diff housing.

I'm going to have it in to the dealer for an oil change on Tuesday, and I'll show them what's going on and see if they have any ideas... has anyone experienced this problem?

This is driving me a little nuts!

have you been eating those chips with olean in them? they had warnings about anal seepage... rear end leak?

That is very strange. Are you sure it is oil?

Wipe it off and see if it comes back.

check everything in line with it ahead of where its leaking because if somethings leaking ahead of it and your moving at 55+ mph it will be hitting that because of the wind, just an idea.

I did wipe it off, and it came back...

Everything ahead of it is dry. You can clearly see the spatter behind the x-member, but there's nothing in front of it.

I don't eat chips with olean, nor do I have any personal 'leakage' problems...

It's almost as if someone's playing a joke, squirting some oil up there...

sure looks like diff fluid -- does it smell like it? how is your diff fluid level acting, is the 'leak' fast enough that it would be noticable on the stick? possible hidden crack in the housing where it bolts up to the x-member?

Originally Posted by rodan

I did wipe it off, and it came back...

Everything ahead of it is dry. You can clearly see the spatter behind the x-member, but there's nothing in front of it.

I don't eat chips with olean, nor do I have any personal 'leakage' problems...

It's almost as if someone's playing a joke, squirting some oil up there...

What it looks like to me.

I've checked all around the bolt to the x-member, and if that's where it's coming from, it's leaking through the bolt itself. The top of the x-member is dry.

I don't think it's someone playing a prank. The car is just not accessible for that...

Check to see if there is a small crack in the rear diff housing in the area of the wetness. ther is no other place oil to come from in that area of the car. so either there is a crack and oil is leaking out, or its a prank.

you should be able to remove that diff support with ease so you can take a closer look at the rear diff housing in that area.