probably already known but if your front diff is leaking at the axle tube seal like mine, a quick fix is to drain and fill it up with some 85-140 gear oil, this stuff is super thick by comparison to the stock 80-90.
i did this and have noticed it is not leaking at this current time where it was before.
i thought well 80-90 and 85-140 would be the same thickness at 50 degrees but no. its like night and day difference in thickness. just a heads up 13 bucks could save you a diff.
front differential leak "quick fix"
Re: front differential leak "quick fix"
In winter with low ambient temperatures the use of 80-W90 oil flows in the cold using xx 140 during this temperature will not flow as easily. Sure you will show no signs of leakage because its thick like peanut butter but that non ability to flow also affects your lubricity and with zero lubrication between the gears the crown and pinion will wear. The longer you have this hypoid lube too thick the longer your hypoid gears will become non hypoid in shape.
If you have a leak bad enough to spill out hypoid lubrication, fix the leak. The cost of a rear end or front end gear set can be costly. Gear wear from lack of lubrication will leave your gear face and pinion rough and noisy with the pitted pieces of metal left inside the enclosure, the pumpkin, waiting to get ground up and fill in other parts with filings.
Stop, remove that 85/140 hypoid, flush and fix the leak then use the proper weight hypoid lube.
If you have a leak bad enough to spill out hypoid lubrication, fix the leak. The cost of a rear end or front end gear set can be costly. Gear wear from lack of lubrication will leave your gear face and pinion rough and noisy with the pitted pieces of metal left inside the enclosure, the pumpkin, waiting to get ground up and fill in other parts with filings.
Stop, remove that 85/140 hypoid, flush and fix the leak then use the proper weight hypoid lube.
Re: front differential leak "quick fix"
put warn hubs on, and you will have zero wear on the diff (whenever the hubs are unlocked which is 2wd only)
Re: front differential leak "quick fix"
so first off if you look at the data sheet 85 flows just fine above 0 degrees, coldest it gets around here is 25 like 10 times a year.
at 150,000 miles there are plenty of gaps where 140 oil can get into. an important note is that it really doesnt have any load on it when in 2wd so its not like its under huge stresses.
80-90 85w-140
Vis @ 100°C (cSt) 14.5 26.7
Vis @ 40°C (cSt) 140.1 361
Viscosity Index 102 99
Spec Gravity @ 60F 0.8911 0.904
Density (lbs/gal) 7.43 7.53
Brookfield Vis., cP 110,000(-26C) 120,000(-12C)
Pour Point, C -30 -15
as you can see the viscosity index difference is negligible. however the at viscosity at temperature rating is of course very different.
at 150,000 miles there are plenty of gaps where 140 oil can get into. an important note is that it really doesnt have any load on it when in 2wd so its not like its under huge stresses.
80-90 85w-140
Vis @ 100°C (cSt) 14.5 26.7
Vis @ 40°C (cSt) 140.1 361
Viscosity Index 102 99
Spec Gravity @ 60F 0.8911 0.904
Density (lbs/gal) 7.43 7.53
Brookfield Vis., cP 110,000(-26C) 120,000(-12C)
Pour Point, C -30 -15
as you can see the viscosity index difference is negligible. however the at viscosity at temperature rating is of course very different.