rear diff oil colour

Just drained oil from rear diff and was brown mikly colour similar to oil in an engine which has head gasket gone.

The front one oil was just dark and looked fine

Does that mean water is somehow getting into the diff or the previuos owner hadn't changed it ?

Thanks

Rodney
Disco2 V8 2000

I would think so, that's the colour when water and oil are mixed.

Water could be entering via the breather.

rodneydavies said:

Just drained oil from rear diff and was brown mikly colour similar to oil in an engine which has head gasket gone.

The front one oil was just dark and looked fine

Does that mean water is somehow getting into the diff or the previuos owner hadn't changed it ?

Thanks

Rodney
Disco2 V8 2000

Click to expand...

Hi Rodney, I've had 6 different Discos through my hands in the last four years and ALL have had the same oil as you describe, good oil in front axle, mucky milky brown oil in the back axles, even after several oil changes !!! Don't understand it myself but know it to happen.

mmmmh strange, will change the oil every service and see if it gets any better

the oil will usually go this colour if there is water mixing with it, could be thru the axle breather, or hub seals they're a 2 way thing, if oil can get out, water can get in. or if the oil was low, could be caused by condensation build up in the diff over a period of time. I changed the oil in the back of mine yesterday, and was milky brown in colour, the oil level was also low, about 3/4 ltr should contain 1.5ltr.