diff leak 2

As per a previous post I have a diff leak - probably from pinion oilseal


thought id top it up today

car level - removed plug

not just a trickle !!! - loads of oil came out !!! an I mean loads

this must have been way over filled - could this over filling have caused the leak ???

May have had the rear up on ramps to fill it otherwise it is difficult to see how it could be over-filled!
The pinion shaft is not fitted with the usual lip type seal which provides a psoitive seal against low pressure oilflow, (they do not work against high pressure fluids). Instead a flinger ring and labyrinth seal are used in tandem which develop a seal when the shaft is rotating. These do not provide a positive seal when the shaft is stationary. Thus if the diff is grossly overfilled oil will leak out.
It might be worth checking that the breather tube is clear. When overfilled the oil will be churned and heated and become more frothy. If the breather tube is blocked the resulting rise in internal pressure will force oil out through the pinion aperture since the driveshafts are sealed with a lip seal.

thanks Vic - brilliant explaination :5bcheers2:

yep, that was only explaiation I could come up with for over filling

will check level again today

Assume only way to drain is to remove pan ??