LAST WEEK I HAD MY FRONT AXLE U-JOINTS REPLACED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC,BUT WHEN HE REPLACED THEM HE BROKE THE SEAL ON THE DRIVER SIDE DIFFERENTIAL. IT HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL NOW FOR THE PAST WEEK. I WENT OUT ONE MORNING AND SAW ALL OF THIS OIL IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I WAS ABOUT FREAK BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY MOTOR. LONG STORY SHORT I GOT UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND FOUND THE U-JOINTS SOAKED IN OIL. THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY LEAKED FOR A FEW DAYS AND FINALLY STOPPED. THE DRIVER SIDE IS DEFINITELY A BUSTED SEAL BECAUSE IT DRIPS EVERY FEW SECONDS. I CALLED DODGE TO SEE WHAT WEIGHT OF FLUID THE AXLE TAKES AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY FRONT DANA AND REAR DANA LIMITED SLIP 4.10 TAKES 80W90. DOES ANYBODY THINK IT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA TO PUT A THICKER WEIGHT OF OIL SAY 85W140. I WAS THINKING OF GOING WITH A THICKER OIL SO IT WOULD NOT DRIP AS MUCH UNTIL I GET THE SEAL REPLACED. WOULD IT HURT TO GO WITH A THICKER OIL EVEN AFTER THE SEAL IS REPLACED?

 

Unless you tow heavy the thicker lube is unnecessary and actually runs hotter than the thinner stuff. If it's dripping every few seconds I don't think thicker lube is going to help you much right now. Try to make all left hand turns until you get it fixed.

 

Actually you hafta make 2 lefts for every one right turn. And stop YELLING. Thanks

 

Give it more time to stop leaking. Most times it';s just oil that got past the seal while the axle was out that may take a long time to finally drip out. Heed your owners manual and only fill the diff to 3/4 inch below the bottom of the fill hole. Most every front axle I've seen leak has been overfill but stops when the oil level is correct.

 

Man, I just did my front gears and filled it up to the top, then it started leaking, it was about a half inch low and I just topped it off. Now I have to wait for it to leak out again

 

More isn't better in a gearbox or differential. Besides leaking an overfull box will run hotter. Most are designed so that the oil level comes up half way on the lowest single ball bearing.

 

WELL IT WAS WELL BELOW THE LINE BECAUSE THE DIFF TOOK ALMOST ABOUT A HALF A QUART TO GET IT TO THE LINE WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. RIGHT NOW I PUT IN 85W140 UNTIL I GET THE SEAL REPLACED AND THAT DID SEEM TO SLOW THE LEAK ALITTLE.