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my diff leaks oil

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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 05:42 PM
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Default my diff leaks oil

i bought a 96 xj 136xxx miles on last sunday and i noticed my diff leaks oil.
i can even smell the diff fluid.
with my searching skill, my diff looks like c8.25 or d35, but i'm not sure which one it is...
i'm planning to replace the gasket with a lubelocker.
i hope any gear inside the diff wasn't broke.
car still runs though when i bought it and drove home.
i'm not going to drive it anymore till it's fixed.
i think previous guy hit the diff as you can see the damage
any advice welcome









Last edited by fivlemon; Sep 28, 2010 at 05:44 PM.
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 05:46 PM
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Thats just a gasket leak.Pull the cover off and clean all the matting surfaces and put a bead of RTV on it and close it up.While you have the cover off inspect the gears and clean them up.Don't forget to put new fluid in afterwards.75-90 weight gear oil.
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 05:46 PM
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Thats an 8.25. And its very dirty. Clean it up and pull the cover off and see if there is any internal damage.

Troy fritz beat me to it.
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 05:47 PM
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grab new gear oil, new gasket maker and a few cans on brake cleaner and engine degreaser. Use degreaser on it, get as much as you can off, when you pull the cover use brake cleaner and clean everything out and the housing. Inspect the ring gear and pinion gear. If all checks out alright make a new gasket with gasket maker (after cleaning both matting surfaces) and bolt it up. Follow the instructions on the gasket maker to allow proper set up time. Once the gasket is set fill with gear oil and drive!
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 05:47 PM
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replace the gasket an the pinnion seal why ur at it
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 05:47 PM
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Grab some tools, a gasket and new fluid. You can change it in no time. I like the synthetic fluid

Chuck
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 06:44 PM
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where is a drain hole? i can't see it
if there is no drain hole, do i need to rtv seal every time when i replace diff fluid?
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by fivlemon
where is a drain hole? i can't see it
if there is no drain hole, do i need to rtv seal every time when i replace diff fluid?
You have to loosen all the bolts and drain it from the bottom of the cover.And yes to RTV every time.Thats not a bad thing though.It gives you a reason to inspect the gears every time.I have never done a fluid change on any diff with a drain plug.Do they even make those?

Last edited by troy fritz; Sep 28, 2010 at 06:51 PM.
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by fivlemon
where is a drain hole? i can't see it
if there is no drain hole, do i need to rtv seal every time when i replace diff fluid?
No drain I do not believe, just break the seal and wait for the mess
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by fivlemon
where is a drain hole? i can't see it
if there is no drain hole, do i need to rtv seal every time when i replace diff fluid?
Your diff drains when you take the cover off.

Since you plan on using a Lube Locker gasket, of course there will be no need for RTV. LL is awesome stuff, but RTV will eat it up. Follow the torque specs on the Lube Locker insert.
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by troy fritz
You have to loosen all the bolts and drain it from the bottom of the cover.And yes to RTV every time.Thats not a bad thing though.It gives you a reason to inspect the gears every time.I have never done a fluid change on any diff with a drain plug.Do they even make those?
yes, my S2000 has magnetic drain bolt at bottom of the diff
that's why i think it's weird there is no drain bolt on my xj
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by _StationWagon_
Your diff drains when you take the cover off.

Since you plan on using a Lube Locker gasket, of course there will be no need for RTV. LL is awesome stuff, but RTV will eat it up. Follow the torque specs on the Lube Locker insert.
since there is no drain hole, i might not use lube locker.
i want to change diff fluid at least once a year, lube locker is expensive

so, if i use RTV, there is no gasket between diff cover and diff?
just put rtv right?
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 07:54 PM
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if you really wanna be lazy just RTV the $hit outa the outside that should hold for a while, its not like i've ever done that
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by coyote1
if you really wanna be lazy just RTV the $hit outa the outside that should hold for a while, its not like i've ever done that
I wouldn't recommend that.
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Old Sep 28, 2010 | 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by troy fritz
I wouldn't recommend that.
neither would i
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