fivlemon

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

troy fritz

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.

jmm0122

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.

96_xj

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!

tomcarey88

replace the gasket an the pinnion seal why ur at it

mdcmn7

Grab some tools, a gasket and new fluid. You can change it in no time. I like the synthetic fluid

Chuck

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?

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?

Fsher21

No drain I do not believe, just break the seal and wait for the mess

_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.

fivlemon

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

fivlemon

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?

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

troy fritz

I wouldn't recommend that.

coyote1

neither would i