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



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.
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.
Honorary Moderator
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,135
Likes: 16
From: Gilbert AZ/Las Cruces NM
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 upgraded
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!
Trending Topics
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.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 882
Likes: 1
From: MI 48642
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 3
From: USA
Year: 1999
Engine: l6 4.0, K&N FIPK & 62mm bored TB
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.
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?
that's why i think it's weird there is no drain bolt on my xj
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?


