2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front Diff vent tube

[LDolch]

I'm having a problem with my 97 2500 Ram Cummins 4x4. The front diff vent tube pushes gear lube out. It doesn't happen on short trips (100 miles) but on longer trips (500) there are times when gear lube is all over the right front wheel well.



According to 2 local dealers this is normal. They say as pressure builds up in the front diff the gear lube is forced out the vent tube and "they all do that". The plastic cap at the end of the tube seems to be ok.



Does anyone else have this problem, and is there a fix?



Thanks.

 

[illflem]

"They all do that" is true especially if the diff is filled to the bottom of the fill hole. When the diff is filled to the factory recommended half inch below the bottom of the hole the problem disappears.

 

[y-knot]

Well not all of them do it, mine sure don't. I have it filled to the bottom of the fill hole. The vent tube is still in the factory place, which is on the passenger side front fender well, on the in side under the air box. It has never push any fluid out, not once.

 

[KenHokie]

Mine does it only on long trips but not on every trip. I think altitude change is also a contributing factor.

 

[y-knot]

Well we ran for 23 hours stright,1480 miles pulling a 11,000lb trailer. Never shut the engine off, just filled up and kept trucking. Still it never puked any fluid, I am not sure you could get a front axle any hotter the that. I use synthitic, do you think it might not foam like others? run cooler ??

 

[ata]

If you follow the vent hose up to the frame rail you will find a clip that holds the hose. Check and see if it`s pinching the hose closed. If it is pull the hose out and bend the clip open enough to hold the hose but not pinch it shut. My 97 did this oil thing along with two others that I know of. It worked for us and all three of us fill right up to the bottom of the fill plug.

 

[Phil Stuart]

front diff. puking

I run synthetic and have it filled up to bottom of hole and no problems yet as far as puking out vent hose. I have heard synthetics do run cooler and are less subject to foaming which could contribute to the problem.



Phil

 

[dsather]

Diff vent

Ditto with the synthetic. I had it push out some oil on a 400 mile drive I took. i switched to synthetic and have made much longer and faster trips and nothing has happened.

 

[JHalderman]

I also have recently found that my vent tube is blowing oil out the end. I recently changed the fluid and went with synthetic, but I filled it to the bottom of the fill hole so I am going with Illflems explanation because I've found that everything he puts up here is correct and there's never any reason to not believe him!

 

[mediccummin]

There is a TSB for this

There is a TSB for this problem, I had it done on my truck although I can't remember the TSB number. But I will look for the work order. They basically put a catch and return bottle at the end of the hose strapped to the fender well under the air cleaner. It really does'nt cure the puking problem but it clears up the mess it makes. I have had no mess since this was done. Good luck.