Archived Something is WRONG, Help Me

[Fear This: Cummins!!]

Walked by my faithful beast yesterday and found oil dripping of the passenger side mudflap. Upon futher investigation I discovered a rubber hose that comes out of a box on the front passenger side of the axle (on the back side of the axle if you craw in behind the front tire and look front). This rubber hose runs up to the passenger side wheel well and mounts below and behind the air filter housing where it ends, and there appears to be a white cap (which I believe is a breather) that plugs up the end of the rubber hose. Unless something has fallen off allowing oil to come out of this cap, I have know idea what is going on other than I am positive that gear oil is coming out of this white cap that is attached to the rubber hose, which is attached to this box on the passenger side axle. I am clueless and need this truck ASAP can anyone tell me what I am dealing with.



Pic # 1 & #2 looking at passenger side wheel well with air filter box off

Pic #3 Looking from behind the passenger side wheel.

I have pictures I can E-mail ASAP. Thanks, Jared



2001. 5, H. O. 6-speed 4x4

 

[K5IP]

Just a guess here but,

The box contains the vaccum motor which engages the spline that connects the front axel when 4x4 is engaged. It is lubricated by differential oil. Is there another vent tube at the top of the front differential? perhaps it is plugged, building up pressure which forces oil up the other breather.

Are you sure you are actually looking at a vent tube? The vaccum operator is also a small rubber tube which goes back to the transfer case.

Sorry, not much help here, just thoughts.

Rog

 

[JFaughn]

Same idea as k5IP , if there is a 2nd hose , next has the fluid level been added to or been under water , maybe water displacing lube, I know your looking for someone ya I had that and fixed it , just more ideas tell you here from that person. Also I wounder if the switch is malfuntioning.

 

[jmeehan]

Yeah, these trucks do that. Mine did it after I serviced the front diff at the recomended miles. I filled the diff to the bottom of the fill hole and the diff corrected its level by blowing out the excess.

Has your front diff been serviced lately? How's the fluid level?

 

[nps]

Mine started leaking recently when driving faster than 70mph for longer than one hour - it has leaked twice. No direct reason for the leak - I have previously driven the truck coast-coast with no problems.



No water penetration, no recent diff service and the truck has 37,000 miles on it (2001. 5 ETH/DEE). My son has a 2001. 5 ETC/Auto with 90,000 miles on it and it too has evidence of past leaking but is dry now.



If you do a search on the website you will see where many have had this happen. Some have speculated that the truck was parked for an extended period in a way different from norm that caused fluid to drain toward the pass side where the vent tube leaves the CAD (the front axle lock). In my case, I can say that both times it has leaked I have been away from my normal parking spot, and the spot where I parked would have caused axle fluid to drain to the pass side. What I don't know is if the leak occured before I parked (i. e. on the trip there) or after, because both times I noticed it only after returning home. I'll be watching next time though.



Make sure the breather cap is not plugged, and wipe off the fluid periodically. Experience says that it will quit as mysteriously as it started. DC did a TSB, but the "fix" is a catch bottle on the end of the vent tube.



Also, if you service the front diff do not overfill - believe specs are 5/8" BELOW the service port. If you fill to the hole it will also cause a leak.



Hope this helps.

 

[LandShark]

Don't worry about it. This is a 'feature' of the 4x4's. It's amazing how big a mess a couple of drops of oil can make. My 95 has done this about twice a year since new. Even had the dealer check it out when the truck was new, and they didn't have a clue.



For me, this usually (but now always) happens after 4 wheeling on steep terrain.



I've thought about putting a small plastic bottle on the end of the vent tube, but never got around to it. It does help control rust on the control arms :-laf

 

[Fear This: Cummins!!]

Thanks for the replys

Guess the old girl is due for a little beltch of oil now and then. I'll keep an eye on the situation, but sounds like it leaves as quick as it comes. By the way, I parked it at a different spot than usual for a couple of days, and yes, leaning to the passenger side. Thanks guys, I feel safe to go at it again another day.

Fear This!! or else