Today i had to drive out to federal way (about 15Miles) and after i hopped on I-5 i noticed a really bad low tone whine. It would get really loud as i let off the accelerator. After i got to my Grandma and Grandpas house (to help them with a few things) i looked under the hood and then under the car. In the back i noticed a lot of fluid sprayed on the muffler, exhaust pipe, drive line and it looked like it came from the gear housing box (?). I dont know what is going on and if its ruined or not. For the past month or so i have noticed a few drops here and there. I dont know if maybe i made it worse by racing last night? It was probably the biggest race i have been in yet but i wouldn't think that would screw it up? Any ideas on what to do and how much it would cost? Here's the link of how the race went if you are currious lol:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=184294

 

well if it is coming from the rear end housing, i would change the gasket if that is where the leak looks like it is coming from. while your in there take a look at everything make sure it at least looks ok. maybe the gasket is fine and the diff. cover bolts somehow lossened up.

 

Do you think driving it for about 10miles hurt anything? Could low fluid cause a loss of power to the wheels to where i couldn't do well on the dyno? Just currious. Thanks.

 

If i were you check and make sure your gasket is sealing properly like MD said but first check and make sure the bolts are tight. mind you that if you just tightened them they may be TOO tight and that might cause leaking too. But if your gasket and differential cover seem to be on properly drain the axle and take a look on the inside. if everything looks good then you should buy a new gasket... make sure you take a razor and get all of the old gasket off... put the diff cover back on and fill up with more fluid.... if the problem persists then get it looked at or let us know

 

ok thanks guys!

 

Does anyone know the torque specs on the rear end bolts?

 

there's two seals on the differential. The rear pan seal, and the pinion seal.

From what you're describing, the oil getting flung up on the underbody, i'd say that sounds like the pinion seal is going. what happens is fluid leaks out of there and gets on the driveshaft yoke, which flings it up on the underbody.

Changing a pinion seal isnt exactly a project for amatures, do a search for pinion seal if you want to know more about changing it yourself. otherwise i'd just say get a mechanic to do it.

All a mechanic has to do is get the car up in the air, zap the driveshaft out with a 1/4 air ratchet. zap the pinion yolk off with a 1/2 impact gun (you dont even have to use a pinion holder with an impact gun), tap the yolk off, pry the old seal out, pound the new one in and assemble. That would only take a good mechanic 15-20 minutes to do.

If its the rear pan gasket, you could probably just do that yourself. just look at the differential cover; it's pretty obvious if it's leaking, usually the entire bottom will be covered in oil while everything else is clean.

All you have to do is get a new gasket, take out all the bolts, tap the cover off with a hammer, scrap the old gasket stuff off and install the new one. The hardest part is filling the rear end with fluid, its easiest to just buy a cheap fluid pump and pump it straight out of the container and into the differential.

you dont need a torque wrench for the cover bolts. if you tighten them as far as you can with a nutdriver that will be plenty.