[sanghill]

groove to drain oil leak

I just noticed this issue on my 2014 TH at 37,000 miles. I'm not sure how long it has been leaking but doesn't seem to be a major leak.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

This picture shows a groove to drain the oil that leaks past the seals.
Does this mean the seals are designed to leak? Otherwise why provide a path for leaking oil?
This seal is used on other Chrysler cars. Does the seal leak on these cars? Is there a TSB for other Chrysler vehicles?
I am new to this Mopar thing so I do not know what is considered "normal" or "that is the way it is designed"??

 

[Amon]

Today I saw the leaking issue back, they have replace 1 year ago the seals and today I saw the problem it's back. I'm out of home 6000km and 2weeks until I can come back. Now it's out of warranty the vehicle so let's see how it finish.
Does any one knows where it can be refilled and if that can be done with out lift it? Just to keep filling it before it's drain...


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk

 

[sanghill]

There is a fill plug for the left side and the right side.
The left plug is difficult to remove because the exhaust pipe is in the way.
Remove the right side fill plug with a 3/8 drive ratchet.
Squirt some 70W-80 Mopar gear oil into the hole until it is full, then put the plug back in.
The drain plug has a rubber seal so you do not have to put it in very tight.
The oil on the right housing will slowly migrate to the left housing.
Repeat at the same interval as when you change the engine oil.
I don't speak Spanish and don't do the Metric think so maybe someone can translate this?

 

[Amon]

There is a fill plug for the left side and the right side.
The left plug is difficult to remove because the exhaust pipe is in the way.
Remove the right side fill plug with a 3/8 drive ratchet.
Squirt some 70W-80 Mopar gear oil into the hole until it is full, then put the plug back in.
The drain plug has a rubber seal so you do not have to put it in very tight.
The oil on the right housing will slowly migrate to the left housing.
Repeat at the same interval as when you change the engine oil.
I don't speak Spanish and don't do the Metric think so maybe someone can translate this?

Thanks Sanghill
It's clear I will look to do it in this way, o saw both of them with your help, because I was looking at it from the driver side at the middle of the truck.... rear side it's the housing (close to pipe) you mention.

The measure of the ratchet it's clear that part of tools are the rare ones we use in inches




Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk

 

[sanghill]

The answer is NO.

Dealer is willing to replace the 2 seals under Warranty.
If axle seal weep is not a problem then I am inclined to watch and see if it weeps.
If it isn't broke I would prefer they not take it all apart to replace the seals.
Could exhaust heat when driving very slowly off road cause the air in the differential to build up pressure and cause the seal to weep??

The answer is NO, the RDU is vented so it will not build up pressure. The rear axle seal has been weeping.
When I change the engine oil I top up the RDU with the proper gear oil.

 

[Amon]

The hot air from the exhaust goes up and warming up the seal and case an early waste on the seal no? Always it's the same seal and not the other side..


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk

 

[Amon]

My solution now let's see if it helps...


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk

 

[MurrayJeep]

Rear end Replaced

My dad rode in my 2014 Trailhawk the other day and asked me "what's that noise?'. Given the fact that I commute approx 400 miles a week, plus day to day driving, I am in my Jeep a lot. So this noise must have started low and crept up on me because I had no idea what he was talking about. This was brought up at the next oil change (dealer) and I was informed that the rear differential might need to be looked at. They didn't have time to do it that day so I took it to the local shop and asked if he could take a look at it for me. He told me that it looked like the rear end had been leaking approx 6 months to a year, and that it looked like the whole thing would have to be replaced. Keep in mind I had JUST broken the 100,000 mile mark. (all highway, no off road, no wrecks)
Since this seems like something that should have been caught prior to this, I took it back to the dealer who said that I would have to call chrysler care and see if they could do something for me. Their answer, "I'm sorry but there is nothing we can do."
The quote to get it fixed is $3500, and the sales people are making calls to see what they can get for my Jeep for a trade in.
Now I am sure that it is obvious at this point that I am not a "Car Person". I trusted that if I took my car in for regular oil changes, that I would be notified if something like this was becoming a problem. Apparently they wanted to wait until my warranty was up before they did that. I just wanted to post this here so that you can keep an eye out for this problem before you end up in my situation.

 

[Array]

Here's the thing that boggles my mind on some dealerships. Don't they get compensated for warranty work? Isn't it to their advantage to notify the owner they have a problem, whether it's covered by warranty or not? Wouldn't these things be observed when a vehicle is taken in for oil/filter/lube and tire rotations? The only things that comes to mind are the leak started after it's last visit to the dealership, or they aren't observant enough, or they are so busy they don't bring it up. But a rear differential job should be a good money maker for them. Just don't understand.

 

[MurrayJeep]

Here's the thing that boggles my mind on some dealerships. Don't they get compensated for warranty work? Isn't it to their advantage to notify the owner they have a problem, whether it's covered by warranty or not? Wouldn't these things be observed when a vehicle is taken in for oil/filter/lube and tire rotations? The only things that comes to mind are the leak started after it's last visit to the dealership, or they aren't observant enough, or they are so busy they don't bring it up. But a rear differential job should be a good money maker for them. Just don't understand.

My thoughts exactly. We were able to find an entire rear end replacement and talked to the local shop guy about putting it in for me. Just waiting to hear if the part is match.

 

[04Freedom]

Most dealers perform an XX point inspection when doing oil changes. By golly, they'll let you know when you need new wipers or air filter for top dollar...

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

 

[Juzt4jeep]

My solution now let's see if it helps...


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk

Did the insulation over the exhaust have any effect?

 

[BlackHawk2016]

Wow, after reading this thread I just went out and looked and I got the weep with this Jeep @23k. Crap, going in for oil change and will have them look at it. Gotta wonder if there is something to the exhaust pipe heat attributing to the weeping/leaking as seems to be only left side, right side bone dry.

 

[Jeepster1]

Interesting thread.
Particularly the exhaust pipe scenario.

I would assume most oil even gear lube will thin out under higher heat than designed for.
Further I can imagine that a engine under load can push out a lot of heat. Steady driving will disperse that heat from the pipes enough to avoid that issue.

Stop and go driving and off roading might be an issue under certain circumstances if the rising heat has no where to go but up.
A certain amount of weep will happen over the years. But there is a difference between weep and a leak however small.
Its a matter if you are actually losing meaningful fluid, which you should not be.
Also due to fact that its lifetime fluid can make it more concerning. But again if there is access plugs those items need to be checked on a regular schedule.
In the "old days" rear differential got checked with oil changes usually.

But another item to put on the check list for me.

 

[BlackHawk2016]

Interesting thread.
Particularly the exhaust pipe scenario.

I would assume most oil even gear lube will thin out under higher heat than designed for.
Further I can imagine that a engine under load can push out a lot of heat. Steady driving will disperse that heat from the pipes enough to avoid that issue.

Stop and go driving and off roading might be an issue under certain circumstances if the rising heat has no where to go but up.
A certain amount of weep will happen over the years. But there is a difference between weep and a leak however small.
Its a matter if you are actually losing meaningful fluid, which you should not be.
Also due to fact that its lifetime fluid can make it more concerning. But again if there is access plugs those items need to be checked on a regular schedule.
In the "old days" rear differential got checked with oil changes usually.

But another item to put on the check list for me.

Ok, I have not done any real off roading yet just daily driver and some trips. The weeping is minimal, obvious but not dripping wet. Right side is dry and away from exhaust pipe heat even though there should be heat soak throughout. Its only on the left where the exhaust crosses over. Seems this is the case with most everyone else. So the logical conclusion is the heat from exhaust could be the main reason for leakage on that side only. I may go for the exhaust wrap to see if this fixes this scenario. One more thing to keep an eye on going forward. I am planning a trip out west to Arizona to visit Son and plan on doing a bunch of off roading sooooooo......

 

[Amon]

Did the insulation over the exhaust have any effect?

By the moment it’s working for me. 1 1/2 with out issues.


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk

 

[Shoulder]

Left rear axle seal weep noticed after driving off road.
Dealer cleaned the area and it is not weeping.
Put insulation on tail pipe to prevent heat from radiating onto differential.
Seems to be working.
Has anyone else noticed rear axle seal weep?

Huh, I guess I never would've thought about heat being a factor from the exhaust, but I suppose if there's enough heat, the seals could in fact dry up, and in turn cause leakage. Is using insulation around that area a so-called fix for axle weep, if someone does have it?

 

[sanghill]

When I put the insulation on the tail pipe I thought it would prevent the RDU from building up pressure which would lessen the left rear axle weep.
Then I found out the RDU is vented through a tube that goes to the top of the left wheel well, behind the splash panel.
I checked to see if the vent was working and it is. i.e. no pressure build up.
My rear axle seal still leaks sometimes. I am getting close to 70k miles.
I routinely add gear oil to the right side filler to replenish lost oil.
I usually do not add oil to the left side because I can't get to the fill plug.
So one day I did manage to remove the left fill plug and a significant amount of gear oil came out.
So my theory is oil from the right side of the RDU migrates to the left side and causes it to become overfilled.
This will make the oil weep worse because there is too much oil for the axle seal to deal with.
I just made this up so hopefully somebody that knows how the RDU is internally designed can educate me.
So the insulation doesn't hurt anything, probably really isn't necessary.
If FCA thought a heat shield was needed they would have provided one.

 

[Stochl4x4]

Helpful thread.

My 2015 Trailhawk (46k miles) went to the dealership today to repair a 'rear axle/differential leak' under warranty. They discovered it last oil change/tire rotation (40k miles). Just got a call they need to keep it overnight to complete the repairs.

I've always noticed a high-pitch whistling sound coming from the back of the vehicle since day 1. Hopefully this will resolve that issue as well.

I'll update this thread when I get the repair details.

 

[sanghill]

3/25/2019 - 76864 - Added 3 ounces of gear oil to right fill hole of the RDU.
4897 miles since the last time I added gear oil a little over a year ago.
This seems to be an annual maintenance for my TH.
Oil just seeps past the seals and does not drip on the ground.
Sometimes I will notice a drop of oil on the lowest part of the RDU housing.
Just started on my second quart bottle of oil.