I have a 98 and discovered the vent hose which clips from the rear axel to the underside of the truck is blowing a small amount of fluid ,how much is normal, the level seems fine yet i'm starting to coat the spare tire with that mist. the plastic end is broken so it won't stay clipped up.??????

 

I've never really noticed any coming out of mine. It only takes a tiny bit of oil to make a big mess so your probably not losing much. I think if you checked the level at each oil change you would be ok. Or you could get a new vent tube to clip i up where it belongs

-Jon

 

Animalhouse,

In a perfect world there shouldn't be any oil coming out the vent hose. The vent hole is there to equalize the air pressure in the rear axle housing/differential. When the gears turn they heat up causing a slight pressure to build up. The vent allows the pressure to escape and keeps the seals from leaking. When it cools down a slight vacuum is created and the vent allows air in.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Perhaps there's a bit too much oil in the diff and/or it the wrong grade oil and it's foaming when you drive fast, as it gets hot it drives the foaming mess up the tube? Or too low on oil too.

 

Animalhouse

If Your diff. appears to be operating excessivly hot, could be a sign of a melt-down starting inside. Sorry to be so pessimestic!