I noticed some sort of fluid on the wheel well of my 97 4.6L. I found a rubber hose that runs down to the top of my front differential. One end was disconnected though and this is where the fluid is coming from. Where does the other end go???

 

vent hose for front differential, check fluid level and condition in diff

 

So the hose is just supposed to lay lose in the engine bay???

 

there should be some sort of clip that holds it onto a brake line up in the engine bay, or something like that, but nothing is supposed to fit inside the rubber vent line.

 

As said, fluids low or broken down to be spewing out the breather (vent) like that . Change it before you burn it up.

Right! their just clipped onto something inside the engine compartment. Mines factory tapped to the actuator air line and pegged to the inner fender skirt (well).

 

Okay, thanks guys! Would it make any difference that I haven't even used the 4 wheel drive in a couple months? And the fluid is a new thing I'm certain.

 

Nah, it's getting to hot in their, just change it and use the right stuff in their, before it to late lol. Or -$$$$$$$$$, yea, lots of those to fix her then.

Lucky for you it was caught. I wouldn't push my luck tho.

 

Okay, what do you suggest I fill it with; just what the manual calls for?

 

i would just stick to the manual, i have 4.56 gears and i just run what the manual calls for...i think last time i changed my fluid it was around 2 liters that i used

 

In Bold:

Front Differential

Type----75W-90 GL-5

Note: Part no. XY-75W90-QL meeting Ford Specification WSP-M2C201-A

Capacity:

Front Axle----- 3.5-3.7 Pints

Rear Axle--------- 5.5 Pints

Friction Modifier C8AZ-19B956-A 4 oz.

Note:

Front axle fill no higher than 3/8 inch below bottom of fill hole.

Rear axle fill no higher than 1/4 - 9/16 inch below bottom of fill hole.

 

That was the front diff vent hose but that's not where the fluid was coming from after all. My passenger's side front shock must have exploded. Monroe is covering it under their lifetime warranty!

 

theres a TSB for the 97 model year for this problem, its common for the 97's to blow out the breather because of the location of the breather on the tube, was revised to a side mount of the pumpkin. dont get alarmed, its common and annoying. i see you found it was a shock but still, keep this in mind.