What the heck is leaking?

[Matt715]

Tonight when I was working on a project in my garage I noticed a few fresh oil spots where the front of my truck is normally parked. Upon closer inspection it appears to be gear oil and is leaking from what I am guessing is the front axle vent (see picture). The oil is fairly dark which concerns me since my truck only has 46,000 miles on it. It has never leaked a drop of fluid for the last 20k I've owned it.

The thing in question is the oily white and black object adjacent to the front upper shock mount on the driver's side of the vehicle.

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A wider shot of the general area:

If this is indeed the diff vent, has anyone had this issue in the past? The only thing that I can think that is causing this is that the temps have been below zero (even highs) for the last week with a few mornings a few degrees colder than -20. Maybe the gear oil is so thick that it's building pressure and getting pushed out through the vent.

I've never checked or played with the fluid level since I've owned it. I plan on checking it tomorrow at work where I can pull it into a heated building.

What do you guys think?

 

[Destroyer000]

the white piece is like a check valve.. lets the pressure out but keeps debris from entering the hose.. ive never had an issue with mine.. id say check to make sure the vent tube hole isnt plugged which it obviously isnt.

 

[97RangerXLT]

a few suggestions to take a closer look at:

The shock itself might be leaking. solution is to replace the shocks

The CV joint. maybe the boot is cracked and is slinging grease, but I would think that it would be slung a little more radial than what is showing.

I would guess the shocks tho..

AJ

 

[Matt715]

The shock and CV boot are fine. I checked both of them. I actually think I answered my own question with Ford TSB 05-6-20. It mentions that under certain conditions oil can be flung into the diff cover vent hole pushing it out though the vent. The solution is to replace the front diff cover with one that has a baffle over the vent hole. I found somewhere that said it was about a $500 kit and pays 1.5 hours of shop labor. That translates to about 3 hours for me. Apparently you have to unbolt the front axle and tilt it so you can swap the cover out. No thanks.

I guess I will just keep an eye on it when it gets really cold and top off as necessary.

Just once I would like to own a vehicle that doesn't mark its territory.

 

[kunar]

The shock and CV boot are fine. I checked both of them. I actually think I answered my own question with Ford TSB 05-6-20. It mentions that under certain conditions oil can be flung into the diff cover vent hole pushing it out though the vent. The solution is to replace the front diff cover with one that has a baffle over the vent hole. I found somewhere that said it was about a $500 kit and pays 1.5 hours of shop labor. That translates to about 3 hours for me. Apparently you have to unbolt the front axle and tilt it so you can swap the cover out. No thanks.

I guess I will just keep an eye on it when it gets really cold and top off as necessary.

Just once I would like to own a vehicle that doesn't mark its territory.

instead of going through all that, why not try a longer vent line? run it up the core support or something.

 

[doorgunner]

instead of going through all that, why not try a longer vent line? run it up the core support or something.

and into a vented plastic catch-bottle...which can be checked/emptied