Seepage around rear diff fill plug?

Wife was following me home tonight and saw some greasiness on the "axle thing" . Got down there to check the diff and sure enough, a thin layer of oil on the outside of it. It appears to be coming from the fill plug. The drain plug was dry around it. I have not seen any puddling below where I park.

My course of action is to drain the oil, fill it, and replace the crush gaskets. After that, monitor and see if it returns. Any thing else I should look out for? I checked the torque and it was 36 ft lbs.

Bad picture attached.

Thanks!

 

No need to drain and fill, unless it is time,right? Just replace the crush washer and check the level. A piece of wire bent 90 degrees makes a good dipstick.

 

X2

 

I wouldn't be too concerned, I'd probably just replace the gaskets and fluid as a service rather than a repair. It's doubtful the fluid is low if at all.

Also, take a second to make sure your breather plug extension is working. Most leaks are due to pressure build internally.

 

Don't need to drain and fill unless it's due for service. The proper oil level is the bottom of the threads of that plug so when the fill plug is removed some oil may start to seep out and that's fine. If no oil comes out use your pinky and see if you can dip it in the oil and if not then it needs to be filled up until it dribbles out the fill hole. New crush gasket, tighten plug and clean diff.

 

It's time for a change anyway so I will go ahead and do it. I tow a boat so I try to change it every other oil change. I did do the breather extension mod. I wonder if it is not venting properly? Is there an easy way to check?

 

I usually just visually inspect it. Also when you remove the fill plug pay attention, if the breather is plugged it will feel like a vacuum inside the diff and the fill plug will resist coming out.

 

Thanks man. I'll be sure to pay attention to that tomorrow when I tackle it.

 

That's wayyyyyy too soon. You can easily go 30k miles before needing to change it again. You're changing it way too often. I'd probably go 50k+ if I were you.

 

I do every 3rd oil change on rear diff and transmission but I'm my own mechanic and it just takes another couple minuets. I believe the Toyota interval is 30,000 for the diffs and the manual trans it just says to inspect level not that I'd ever not change it!