Differential Breather Mod for Dummies (Pics)

How do you know when you need to do this mod?

 

Remember, there are other ways of doing this important mod.

When my truck was only a few months old, and after the rear differential got contaminated: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/111954-my-differential-breather-mod-photos.html

 

This is the kit i bought and it worked out great for my gas cap location. I think you will need longer hose if routing to behind tail light.

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/yota...ther-kit-5-ft-hose-1-cap-1-barb-2-clamps.html

You need to do the mod so you don't get water in your rear end. If you ever plan on driving in a foot or so of water (If the diff ever gets under water)you will need it.

 

Am I the only one that link doesn't work for ?

 

Nope. No worky for me either.

 

x3 no worky

 

Sorry, It works now.
http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/yota...ther-kit-5-ft-hose-1-cap-1-barb-2-clamps.html

 

I don't have a little cubby in the bed to reach behind the gas filler area. This place was just easier to access for me and, as you stated, just as high up as the fuel door area. Agreed, if I have water coming up higher than that, this engine would be toast.

There is plenty of air in that area. It can still draw air from all the rest of the fender area.

 

Im not sure if this has been addressed yet or not, but when I did my rear diff breather, there was alot of question about where the TRANSMISSION and TRANSFER CASE breathers are located.

Well I have my transmission out right now, due to water getting into it via the breather.

Both breathers are 2way, and mounted near the top of the transmission bellhousing.

Here are a couple pics





I plan to extend mine before reinstalling transmission.

 

Since the differentials and ADD are subject to water entering via the axle, they should have a true breather and Toyota puts the front diff and ADD true breathers up high next to the fuse box. The fail is the rear diff where they use only a venting check valve on the diff (won't let water in, but doesn't prevent a vacuum from causing water to get into the rear diff via the axles).

The transmission and transfer case have no possible way for water to get in past any axle seals, right? So, perhaps just the venting check valves on them is no issue? I would like to hear more from the professionals.

 

Not quite. The transmission has 2 seals that would be exposed to water, especially the front seal (Other being the trans output to TC). Look under your truck, just behind the oil pan. There is a little black plastic cover that is for the ring gear inspection. Your bellhousing is nowhere near water tight, and will fill with water when submerged (Your starter has no gasket where it connects to the engine either). The transmission input oil seal is in here. This shouldn't be a problem UNLESS the breather itself is submerged. In that case a vacuum is formed and water is pulled in from wherever the weakest link is (Likely the seal in the waterfilled bellhousing. I know this foresure because my transmission fluid looked like a strawberry milkshake. There is no gasket between the transmission output and transfer case either, so it would be prone to water as well, but less likely that that large gaping inspection hole in the front

 

For clarity:

Rear engine/rear main seal. Notice the inspection holes at bottom and gasketless starter mounting:



Bellhousing


Closeup of transmission input seal. The inner lip of the seal, seals against the torque converter, which is obviously removed in this pic. This seal is fully exposed to water.


Transmission output seal. Notice signs of water in housing


Transfer Case Input Seal


Closeup of TC input seal


If water is deep enough to submerge TC or Transmission breathers, they become 1way breathers and are susceptible to the same issues as the rear diff.

The water would have to be pretty deep for that to happen though, and is likely deeper than most people will attempt.

 

Nice photos, thanks. How do other 4WD manufacturers vent the tranny?

 

You did a great job man! good write up and pics

 

Sorry I didn't see this at the time.

How deep are you talking here?

Reason I ask is...in my old (now totalled) truck Betty, I went through fresh water deep enough a couple times to lap up over the front edge of the hood. Not enough to come up over the back edge of the hood, or the windshield wiper goop sprayers, but that gives you a depth idea.

Extrapolating out...what kind of depth are you talking about? Wondering if I had this on the way and didn't know it.

 

Does the dealership bitch about this mod? I ask because I got two years of service and a dealer offer lifetime warranty on motor, tranny, and 4x4 system on my 2015 off road.

 

Betting they wouldn't even notice if you just use black hose instead of some glow in the dark nonsense.

 

Man I really wanted some glow in the dark fuel hose and some LEDs.

Where else can I place the breather other than next to the fuel cap?

 

I would run it behind the driver side taillight, see the link below:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/286097-rear-diff-vent-behind-tail-light-mod.html

 

Into the cubby