2018 leaking rear diff

So the final fix was gasket and bolts after corporate got involved?

 

Yep. Both times the same fix. Worked the second time at least.

 

Damn yours was a legitimate leak. Not just lubing gaskets during the build. That's pretty bad. Can't believe that they fought you on that at all.

 

Well first time not much fighting (but yeah, leaked really bad), but second time was a call to corporate. I’ll find my thread and post it. Give me a sec.

Here ya go...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/i-need-some-important-advice.564487/

 

The worst is they didn’t do worth a crap at cleaning my diff so I had to get out there last night and try to clean it off (unsuccessfully) since I didn’t have anything but water and rags. People just don’t give a crap about other people’s stuff. Plus now my front end alignment seems off as well since taking it in. Which makes no sense... steering wheel is off center some.

 

Nope, no lift. Here’s a couple of pics. Remember this is after the gasket replacement.

 

I don't really see where it's wet, but the first pic would be the pinion seal where it leaves the diff. Right behind the flange on the third member? I can't tell if that's a shadow. Maybe clean it up with some brake cleaner or something and see if it's seeping. Down there it usually collects dirt quickly when wet and you can spot it pretty quick after it's been cleaned.

 

Alcohol might be able to cut through it if you don't have any carb/brake cleaner, mineral spirits, charcoal lighter, etc. Otherwise diesel or gas on a rag should do it. I agree that they should have cleaned it up though so you can tell it's fixed. Alignment is more alarming. Hit a curb on a test drive or something maybe?

 

For all the people freaking out over nothing with respect to some mild discoloration on the diff, the above is what would be considered a legitimate concern. If diff fluid is not leaking out and ending up on the ground, it likely isn't leaking out fast enough to be an issue if you are replacing the diff fluid every 15 to 25k miles. Most of these types of leaks will also seal themselves off over time, as air, dust, etc. causes the leaking fluid to congeal and harden.

As others have mentioned, every time you take your vehicle into a dealer to get something fixed, whether it needs to be fixed or not, you run the risk of coming out of the situation worse off. At a minimum, you may ruin your relationship with the dealer over something that is truly trivial and insignificant, such that when something not trivial comes up, the dealer blows you off as a internet fanatic and makes you have to go complain to corporate. Worse case, the dealer might end up making things worse with the "fix". I bring this up, because in my early ownership of a new Tacoma, I made the mistake of allowing this site to turn me into a raving lunatic about how everything is failing on the vehicle. I might have irreparably damaged what was initially a good relationship with the dealer as a result. Luckily my wife was centered enough to tell me I was letting this site turn me into crazy town, and I have since tried to become more realistic.

Most of the complaints on this site, such as the mild discoloration around the diff seal, are truly trivial. It's a truck, a machine, not some polished solid state electrical gizmo.

 

I definitely agree . Very well said.

 

Are the 2019 models having any diff leaking issues? I’d hate to get rid of 13 f150 fx4 for a brand new truck with diff issues. My f150 at almost 60k is bone dry.

 

I have a 2010 f1shitty with 140k and it’s bone dry also. Hell the truck hasn’t had any issues. Got a good one I guess.

Edit. Coil packs got changed out. Still have orginal plugs. They gotta go thou.

 

Add mine to the list! Just started today or the last few days. I've been keeping an eye on it after seeing threads about this all over. 2017, built in Mexico, 28K odo

 

According to my dealer this isnt a leak it's a "clean spot" where some water splashed up or some tall grass wiped it clean

I cleaned it and retorqued the bolts we'll see if it comes back. My dealer sucks
Crazy how Toyota dealers go from holding our trucks hostage for this situation until they got the new gaskets, to dodging the work on it.

 

Your dealer is a dbag...

 

You can say that again

 

Maybe use Brakleen and a parts brush, wearing any safety garb you would. Brakleen is basically carbon tetrachloride aka dry cleaning fluid . Use a oil drain pan too . Get it clean and check on it. If stain seepage returns in less than 60 days go to the dealer. If you have the know how to loosen and re torque try that too . You might just find loose nuts. Maybe maybe not..

 

Solution. Over torque the rear diff? Ha ok

 

You know very little about mechanics and torque values, impressive.

 

Brought mine to the dealer and they ordered a new gasket. Their suggestion.

Tustin Toyota in California for reference.