Front diff drain plug leak

I had my diff fluids changed at the dealership about 4000 km ago. Under the truck yesterday, I noticed some oil gathering on the bottom of the front diff and at the drain plug.

Cleaned the area well with degreaser and wiped everything off. Today I see a small amount of oil leaking from out of the drain plug. Not major, but it's leaking. It shouldn't leak.

I intend to take the truck into the dealership for repair under extended warranty, but would like to know whether over-torquing the drain plug and/or not replacing the copper crush washer would cause this. Chances are, they didn't replaced the crush washer.

 

Never, ever, evar let stealership monkeys wrench on your ride.

 

Lol^^^^^^
Not a single person at a dealership knows how to work on a car. They should all close, and everybody including the hybrid owners should repair their own vehicles.

OP, there is a small metal gasket under the plug that might be damaged, or installed over the old one. Take it back right away, it should be fixed free of charge. Over torqueing should not cause it to leak unless they completley stripped it out.

 

This is why I do my own maintenance. Take your truck back and get that leak fixed for free or take your business elsewhere.

 

i wouldnt bash all dealerships, mistakes do happen and as long as its not completely dumb and theyre willing to make it right i dont see an issue


i know most of the techs at my dealership and would trust them with about anything on my truck

 

Check to see if it's loose first?

 

Technically the aluminum washer is supposed to be replaced at every oil change. If a dealer does the work, they should do that. I don't replace mine unless there is an issue, and there rarely is. I never let a dealer do any routine work on my truck. The reason is that the routine work does not go to skilled techs. It goes to minimum wage guys who aften are hacks. Oil changes and plugs are two areas where I have seen so many screwed up jobs! Learn to do the work if you care at all about your truck. Most mechanics today are working under that damn flat rate. If they strip a bolt or otherwise have trouble they have to eat it. I've always done my own work and I can tell you, shit happens to the best of us. There are lots of good mechanics, but most are not working under good considions. If I get to talk to them, I always tell them to do the work right and I'll cover any problems with them under the table. Mostly though, I do everything myself.

 

Washer might have dropped off the plug during the procedure.

 

Especially in flat rate shops, routine maintinence goes to the most experienced guys/ most seniority. Its called "gravy" and is the easiest work with the most time attatched so more money is to be made. But that is irrelevant to op's post, i just wanted to make a point.

 

Yessir, forgot to write that in original post. Drain plug is tight. Threw a torque wrench on it and it's beyond spec (48 ft-lb).

 

That's true, too. I'll take it in this week and hopefully report back a successful repair.

 

the washer, i think it is copper. mine were.

the best thing about dealership work, they typically make it right. take it back.

when i did mine, the parts person told me they dont need to be changed every time. whatever...the part is cheap. why wouldnt you change it. i wonder if they give you a new seal at the oil change?