Front diff leak?

Can someone tell me if I have a front diff leak? This is a before and after picture of my front diff. I cleaned the diff with brake cleaner to see if it wasn’t oil dripping onto the front diff. The second picture I took is a week later. It looks like it has oil spots on it. It doesn’t smell like gear oil tho. Dunno why the second picture uploaded upside down. My truck only has 95k miles.

 

Look like just little moisture.

 

Fill and Drain plugs look ok?

 

I hope so

Yes they look good.

 

you checked up in front of it...i cant tell but it looks like something up more foward may be leaking?

 

Yeah that’s what I’m hoping for, maybe from the oil filter the oil dripped down to the skid plate and from me driving the wind lead it to the front diff? So I cleaned it but I still see oil spots on it a week later. But like I said earlier it doesn’t smell like gear oil.

 

that part is covered with oil also. Sorry for the upside down photos. Don’t know why it’s doing that. I don’t think it’s common to get a diff leak this early on a 2nd gen?

 

raise the hood and shine a light down in there and look...

 

This.

Or remove the skid plate.
It’s really easy to get off and back on.

 

Have you had your oil changed recently? My .02 is that its drips from your oil filter. Check the little drain nipple on the catch basin that your oil filter sits in.

-J

 

have you checked the timing chain cover area for leaks?

 

"It doesn't smell like gear oil" tells me there is no way in hell it is gear oil. There ain't no hiding that smell. See if you can tell color, smell or taste, try to find a drip hanging. Red (doubtful) = Trans, Sweet = Cooling (radiator/H20 Pump), Greasy w/mild smell - but not trans or coolant = oil....
Follow it up to It's highest point and start looking for leaks there.

 

Brake clean everything off. And keep your eye on it