Any know what could be leaking?

Any know what could be leaking? Nowhere for repairs tomorrow because nowhere is open on Sunday… lame! Should I not drive? No fluid showing on facing from front to back (third photo) only back to front.

 

Cow pies all washed off in the rain last week… it’s something else leaking. Any thoughts?

 

Clean it up, drive it. Could be a crack but it looks like it's just seeping out of the fill hole.

 

Looks like your fill plug is leaking. At best, check to make sure it’s torqued to spec. You might need a new crush washer and at the very least check your fluid level. If it were my truck, I’d just go ahead and drain and fill the rear end with new fluid and replace the crush washer.

 

Plain to see that is just the fill plug leaking (you can see where it is clean oil coming down originating at the plug). Get a new seal and replace it, just make sure the oil is topped off or you could drain and fill using new crush washers on the drain and refill plugs.

NOTE: Oil full level should be even with the bottom of the fill hole.

 

Hopefully, the fill plug is not cross-threaded.

 

Have you been to one of the quickie oil change places? Back when I used them they cross threaded my differential fill plug & mine looked just like that. First thing I had asked before letting them do it was can you do the oil change without messing with my other fluids? He said yes. Then here he comes to show me a sample of every fluid. I say I thought you said you could… he says I said I could but didn’t say I would. Moral of the story, never ever trust those places to touch your vehicle.

This is a good idea. I believe the recommended interval is 30k miles.

Someone posted a replacement plug from a Lexus. Exact thread pitch & diameter except a much better design that’s less likely to become stripped and stuck.

If you have tools you could try this. You might need to get the rear up on jack stands. Put a drain pan under it. Spray the heck out of it with brake cleaner, concentrate on cleaning the plug area. Get a 6 point socket on it, 1/2” drive, the longest ratchet you have. Make sure the socket is fully seated good. Loosen it 1/8-1/4 turn. Switch the ratchet lever to tighten, you might be able to push on the socket to get a better bite, then tighten. You could build momentum with the ratchet handle and the goal is to make it tighter than it was. Clean the plug area again. Then take a look at it after driving it a couple times. If you’re concerned you might have lost enough gear oil to make a difference, remove the fill plug & look with a flashlight. I doubt it’ll be more than 1/2 quart.

I’ve done this multiple times on hydraulic oil tanks which can hold well over 10 gallons. Occasionally I’ll need to drain it to replace the drain plug and washer.

 

also make sure the diff breather is free ontop of the diff housing. They get stuck sometimes and will blow out axle seals from built up pressure

 

fill plug seeping.

 

no need to worry just top off later

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-diff-drain-plug-alternate-oem-part.604989/#post-20391465

Gads the TW search function surely could use some improvement. This took forever to find but here it is. They’re calling it fits front differential drain. I don’t know for certain but I’d guess it’s going to also fit the rear, and fill, and manual transmission drain and fill holes. Since it’s an outie it could be susceptible to getting hit if used for the drain.