Sunk my rear end for about 10 minutes... how urgent is a rear diff fluid change?

Had some fun on Sunday.... and ended up with my rear end sunk for about 10min while I set up the winch.

Going to change the rear diff fluid just to be safe, but my questions for y'all is how urgent is this? I'd prefer to do it myself, but the soonest I can do it would be in like 3 weeks.


I've read up on all the rear diff breather threads I can find... I'm leaning toward installing the extension hose so I don't have to worry about this again, but the condensation issues with the hose extensions sound troublesome, too.

 

Can you crack the fill plug, and dip your pinky in there to see what color the fluid is? You should be able to tell pretty quick if you need to change it before driving it much by that and won’t loose any fluid.

 

depends. you said you don't have a raised breather? can you crack the rear diff plug and see if the oil looks milky? I would start there, there is a chance its fine, if its just gear oil and not milky your might be fine. and when ready to refill get a bit more fluid crack the fill plug and the drain plug in that order and flush a bit of extra oil though the diff and then let it run "clear" a bit then install your drain plug and fill back up.

also my Tacoma has had an extended breather for years never had an issue, and run them on most of my trucks!

 

When I was a kid back in the 70's, we would submerge our pumpkins on a regular basis and never once considered replacing the gear lube! We just drove on and had fun! IMO, you are fine, but then again, what the hell do I know!

 

Yeah, I hope I'm being overly-cautious, but that breather sitting on top of the rear diff makes me nervous. Stories seems to be 50% "I've submerged it 100 times without a problem, it's fine" and 50% "I spent $2500 after getting water in the diff, you should definitely relocate."

 

I'll try this, good idea y'all!

 

in the 70's lots of diffs were "sealed" well closed systems. without vents like we have now. like how many when you cracked the plug on the diff they would make that sweet sexual suction sound

 

rear diff is the easiest oil change on the entire truck (with spare tire taken down)

id just do it asap

 

Pretty cheap and easy to just change… no uncertainty

 

....for 10's of dollars in new fluid and a half hour of your time, I would think that it is an easy decision....

 

easy even with the tire in the way diff plug and drain are all accessible with a 1/2 in drive and a socket

 

Nah. It’s good.

 

Change it asap, now! It’s easy, quick and doesn’t cost much. Why take a chance and then it costs you $$$$.
Also not trying to give you a bad time but wtf were you thinking trying to drive through that mud pit? Pretty obvious you were going to get stuck deep. Or the very least be in above your axles.

 

What others said. But make sure you can remove the fill plug of rear diff first. If not, you stuck. Take forever to get plug out.

 

Thanks, grandma--I'll be more careful next time I promise.

 

The breather is a one way valve that allows pressure to escape the diff and prevents water from getting in. If you rapidly cool a diff in water it will suck water in through the axle seals.

 

Never in 30+ years have I had a condensation issue with an extended breather hose. Just don't reuse the OEM breather valve because it's not a true breather (like said above, it only allows air flow one-way, which causes a vacuum to form in the housing = not good).

Also note that an extended breather hose does not mean you shouldn't have to check the fluid after a dunk, it just lessens the chance water will be sucked in since there's no vacuum pressure in the housing (less likely you'll have to actually change it).

 

Yea the extended breathers use a different filter thingy or a special valve that allows air to be sucked in for the sudden pressure change, but since they are ran to a high point it won't be under water.

 

You’re welcome girlfriend. Just trying to help those on the lower end of the IQ scale.

 

I'd change it asap, as others have said its so quick & easy to so. I would at the very least check if the oil is dirty..... also great to see someone sending it and having fun with their truck!