Rear Diff Vent behind the tail light Mod

Thank you

 

Definitely a mod I need to do since it floods here with like 10 mins of rain

 

Just ordered parts. I’m gonna do this mod this weekend. About 2 months ago, I was ass deep in water and would like to check the fluid for contamination. Does that just consist of letting some fluid out, look at it, and then put it back?

 

I did this mod about 6 months ago. Don’t know if this is the write up I read awhile back or not. But it’s the same method and parts on my 2018. I did use some red fuel like to add a little color to it being a Tacoma fanboy and all.

 

You could pull a sample from the fill port and see if it’s milky. If you drain some, you might as well drain it all and do a fluid change. It’s easy to do.

 

The fitting that is commonly recommended to go on the axle housing - sticks up where fly rock might hit it right? Breaking that fitting would be bad news and easy to overlook. Use an elbow fitting and make the hose exit down the axle tube - then loop up to the frame with the brake hoses....

I put my breather behind the taillight housing - seems a good choice (and its still there) but my brother-in-law pointed out that it may not be the best choice. When pulling a boat trailer (backing in or out) - or climbing out an embankment at a water crossing - there is an opportunity to get the tail of the truck down in the water a ways. He was speaking from experience as he often uses his Tacoma to pull a bass boat - and goes to some pretty primitive ramps.

 

That’s some good info there. Thanks.

 

I ordered the necessary parts and they came in. I will do this mod today or tomorrow. I have an extra in line fuel filter lying around that I might use as well to capture dust particles. I will attach the in-line fuel filter below the breather. Won't hurt I suppose since it acts like a filter.

 

Finished the install. Took a hose clamp and bolted the 5/16" hose to an existing hole, no drilling involved. I even had an extra inline fuel filter laying around. So why not use it? The fuel filter will trap any dust getting inside the line. In theory the fuel filter can act like a breather on its own, but I installed both as water would go in the toyota breather slower than the filter.

In a year or so I will unbolt the rear taillight and see if the filter element is clean or dirty on the fuel filter.

 

Its a breather vent for the diff. The amount of air going back in is so small.. but I guess if that filter didn't cost you anything extra..

 

Yes I know. Would be a good experiment and check the filter in 1 year and see if its dirty or clean.

 

Cool. Don’t forget in a year. I would be - what I’m I supposed to be doing ???
Looking forward to the results.

 

Yeah I will forget most likely also. Not a priority item to check.

 

Everyone seems to be using fuel line for this mod... Why not just standard and probably cheaper and more flexible vacuum line... There is no pressure here and reinforced fuel line seem like a bit of an overkill.

 

I think that the biggest aspect of why I used the fuel line is its durability. it is made to handle harsh fumes, chemical residue, and more outside environments.

 

i was thinking like silicone type... should be able to handle anything. But i can see the reasoning behind fuel line also.

 

Right, you don't exactly need E85 EFI spec fuel line considering it is like 5x more then plain jane vacuum stuff. I still don't understand why people are taking the tail light out and running it up there. You know there is a fuel filler right on the side of the bed. This is like a one or two zip tie install. If you are up over your filler you have many more problems then the diff filling with water...but you know putting it there isn't cool and overland worthy like doing an uber tail light vent.

 

Where were you last week when I was asking for an alternate place to run the hose. I ended up buying 10 feet of fuel line and putting it behind the tail light because I couldnt find a good spot to secure it. (I have and SR5 so my only cubby is on the right side of the bed. )

 

Sorry

I attached my fitting on the axle, looked at the tail light and said F that. Ran it up my filler so that the breather is right at the bed rail. Zippy Zippy, end of story.

Being that Toyota puts the engine ECM usually in the kickpanel, pretty much the lowest point in the cab, all of this is work is just a game. The reality is the truck will probably shut down and have massive damage before the water axle intrusion becomes a problem. Sure it is nice but if your axle vent is saving your skin the truck is most likely totaled. I still have one

 

Taking the tail light out takes 2 minutes and 2 bolts, I fail to see how hard that is. Took me 15 minutes to do the whole mod, including taking the tail light out and back in.