[reapEr173]

Well I recently changed my rear axle fluid after about 50k miles (put amsoil severe at the time) because I notice the oil had a brown tent to it. Not milky color or anything. About 2 weeks ago I put the mopar oil in there and I just checked the level and the oil now has a brownish tent to it already. The mopar gear lube was brand new.
Does anyone know if this is normal or what not. Few years back I rerouted both vent lines because and I check the line and no water has gone into it. Any ideas. Thank you.

 

[URDiesel]

Pic of the fluid would help!

 

[reapEr173]

Here some pics

 

[URDiesel]

Looks like water. When you serviced it, did you remove the cover ?

 

[7492]

Well I recently changed my rear axle fluid after about 50k miles (put amsoil severe at the time) because I notice the oil had a brown tent to it. Not milky color or anything. About 2 weeks ago I put the mopar oil in there and I just checked the level and the oil now has a brownish tent to it already. The mopar gear lube was brand new.
Does anyone know if this is normal or what not. Few years back I rerouted both vent lines because and I check the line and no water has gone into it. Any ideas. Thank you.

Yes, water.

 

[Lins]

That’s not a brownish tint, that’s milky = water.

 

[reapEr173]

Yeah I removed the cover and cleaned everything up 2 weeks ago when I changed it. Used 3 cans of brake cleaner when I was cleaning everything. Now I’m wondering how water got in there within 2 weeks. Last time I checked the vent line it seemed good with no cracks. It’s a 2015 year. Any ideas on where water could be coming in from.

 

[Lins]

There is a little gear oil that sits in either hub still when you try to drain it. I wouldn’t think it would it all that milky but you never know. Did you do any significant water crossings when it first changed colour on you?

 

[reapEr173]

There is a little gear oil that sits in either hub still when you try to drain it. I wouldn’t think it would it all that milky but you never know. Did you do any significant water crossings when it first changed colour on you?

No. There was a few hard rains but that’s about all there was. No water riding. You could be right. I didn’t get out all the old oil that looked like that. That was the reason for changing it in the first place. Guess I’ll try jacking up each side of the axle when I go to drain it again.

 

[Lins]

No. There was a few hard rains but that’s about all there was. No water riding. You could be right. I didn’t get out all the old oil that looked like that. That was the reason for changing it in the first place. Guess I’ll try jacking up each side of the axle when I go to drain it again.

I have a friend who had an old YJ that would do the same thing. If it even saw water just from a distance the diffs would get milky.

 

[kelaog]

Here some pics

Lots of short trips in a high humidity area? That could cause that but not very quickly...

For reference it only takes about 10 ml of water per litre to create that emulsion.

 

[reapEr173]

It ruined the new gear oil quick. I’m going to get some Valvoline 75-140 and put in it once I drain it again today.

 

[Lins]

I would just do a few changes with cheap oil for now. Should clear up. Don’t forget about front.

 

[5.7 Hemi]

Check the breather to make sure it’s still mounted high up.

 

[Jared Herzog]

Mine did that with 8811 miles on it. Sent it off to blackstones for testing. They found no water contamination at all. I changed the fluid anyway. Just wanted to know why it changed to that exact brown. But, mine had no water contamination and they could not explain the color difference.

 

[Jared Herzog]

It costs money to test it. But, it would be good to find out of there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

 

[Grit dog]

Mine did that with 8811 miles on it. Sent it off to blackstones for testing. They found no water contamination at all. I changed the fluid anyway. Just wanted to know why it changed to that exact brown. But, mine had no water contamination and they could not explain the color difference.

Very interesting as I was going to reply milkshake even though that’s virtually impossible to happen that quickly, even driving in the rain with no breather tube. So I’d be thinking what you said since you’ve experienced it before.

 

[Jared Herzog]

Very interesting as I was going to reply milkshake even though that’s virtually impossible to happen that quickly, even driving in the rain with no breather tube. So I’d be thinking what you said since you’ve experienced it before.

It was a weird deal. Here is a copy of that report. There are also images of my fluid on this site. I am having trouble locating them. I think in this instance testing could be a good use of money.

 

[Jared Herzog]

Ok. Here is what mine looked like.

Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18

Show Content

 

[reapEr173]

I drained it all out last night. I jacked each side up to let whatever was in the tubes out. I rolled the tires to let the diff rotate to get whatever was in there out. I fill it with vavoline 75-140. It drove better this morning. It didn’t have that weird drivetrain feeling when backing turning. I’ll check it again in a few days and report back.