97 Expedition Diffential Fluid Leak
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
97 Expedition Diffential Fluid Leak
Here's my problem. I bought a 97 Expedition about 4 months ago. About 3 weeks ago I noticed a pool of "oil" under my engine. I drove down to my local repair man for him to take a look. He found out it was diffential fluid coming out of the rubber hose to vent the differential. He hadn't seen this before and thought it to be one time occurance. Well a couple days later it did it again. The vent hose comes up into my engine and it sprays the diffential fluid all over the one side of my engine and that stuff really stinks. I took it in to my repair man and he changed the diffential fluid and the vent hose. It was good for 2 weeks and it has happened again. At least twice in the last week. My repair man called a local ford dealership and they have never heard of that problem. My repair man is going to put some anti-foaming stuff in the next time I bring my vehicle in. The vehicle seems to shift fine so I am hoping this is not something serious. Anybody have any ideas what this could be? Thanks.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
The stupid thing is still blowing out the air vent tube. Not a lot but still makes a mess and stinks. Could this be a sign of a more serious problem? Thinking about just putting a overflow bottle in just to catch the diff. fluid. Anybody have similar problem? Thanks.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I tried doing a search but couldn't find anything. I am new to this site so if anybody could help me find that thread I would appreciate it. The tube is up pretty high in the engine area now. Somebody told me to try some anti-foaming stuff to put in. Anybody hear of this stuff and would it harm anything? Thanks.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Hi JRB2 and welcome to FTE 
This was quite a common problem.
Ford issued TSB 97-10-10 to deal with it.
You need to replace the right side front axle tube. They changed the location of the vent on it.
This was quite a common problem.
Ford issued TSB 97-10-10 to deal with it.
You need to replace the right side front axle tube. They changed the location of the vent on it.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
Also bear in mind that the fill level for the front differential is a fraction of an inch below the bottom of the fill hole. If your tech is filling it all the way up to the fill hole, thermal expansion of the diff fluid while driving will cause it to blow out the vent hose. Ask me how I know.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Paul, sounds like you had experience with this. This has been going on for a few weeks now. It doesn't spit out a lot but enough to make a mess. How long did yours last? Did you do anything? How much fluid does the diffential hold? Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
There was an issue with unvented pressure causing damage to the front diff/axle seals on the 1997 models, so I would still pursue the TSB search. In my case (1999 Expedition), the matter resolved itself once the excess fluid was blown out the system through the vent. I can't recall the fluid capacity, but emphasize that if your tech is filling the differential all the way to the bottom of the fill hole, this will happen on any 4wd Expy of any year.
EDIT: I tracked down an old post of mine "...according to the 1999 Ford Expedition Workshop manual: Fill the front differential to a level 9.56mm (0.38 inch) below the bottom of the differential fill hole.
It should take approximately 1.66 to 1.75 liters (3.5 - 3.7 pints) to fill an empty front diff to this point.".
EDIT: I tracked down an old post of mine "...according to the 1999 Ford Expedition Workshop manual: Fill the front differential to a level 9.56mm (0.38 inch) below the bottom of the differential fill hole.
It should take approximately 1.66 to 1.75 liters (3.5 - 3.7 pints) to fill an empty front diff to this point.".
Last edited by PaulC; May 11, 2004 at 01:56 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 736
Likes: 1
From: Texas, USA
My '97 was built May 21, 1997. It has never had a venting problem with the front or rear axle. I check to make sure the oil level is never higher than 3/8 inch below the filler hole when the vehicle and oil are cold and on level ground. Oil expands and the metal axle parts expand when hot. There must be room for this expansion or it willl blow out the tube.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jonmammenga
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Feb 11, 2015 07:49 PM
imlowr2
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
20
Oct 13, 2007 02:46 PM
OsbornFamily
All Things Towing
10
Sep 8, 2005 10:55 AM
