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#1
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mystery of corolla differential runs dry
My father's 97 corolla with the 3 speed transmission recently develop a
whine. Drove it to my usual mechanic where he suggested to try change both the oil in the tranny and the differential to see if it helps. (this transaxle has a seperate differential drain plug). The tranny was drained first and the fluid looked and smelled okay. Then he open up the drain plug of the differential - I could not believe my eyes that only a few drops drained out, it was almost dry ! My question to the group is : how can the differential run dry without my father noticing any leak ? I am very sure there is no stain on my father's drive way, where he park his car 99% of the time. Where would have the oil gone ? I was thinking of the drive axle oil seal but my mechanic said it looked okay. Last time the car had the transmission and differential oil change was about one year ago at the same shop. I am thinking if my mechanic forgot to fill the differential during the last change, how could the unit went one year a few thousand miles without blowing up ? Actually according to my dad the whine only developed in the last few days. Any suggestion about what could have caused the leak ? |
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#2
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"Jack" > wrote in message oups.com... > My father's 97 corolla with the 3 speed transmission recently develop a > whine. Drove it to my usual mechanic where he suggested to try change > both the oil in the tranny and the differential to see if it helps. > (this transaxle has a seperate differential drain plug). The tranny was > drained first and the fluid looked and smelled okay. Then he open up > the drain plug of the differential - I could not believe my eyes that > only a few drops drained out, it was almost dry ! > > My question to the group is : how can the differential run dry without > my father noticing any leak ? I am very sure there is no stain on my > father's drive way, where he park his car 99% of the time. Where would > have the oil gone ? I was thinking of the drive axle oil seal but my > mechanic said it looked okay. > > Last time the car had the transmission and differential oil change was > about one year ago at the same shop. I am thinking if my mechanic > forgot to fill the differential during the last change, how could the > unit went one year a few thousand miles without blowing up ? Actually > according to my dad the whine only developed in the last few days. > > Any suggestion about what could have caused the leak ? > What was the oil level in the transmission? -- Ray O correct the return address punctuation to reply |
#3
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On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 18:28:25 -0700, Jack wrote:
> My father's 97 corolla with the 3 speed transmission recently develop a > whine. Drove it to my usual mechanic where he suggested to try change > both the oil in the tranny and the differential to see if it helps. > (this transaxle has a seperate differential drain plug). The tranny was > drained first and the fluid looked and smelled okay. Then he open up > the drain plug of the differential - I could not believe my eyes that > only a few drops drained out, it was almost dry ! > > My question to the group is : how can the differential run dry without > my father noticing any leak ? I am very sure there is no stain on my > father's drive way, where he park his car 99% of the time. Where would > have the oil gone ? I was thinking of the drive axle oil seal but my > mechanic said it looked okay. > > Last time the car had the transmission and differential oil change was > about one year ago at the same shop. I am thinking if my mechanic > forgot to fill the differential during the last change, how could the > unit went one year a few thousand miles without blowing up ? Actually > according to my dad the whine only developed in the last few days. > > Any suggestion about what could have caused the leak ? As far as the differential; most diffs are equipped with a vent, something that looks like the top of a pressure cooker, that opens when the pressure in the differential builds. These are known to rust and get stuck in the closed position. When this happens, the pressure in the diff can't vent, and pressure keeps building. So, what happens is that it starrs pushing the oile past the seals, but usually only when the car is moving. The pressure eventually drops and there may or may not be a leak shown on the driveway. |
#4
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"Jack" > wrote in message oups.com... > My father's 97 corolla with the 3 speed transmission recently develop a > whine. Drove it to my usual mechanic where he suggested to try change > both the oil in the tranny and the differential to see if it helps. > (this transaxle has a seperate differential drain plug). The tranny was > drained first and the fluid looked and smelled okay. Then he open up > the drain plug of the differential - I could not believe my eyes that > only a few drops drained out, it was almost dry ! > > My question to the group is : how can the differential run dry without > my father noticing any leak ? I am very sure there is no stain on my > father's drive way, where he park his car 99% of the time. Where would > have the oil gone ? I was thinking of the drive axle oil seal but my > mechanic said it looked okay. > > Last time the car had the transmission and differential oil change was > about one year ago at the same shop. I am thinking if my mechanic > forgot to fill the differential during the last change, how could the > unit went one year a few thousand miles without blowing up ? Actually > according to my dad the whine only developed in the last few days. > I think your right on and they forgot to refill the differential. As to how could it go for a few thousand miles without blowing up, that is easy. All oil does in the differential is to keep the metal surfaces from rubbing directly against each other and wearing. Once it is gone the metal surfaces simply get polished as they rub against each other, and start to wear out. The unfortunate part is that the gears in the differential right now are probably just about completely worn out. It's no different than a kids bicycle chain that gets wet and never gets lubed. If gearing immediately blew up when it ran dry, then lots of people would have axles blowing up in their cars as they drive around, because CV joint boots inevitably crack and fling all the lube out. What usually happens though is it keeps working for a long time, then eventually when it's very worn, it starts making a racket. Just exactly what happened to your dad. Ted |
#5
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put the oem oil back in and drive it also
it sounds like your tring to get the shop to replace your diff for free? and if it blows well you know where the wine came from also find another shop and check your tranny |
#6
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The oil level was normal in the tranny.
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#7
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I never knew of the vent that you mentioned. And this make me think of
another possibility. Recently there had been a small scale flooding where my father lives. He told me he once drove through water as high as the top of the bumper. Would it be that some water got past the vent and enter the differential, push out some oil to the transmission ( I think the tranny and the differential has a pathway where oil can exchange). When the unit get hot the water got evaporate through the vent, leaving very little oil in the differential. Is this possible ? |
#8
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well I am not trying to blame my mechanic, cause he is an honest guy
that I trust. But since he is also human, he is still prone to making mistakes once in a while ..... my question is, my father's car runs normal after refilling the differential, should I ask for some sort of compensation from the mechanic ? |
#9
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I don't think a mechanic would 'forget' to fill the differential - at least on my 92 Geo Prism it required a lot of work, including moving some kind of rubber thing, to get at the plug. What is more likely is that this is the first time the thing has ever been checked. When I checked mine it was low (not necessarily dry); I filled it up and put everything back. It made little or no difference in operation of the car. So I don't think you have a problem but anything could happen! |
#10
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THere is the same rubber thing to be removed from my father's '97, not
sure what that part is for but it is there. I tend to believe my mechanic since he has been a very competent and knowledgable guy ever since I started using him six years back, but still everyone can make mistakes.... if it is not him it would be difficult to find a reason for this mysterious oil loss.. wrote: > I don't think a mechanic would 'forget' to fill the differential - at > least on my 92 Geo Prism it required a lot of work, including moving > some kind of rubber thing, to get at the plug. What is more likely is > that this is the first time the thing has ever been checked. When I > checked mine it was low (not necessarily dry); I filled it up and put > everything back. It made little or no difference in operation of the > car. So I don't think you have a problem but anything could happen! |
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