Are these diffs cooked?

[Tigg]

My first jeep, never changed the diff fluid I dont tow or go offroad hard-core style.

Does this look like its leaking from diff or above?

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[Alaska-HWY JK]

What does the pinion seal look like?

 

[Tigg]

What does the pinion seal look like?

This?

 

[GuzziMoto]

I would clean that up, then drive it and see where it is coming from. Once it has been blown around like that it is hard to know what the original source is. While normally fluids only drip down, it can be surprising where fluids go once airflow is applied. It could be the breather tube has come off and it is from that. Or it could be from the seal for the diff cover. It does not look to be coming from the pinion seal, which is good. Also, coming from the pinion seal usually means oil is being thrown by the input hardware. So you will typically find oil splattered around the pinion 360 degrees. I don't see that happening.

 

[Alaska-HWY JK]

That’s what the diff cover on my JK looked like before I changed the pinion seal.

 

[DylanM]

Looks to me more like a leak coming down from something above the axle.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

Looks to me more like a leak coming down from something above the axle.

Noticed this too, could be from one of those EVAP/Fuel lines above it.

Otherwise I also agree with others that it's most likely the diff cover seal. You'd be surprised how many people can't install those seals, or use gasket maker correctly.

 

[FC1]

Clean it. Spray it with Arid Extract Dry. Drive it. That will show you exactly where the leak is.
That’s a old shovel head trick

 

[Lunentucker]

Looks to me like it's coming from above.
I'd still check the fluid level in them.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Noticed this too, could be from one of those EVAP/Fuel lines above it.

Otherwise I also agree with others that it's most likely the diff cover seal. You'd be surprised how many people can't install those seals, or use gasket maker correctly.

These have reusable seals on the diffs. I know it sounds crazy.

When I dumped mine last weekend my friend helping me asked if I brought enough RTV because he had some laying around... the look on his face when told they were reusable and then actually saw the things... TBF it makes for a quicker, cleaner service. Probably part of why they did away with the drain.

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