Gear Oil Puddle Underneath Transfer Case

[nicopodaca]

My 1993 has been leaking gear oil and I cannot determine the source. So far I assume it is the front output seal. Whenever I check the gear oil level it never seems to be low even though it leaves a sizable puddle every week. I would like to fix soon. What else should I be inspecting?

 

[WCBlueSky]

I think I have the same leak but not as bad. I also assumed it was from the front output seal but haven't been able to confirm it. I've read here that a press is required to replace that seal. I replaced the speedometer gear O-ring, so the back half of my transfer case is dry, only the front half is covered in oil.

 

[PolarRunner]

My cruiser sat for a while as I slowly ran through some baselining. After the first idle and burp of the coolant system, I noticed a small puddle under the T/C area. Haven't checked the case level yet but the trans level is fine. Gonna have to get back under there now.

 

[graham5david]

Check where the speedo gear inserts. Sometimes it will leak there as the o ring gets old. Also are you 100% sure it is gear oil.

 

[Willy beamin]

there's an internal seal on the speedo shaft - not talking about the outer O-ring. its not an expensive part to replace if you feel like checking that off the list. takes about 5 minutes to change out, very simple. I had a leak on the tcase too and that was the culprit.

 

[bajaphile]

Are you 100% it is gear oil? The smell for me always gives it away.

It could easily be your valve cover gasket, upper oil pan arch(or any of the other usual suspects,), in which engine oil has migrated backwards. In your photos, it looks wet above the TC (Shifter linkage looks wet from oil?)...

Try to find the highest and most forward wet area. I'd stick my hand behind the valve cover and oil pan arch area and see if any fresh oil can be found.

 

[nicopodaca]

Check where the speedo gear inserts. Sometimes it will leak there as the o ring gets old. Also are you 100% sure it is gear oil.

I am 100% sure it is gear oil. It is the color of motor oil but has a pungent smell to it.

 

[nicopodaca]

there's an internal seal on the speedo shaft - not talking about the outer O-ring. its not an expensive part to replace if you feel like checking that off the list. takes about 5 minutes to change out, very simple. I had a leak on the tcase too and that was the culprit.

The speedo sensor is on the back end of the tcase, correct? If so, I have no seen any oil coming from that area.

 

[nicopodaca]

Are you 100% it is gear oil? The smell for me always gives it away.

It could easily be your valve cover gasket, upper oil pan arch(or any of the other usual suspects,), in which engine oil has migrated backwards. In your photos, it looks wet above the TC (Shifter linkage looks wet from oil?)...
Try to find the highest and most forward wet area. I'd stick my hand behind the valve cover and oil pan arch area and see if any fresh oil can be found.

I will dig around up there. Valve cover was replaced last year with OEM, could have failed possibly. I have not heard of the upper oil pan arch..
I know for a fact the my oil pan seal is bad (has been for years but never had this issue). I have terrible sense of smell, but it seems to stink like gear oil. My wife has a far better sniffer, I will get her opinion when she is off work.

 

[nicopodaca]

Are you 100% it is gear oil? The smell for me always gives it away.

It could easily be your valve cover gasket, upper oil pan arch(or any of the other usual suspects,), in which engine oil has migrated backwards. In your photos, it looks wet above the TC (Shifter linkage looks wet from oil?)...

Try to find the highest and most forward wet area. I'd stick my hand behind the valve cover and oil pan arch area and see if any fresh oil can be found.

Wife confirmed it by smell, it is not gear oil. So upper oil pan arch, valve cover gasket, any others I should check off the list? I'm still somewhat new to cruisers.

 

[WCBlueSky]

@nicopodaca Did you ever figure this out?