Milky, Gray Fluid In Front Diff.

[wingye1988]

was doing my routine checks of my fluids. then after checking my rear diff. i go and move on to my font diff. stick my finger inside to check the level of the fluid. i pull my finger out. and out comes this gray, milky, bubbly fluid. with no other thought running though my head. id figured, water got in the diff. i go to the auto store get me some 80w90 gear oil, about 5 qt. get back home, drain the diff. fill it. then drive around for 20 min. drain it again. this time a much more brown fluid. and fill her up once more. just need some FEEDBACK. i check the fluid though the fill hole with my finger, looks more like the gear oil, light brown. should i flush and fill again? and should i worry about problems later on down the road with my front diff? and what to look for? so far nothing out of the normal.

[jro909]

as long as your not useing 4x4 with the fluid contaminated i would not worry about it..just flush and fill with a good synthetic gear oil and drive on

[gmtech4]

old crusty****worm has a good point,synthetic should be used if the temps get down,not sure where you live,the pinion outer bearing loves to get oil now and again,lol

 

up here in canuckville,we were putting 75/90 in the frt diffs during the PDI because of pinion bearings going for a poop in cold cold weather.

 

good burn eh crusty???? lol

[jro909]

better watch it bobby i'll break your hip

[alexhr00]

you know I just ran into the same thing last week........... I noticed an intermittent noise coming from my front end so I did an inspection, when I checked my diff I found the milky oil, now how in the he_l can water get in? is there a seal I must replace? I have not chenged the oil yet...... please advise gents!!!!! thanks!!!!!

[ChevyTech77]

If you don't use 4WD enough, normal metal convection can pull moisture into the diff fluid. That is why

I recommend reguarly changing diff oils especially front diff oil in trucks that don't use 4WD but maybe

once a year, up here in Michigan.

 

'07 should have been factory filled with synthetic and yes, if its super cold where you live, you're going to want synthetic back in that diff to keep the pinion bearings alive.

[Black02Silverado]

Wing Ye, what did the drain plug look like. It should be magnetic. Was there a ton of shavings and grey matter stuck to it?

[ken1mod]

Find out how the water got in. I had the cap off the vent fitting fall off once, same problem.

 

Ken

[alexhr00]

I did not find any shavings when I pulled the cap but I did find the a very light coat of "gray matter", what do you guys recommend? again I have an intermitent clunck coming from my front end.........

[Black02Silverado]

I did not find any shavings when I pulled the cap but I did find the a very light coat of "gray matter", what do you guys recommend? again I have an intermitent clunck coming from my front end.........

 

 

Light coat of gray matter isn't an issue. Sounds like you flushed it well. I would keep an eye on it and see how it does in the next few weeks. All good pointers posted above.

[alexhr00]

thanks gents!!!!!!

[LeoS41280]

During PDI inspection, oil change inspection or other routine maintenance on some 2010 LaCrosse, SRX, Camaro, 2009-2001 Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Colorado, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Canyon, Sierra, Sierra Denali, Yukon, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL, and Yukon Denali XL models, it may be noticed that the axle fluid appears milky or contaminated with water or gray material. The discoloration in the fluid may be found in either front, rear or both axles.

 

 

 

During manufacture of the axles, a white or yellow gear rouge or marking compound is used when the tooth contact pattern on the gear set is inspected. The marking compound colors the fluid a milky or semi-metallic gray (this color combination sometimes appears similar to metal or water in the fluid).

 

 

 

The coloring only lasts between 1,000 and 5,000 miles (1,609 and 8,046 kilometers), after which the fluid appears normal. If there are not any noise concerns, do not attempt any repairs for the discolored fluid on vehicles with fewer than 5,000 miles (8,046 km).

[alexhr00]

During PDI inspection, oil change inspection or other routine maintenance on some 2010 LaCrosse, SRX, Camaro, 2009-2001 Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Colorado, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Canyon, Sierra, Sierra Denali, Yukon, Yukon Denali, Yukon XL, and Yukon Denali XL models, it may be noticed that the axle fluid appears milky or contaminated with water or gray material. The discoloration in the fluid may be found in either front, rear or both axles.

 

 

 

During manufacture of the axles, a white or yellow gear rouge or marking compound is used when the tooth contact pattern on the gear set is inspected. The marking compound colors the fluid a milky or semi-metallic gray (this color combination sometimes appears similar to metal or water in the fluid).

 

 

 

The coloring only lasts between 1,000 and 5,000 miles (1,609 and 8,046 kilometers), after which the fluid appears normal. If there are not any noise concerns, do not attempt any repairs for the discolored fluid on vehicles with fewer than 5,000 miles (8,046 km).

 

 

Well I have 42,000+ miles on my 08 sierra and trust me is milky....... looks like a trip to the dealer in the near future!!!! thanks.....