Small Something Leaking???

[rahtreelimbs]

I was helping a friend move a hot tub toaday and the weirdest thing happened. My 1500 4x4 (5300 V-8)was sitting in his driveway ( on a decent downhill.....truck was facing up ) when I noticed a small fluid leak of some sort. It appears to be coming from the left side under the exhaust manifold. I looked up and the fluid was on the skidplate almost underneath the point where the dipstick enters the pan. I could not make out what fluid it was. I am certain that it wasn't coolant, tranny or brake fluid ( at least I don't think it was brake fluid ). The power steering pump is a little wet right where it bolts up, but this is on the opposite side of the leak. When I looked at the truck after running it 3 more times today the leak was not there, truck was sitting on level ground these times. Now I tow with this truck a lot and the steering is put to the stops sometimes, could the increase in pressure from being against the stops cause a short temporary leak?

 

 

All this was a quick preliminary look. With the truck cool I will look harder at what might be the cause. Any insight will be helpful and if anymore info is needed please ask.

[Wingnut]

Could be the PS pump.

 

But my experience is the axle shaft seal is the first to go up there. Most of the ones I've seen don't leak terribly bad, just a slow weep from time to time. Pretty cheap and easy to fix.

 

But then...I'm no mechanic, I only know what's happened to friends/family members trucks.

[rahtreelimbs]

Could be the PS pump.

 

But my experience is the axle shaft seal is the first to go up there. Most of the ones I've seen don't leak terribly bad, just a slow weep from time to time. Pretty cheap and easy to fix.

 

But then...I'm no mechanic, I only know what's happened to friends/family members trucks.

 

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What weight fluid is in the front diff? This fluid that leaked was around 30 wt. so it seemed.

 

 

What would be involved in changing the front axle seal? Expensive?

[BlueTahoe]

Just called a few places to price having my Drivers side front axle seal replaced.

 

Local Firestone - $150 +/-

Local Dealer - $250 +/-

 

 

These were just estimates. This seems like a reasonable price to me. I was going to do it myself because I assumed it would cost and arm and a leg but I would pay $150 to not have to mess with the diff fluid. I hate that smell. I would normally recommend the dealer for this price difference but my uncle runs the firestone, I used to work there, and I can request a specific tech that I completely trust to do the work.

[raiste]

Did you stick your finger in it to see if was some kind of petroleum based fluid?

 

Or could it have been A/C condensate?

[Wingnut]

Just called a few places to price having my Drivers side front axle seal replaced.

 

Local Firestone - $150 +/-

Local Dealer - $250 +/-

 

 

These were just estimates.  This seems like a reasonable price to me.  I was going to do it myself because I assumed it would cost and arm and a leg but I would pay $150 to not have to mess with the diff fluid.  I hate that smell.  I would normally recommend the dealer for this price difference but my uncle runs the firestone, I used to work there, and I can request a specific tech that I completely trust to do the work.

 

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It's really not much harder than changing the brakes. And the diff fluid doesn't come pouring out, so you don't really have to mess with that either.

 

But $150 sounds like a decent price for somebody else to do it, IF that's what's leaking.