Diff oil smell

Evening gents, tried to find the info but had no luck.........

I've just noticed the smell of diff oil coming from the rear drivers side after the drive home from work, so I'm guessing a seal has given up somewhere, there's no visible sign of anything leaking anywhere. Haven't had chance to crank open the diff nut yet to check oil level.

So a few questions
1. Will it be ok to carry on driving? Its my daily driver so don't have an thing else available and currently no funds to fix it.
2. If the oil level is below the filler, should I just top it up?
3. If a seal has gone, is this a hard job to fix or will it need to be done by a workshop?

Thanks in advance.


My folks went to the Google Play Store and all they got me was this lousy Motorculture App!!!!!!!

Not a hard job. I would say if you can smell it its more likely the rear but either way its an easy job. Last time I bought axle seals for the front they were only about $4 ea. and it should be right to just top it up.

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Originally Posted by Clunk

Evening gents, tried to find the info but had no luck.........

I've just noticed the smell of diff oil coming from the rear drivers side after the drive home from work, so I'm guessing a seal has given up somewhere, there's no visible sign of anything leaking anywhere. Haven't had chance to crank open the diff nut yet to check oil level.

So a few questions
1. Will it be ok to carry on driving? Its my daily driver so don't have an thing else available and currently no funds to fix it. Depending on what you find...If theres no leaks, carry on. You could have driven over a patched of oil and gotten a little spray up in the guards and thats what you can smell.
2. If the oil level is below the filler, should I just top it up? Yes
3. If a seal has gone, is this a hard job to fix or will it need to be done by a workshop? Sorry I have never done a rear seal, but I think the bearing needs to be pressed off to replace the seal. I Think.

Thanks in advance.


My folks went to the Google Play Store and all they got me was this lousy Motorculture App!!!!!!!

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If you have the same type of rear axle (Coil springs with Discs) as my 94 GQ, I was advised to just change the inner axle seal and pack a heap of grease into the bearings. That was two years ago and it hasn't leaked since. Good luck with it.

Cheers Fellas.......... Mudnut, same year as yours mate

My folks went to the Google Play Store and all they got me was this lousy Motorculture App!!!!!!!

I have a bad back, and I found the only real problem was sliding the axle back in without it resting on the new seal, because it is fragile, and will wreck it.

The inner axle seal keeps the diff oil contained in the diff, if there is oil running down your brake backing plate/s then the seal/s have failed. Seals will need to be replaced and wheels bearings will need to be repacked with grease. If there is no visible leaks you might just be smelling diff oil vapour from the breather.

Thx Tony, just had a quick check..... Well as best as I could see in the dark. No visible signs of leakage on the backing plates. Why would it smell so strong, never done so before and why only on the drivers side?

My folks went to the Google Play Store and all they got me was this lousy Motorculture App!!!!!!!

Are there outside and inside seals in the rear diff also?

Kallen Westbrook
Owner of
Westy's Accessories

i get the same smell Clunk but only when i am really pushing the old girl and i have no gearbox or diff seal leaks and just figured it was from the breathers