I was talking with my wife briefly this afternoon and she said there was motor oil all over the garage floor. I said Naahh, there can't be! I went out at lunhch to take a looksee and found out is was metalic gray gear oil. Now, we had some pretty nasty weather come through so I locked the hubs just in case. I didn't need 4x4 so I drove about fifty miles with just the hubs locked. I've been doing this for years and never had a problem with the gear oil spitting up from the vent before. What happened? This isn't a quiz, I really need some help here. Been working on the brake system on my Ram the past few days <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

you say the oil oozed out of the breather cap? sounds almost like it's been overfilled -- generally the breather gets plugged and the heat from moving parts makes things expand and the oil comes out from the seals

It definately wasn't an overfill issue. The driveshaft seal needs replacing so I've been in there quite a bit the past few months. I fill it to the bottom of the fill plug and that's it. Remember though, this only happpened when the hubs were locked and in two wheel drive. I cleaned up the mess on my pumpkin and with the hubs unlocked, it stays bone dry. Sorry for the late reply but I'm a survivor fan.

Did you have to go through any deep puddles? You could have water intrusion from the bad pinion seal or the diff breather cap could be stuck open!!!! Remember when the hubs are locked in the D-shaft is turning!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />

The breather cap is pretty much free floating. About two years ago I noticed it was plugged solid and I cleaned it out. Chances are it's probably not working properly. No deep puddles, only a bit of snow and some nasty ice.