Seems my front Differential has sprung a leak! Drivers side. Is that a complicated fix or relatively easy for a good shop to fix? Also, what oil can I put in it to ensure I get it to the shop safely without extra wear?
TIA

 

The IFS differentials are very fussy to being overfilled. Many people have this problem just after servicing their front axles because of over fill then think they have bad axle seals.

Verify it is at the proper level and the vent is not plugged. 75w90 Synthetic is what you need if you have an active leak and are low. I have seen some who go to 90w140 which sometimes stops or slows the leak down but its not the GM recommended viscosity.

You can change the seal in the vehicle but you have to split the half shaft hub and get it out of the way to pull the axle. Somewhat of a pain and some disassembly.

Its actually to do the job with the IFS from the vehicle buts its heavy and takes a little moving around to get it to drop out. Change the seals on both sides while its out and check the axles for groves if high mileage.

 

 

Thanks SUT - Good info.
Excellent video Hummerz. Thank you.

 

Make sure you don't have an engine oil leak. I have found that everything from valve and valley covers to crank seals will leak and the oil will make its way down the side of the engine and drip right on that spot. The oil cooler lines also run right above there that also leak on almost all of them.

 

You may be correct. After the pic I posted I cleaned the bottom area off fairly well with a rag. Today I saw no drip or evidence of it still leaking per se, so I drove it around the neighborhood at 15mph till engine was warm and once i got back parked and checked. Nothing in that area again. I realize my short slow trip may not have been enough, but after getting further under I saw a drip on the oil filter. So I started shining a light up above and can see that it is wet-ish in the space I could see above where the exhaust manifold ends. There are a couple lines on a block just in front of the oil filter which may be the cooler lines (?) And the block/head area just above the seems wetish. I'm going to ensure the diff is topped off and start monitoring things. Appreciate your insight on it.

 

Likely just an oil pressure sender leaking. Its hard to check without a boroscope or small camera. maybe you could sneak a phone behind the intake and snap a pic. Also could be valve covers but unlikely.

 

JEEZE Louise!!! If it's the OP Sender, I'll be perturbed as I paid a dealership to replace it just last year. Of course probably an easier/ less costly fix than heads/covers/main seals/etc. But still -

 

If it’s the oil pressure sensor you can check to see if it’s loose (however it could still be a bad seal even if tight) the intake does NOT have to come off to check if loose or even to replace. At the back of the engine take your phone and see if you can get a pic. Check the picture and see where the release is for the connector. Reach behind lift on the release to snap it off. This is from a Chevy site but it’s basically the same tips to R&R that sensor. Last time I did mine a few years back it took literally 15 minutes.
https://www.silveradosierra.com/thre...change.171018/

 

Thank you. I'll be looking into that today. Hope I can get the pic.