diff filled with H2O

[muchick]

Hi there Guys
I went 4x4 driving in my Mu and was chatting to some of the other people about there trucks. One guy was telling me that when he gets home after 4x4ing he has to check the diffs for water.. (undoing the bung a little until the water stops and oil comes out)..... he also said that he has to take his wheels off to drain the water from his hubs.... I was about to cry with all this work when I realised he was driving a toymota oppps Toyota...
Do I have to do any of this with my Mu? What are the things I have to check on my Mu after 4x4ing....
Had a great day was my 2nd trip.... wooohoo

[geeves]

Water can get into some amazing places and will make short work of wrecking a gear set. Extending the breathers helps a lot but its still not a garentee. What happens on a long trip is that everything gets hot Then you dunk it in cold water so all the oil and air in your diffs and gearbox etc shrinks If your breather cant keep up with the volume of air needed to compensate it will suck whatyever through your seals. Only real answer is to park up for 30 min before every river crossing which is not practical.
If your seals are in good condition the risc is minimal but does exist so if you have been in a lot of deep water you should check your fluids by your mates method. If they are milky replace them. Just draining a little might be insufficiant unless the truck has been standing overnight as a gearset is very good at mixing oil and water into an emulsion.
Ive had water in my gearbox and transfer case but so far never in my diffs.
Also you should undo the caps on the free wheeling hubs and check for water. The bad news about water here is that it means a full pull down of the wheel bearings and regrease. Im lazy on this regaurd and as a result replaced 3 wheel bearings in the last 18 months.
I would think that your freind has some bad seals on his toyota

[muchick]

thanks heaps have checked it out and things seem to be fine...... so far