Diff fluid coming from breather valve?

Was rotating my tires today and came across a bit of diff fluid coming out of the breather valve, is this normal?
I have used 4wd lately as it’s been a pretty snowy winter here in general. Last engagement was last Monday to climb a 2 ft. snow bank in a parking lot to park...

 

That looks like a lot. Maybe it’s worn out since it’s 9 years old. Should be a cheap fix to replace it and see it that fixes it. I think they are about $10.

 

Rear diff was replaced a little over 2 years ago by Toyota when the previous owner tagged a boulder with it...

 

Four-wheel-drive won’t have anything to do with your rear differential. It’s possible it’s overfilled. I would say get a new breather and change the fluid. Clean everything up and see if it comes back. Or you could just try removing your breather cleaning it and putting it back together. It’s possible it’s slightly clogged and not functioning properly. They are more like a one-way valve as opposed to being able to breathe in both directions. I forget which way it is, but I tested mine by blowing through it when I relocated it up to the tail light. I want to say it will allow air out but not in. And it slightly holds back the pressure to somewhat pressurize the differential to an extent.

 

It’s easy to check the level of your fluid and remove the breather for cleaning. If that breather is kind of stuck in an open position, I could see where it would constantly put oil vapors out on your rear end housing. But if the previous owner had the differential replaced two years ago, it’s probably a good time to change the fluid. Always loosen the fill hole before the drain to make sure you’ll be able to put fluid back in. Shouldn’t cost you more than about 3 1/2 quarts (if my memory serves me correctly) in differential fluid. Plus the cost of a new breather, just to be safe. They don’t cost much either.

 

Get the truck sitting LEVEL. Then as mentioned above crack the filler port bolt. Then I'd say back it all the way out. When the differential is properly full it at the bottom of the fill hole (you fill it until it begins to trickle back out of the fill hole). So if you pop the fill bolt and diff fluid comes running out-------------IT's OVERFILLED.

Oh. If you've never done a diff fluid change------get ready. Smells worse than a room full of shitty baby diapers.

 

The breather valve has tons of play to it, I can raise it up and down a bit, side to side, and in a circle just like a joystick in a circular motion, should it have this much play?

 

No, should be snug, making it watertight. As others said the breather is a one-way valve, breathes out yet not in, so as to avoid bringing in water or other contaminants. Some extend the breather and tube up higher by the fuel inlet for deeper water forging.

As others said, good time to drain/fill and replace some parts with OEM. Luck and enjoy those Toyotas. : ^ )))

 

Looks like you got a lot of good responses to your inquiry. You may want to re-torque your rear sway bar u-bolts. It looks like it may have some play in it as noted by the grease on each side.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I’m thinking I probably damaged the breather myself when I swapped my leaf springs a couple months back. Had a hell of a time with that driver side and prolly tossed a spring on the diff not thinking about that breather, playing Tetris with 80lb springs sucks...

 

While I’ve got competent dudes in here, I came across a boot on the front passenger wheel well that was torn from the metal clip that holds it in place. I managed to fit a sprinkler clamp on there and figured I could fix come spring, but what is this and can I fix the torn boot? The metal fitting on the other end of the boot is crimped on so I don’t know how in the hell id even get that off or put another one on...

 

Tie rod. I think the inner tie rod is connected to the steering rack and not replaceable by itself. Do a search for steering rack failure. Mine failed on my 2010 and was supposed to be $3000 to fix. Mine had signs before it went out but failure rate around that time was more common than it should be.

 

Rear diff or entire axle? Just replacing the diff wouldn’t necessitate replacing the breather. You said you might have hit it when replacing leaf springs. I’d still start there. Cheap part. And check/change fluid.

 

Are you suggesting that because that boot is torn it’s going to lead to steering rack failure and there’s nothing I can do about it?

 

Not necessarily but the steering rack failure was a common complaint around 09-11. With mine, there was a seal on the other side of that tie rod that broke and all my ps fluid came out. Tried to refill it just to drive home and it wouldn’t hold any. Search for tundra steering rack failure and it will give things to look for. Maybe someone with more knowledge than me will say if it’s replaceable.

 

Is it okay to drive my truck with this broke ass breather the way it is? Got a 40 mile round trip on the hwy tomorrow morning...

 

I think it depends on how low your fluid is. If you unscrew the fill plug you can stick your finger in there to see if it’s full. Should be able to get more gear oil at any auto parts store. Not hard to check and fill.

You should hear a grinding noise when it’s getting bad and about to break. But might only be able to hear it with windows down and if you are listening for it.

 

Do you have a level piece of ground/concrete/asphalt to put the truck on and get under the rear axle?

 

Replace the breather as soon as possible. For my 2002 the OEM breather was about $12?

A simple crescent wrench repair is all this is. 15 minutes tops and one crescent wrench.

Per that steering tie rod boot repair: One can use a simple zip tie instead of the SS clamp. If your steering wheel is working then you are good. Its good to keep the water/debris out at all costs (zip tie, SS clamp, etc.)

 

^^^^THIS^^^^ Easy and cheap insurance!!!!!

 

It’s a mountain truck and unfortunately this is what mag chloride does, thankfully just surface. I guess they must have just replaced the guts...

 

Got her taken care of this morning, had to go to an advance auto parts 25 miles away for the only breather available same day, Toyota doesn’t stock for some reason. Drained and refilled diff fluid, just about 3.8 qts came out, think I caught the problem quickly. Just wonder what made the diff fluid come out of there, the relief valve actually wasn’t damaged, what I understood as “play” in my old one was the lid of the breather and my new one has just as much “play”. Old breather was caked with fluid.

 

Good job. What is the rear diff fluid fill spec on your truck? I see you drained 3.8 quarts.

 

3.8 qts... I don’t suspect I lost any measurable amount of fluid

 

I have been a tech for 45 years. The top on the breather is not supposed to be snug or tight. It is just a cap where the bottom of it is crimped and installed on the vent stem so it does flop around. During a Service a tech SHOULD check it just by turning the cap to make sure it moves freely. The idea of taking the vent up higher is great. Why Toyota runs the front diff and transfer case vent in to the engine compartment and not the rear is mind boggling. A stopped up vent will blow axle seal out. This fluid on the axle housing looks like it is getting hot or over full.

As far as a steering rack boot you can get them on Rockauto.com.