anyone seen oil in here before?

[bimfest]

Hey guys i have taken out my front cv axle because i am doing a oil pan gasket because its leaking somewhere (already done ofhg and valve cover) and in the process of taking it out i noticed the inner cv boot was dripping some brown oil, definetly smells and looks like brown engine oil.
But here is the interesting thing, when i take the whole axle out i have brand new oil(golden) in the bearing that sits in the bracket that holds the axle and is bolted to the side of the sump. i have attached a picture of it. Also attached a picture of the brown oily substance coming out of the inner boot...i suspect it may be oil + grease mixed together somehow...

I have 2 theories....1 being my oil pan gasket has leaked and gotten into the driveshaft seal and made its way through to the boot...although unlikely since the shaft itself has no evidence of oil, neither has the tunnel through the oil sump all perfectly clean.
2nd the oil that is in the bearing has slowly made its way to the boot overtime and mixed with grease and when i moved it around the boot has come abit loose and this is what i have seen come out...

3.0 petrol e53 x5 2001.

[upallnight]

You need to replace the oil seal to the differential and do a drain and fill on the differential. Since you have the housing off the oil pan you should also replace the o-ring on that side of the housing.

[bimfest]

I take it you mean this seal?
if so, i went and bought both left and right sides of oil pan today at the dealer

So you think its diff oil?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by bimfest

I take it you mean this seal?
if so, i went and bought both left and right sides of oil pan today at the dealer

So you think its diff oil?

The differential is on the driver side, since you have the differential off you might as well replace that seal, but the seal that I was referring to is base on the picture that you have for the housing on the passenger side and the axle that showed which is the passenger side axle.



There's an o-ring on the housing between the housing and the oil pan.

[David.X5]

It's supposed to be diff oil. Appears correct. The inside of that bearing support is contiguous with the inside of the front diff.

[bimfest]

Ok so ill replace both seals, diff to pan, and housing to pan, and since some of this diff oil dribbled out a little bit when i was removing the housing and axle should i add some diff oil back in the bearing?