Differential Oil Fill

[fiasco]

Is this where I fill the differential oil?



If so, that puts it right about here:



How the heck to I get in there to put in oil? The other threads I've found make it sound like it's just a quick and easy, zip zip and you're done. But other than being 8 inches tall, I don't see how you get your body all up under there with room to maneuver a bottle of gear oil into place to get it into the pumpkin. Jacking it up didn't help. It actually moved the fill plug down in relation to the panhard rod, making it even harder to get to (see second picture).

I've got a big leak, and I wanted to get the drain plug out to see if that is the source, but before I do anything, I've got to be sure I can get in there and put more oil back in.

-- se

[fiasco]

Ok - I drove the rear wheels up on ramps, so I can get my body in there. I took off the drain plug and drained out the old oil. Looked close at the plug, and I don't see anything that would be the source of the leak.

So now I'm trying to refill it. Got the drain plug back on, and got the fill plug off. Got a funnel into the hole, and started pouring oil in. However, the fill hole is too close to the underside of the car. I can't tip the bottle up to get the oil to pour out of the bottle and into the fill hole. How is that supposed to work?

-- se

[fiasco]

One thing I love about these forums is how often I end up answering my own question.

So I picked up a Fluid Transfer Pump, and zip zip, easy as pie.

-- se

[So Cal Mark]

is the fluid leaking from the pinion seal?

[fiasco]

I let it percolate for a couple hours and went back out to take some pics. The leak looks pretty obvious, but you'll have to tell me if that's the pinion seal.

[So Cal Mark]

that's the flange, the pinion seal would be under the yoke where the driveshaft attachs. It could be running down the diff from the yoke. Leaking from the flange would be odd

[fiasco]

It had not run at all from the time that I filled it until I took the pictures.

Three questions:

Would it leak from the seal when it's just sitting?
What would be the best way for me to try to identify if that's where the leak is coming from?
How big a job is it to replace the pinion seal?

-- se

[wikkid]

Clean the differential and area well (degreaser and rinse). Then get some powdered foot spray or powdered deodorant, and spray it on the area. Leakage area(s) will be obvious with the powder covering everything.

Talcum powder, baby powder, whatever is easiest and at hand.