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-   -   Odor after differential oil change (http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=44878)

aldogg7 07-15-2020 12:13 AM

Odor after differential oil change
 
A couple of months ago I changed my differential (25% limited slip option) oil with Redline 75W-90. After driving it, I noticed the sulfur odor of the oil when the windows were open. I figured it was just the oil that dripped out of the fill plug that was burning off the casing. But the odor still persists a few months later. I see no signs whatsoever of a leak, even after a thorough cleaning of the rear end. The odor is strongest when accelerating in gears 2-4, and dissipates after maintaining speed for a minute or so.

I also changed manual transmission fluid at the same time, but I do not think the odor is that oil.

Could this be normal after a differential oil change? I doubt the oil had ever been changed before (1995, 116k miles). Any ideas where I could look for potential leaks? Also seems strange that I only smell the odor when windows are down and not through the HVAC.

Thank you for any advice!!

juice2000 07-15-2020 10:01 PM

Having recently performed this diff fluid service with the same Redline oil, I notice the smell as well. I've only driven <25 miles since the fluid change, so I suspect spillage has to burn off, despite my efforts to clean the area. I also noticed it seems more prevalent at gear change.

As in your case, there's no signs of leak or anything else abnormal. I did read in another post (can't find it now) that others have had to drive a few 100 miles before the smell of spilled oil residue subsided, so that's my current plan.

I'd be interested to hear if others have had this.

juice2000 10-01-2020 02:11 PM

An update to the smell after diff fluid change. Had the car on a lift and the differential showed no signs of leaking fluid. However, a plastic bag had made its way on to the exhaust and had been melting. Once the remnants of that were scraped off, the smell was gone!

@aldogg7, hope your issue subsided.


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