I started a thread like this right after I got my car, but I thought I'd give it another try -

The car has now gone 2600 miles. Every once in a while, I notice a small drop of oil on the garage floor or driveway which has dripped off the right rear axle, about underneath that little vent thingy - halfway between the diff and wheel.

I didn't think much of it at first - but it is still happening. Last night I could actually see a small drop of oil on the axle.

Anyone else notice a mysterious oil spot at that location? Any ideas what could be leaking there? I have to believe it has something to do with that little vent hole.

 

It's just differential fluid leaking out the vent hole on the top of the axle tube, not a big deal. The housing may be a little overfilled.

 

That's what I wanted to hear , and what I thought. I just thought it would have stopped by now.

Has anyone else noticed this on their new car?

Thanks.

 

Nope. I've filled my rear differentials to the point they pour out of the fill hole and never had the fluid come out of the vent tubes.

 

I say take it to the dealer and have them look at it/fix it under warrenty.

My 99 GT did that and they took care of it and it never happened again.

 

I had a similar issue and it turned out to be a bad pinion seal. I'd get it checked out.

 

Yikes. I will.

What's pretty sad is that when I was young, I owned British sports cars - heck, they leaked oil on the showroom floor!

I owned Japanese cars almost exclusively since the 80s - Hondas, Toyotas, Mazdas and an Acura. All were solid as a rock. Never a drip, and practically zero problems with ANY of them.

In 2007, I get the first new American car I ever bought - and it has an oil leak!

 

I had a bad pinion seal on my '98... which was actually caused by a ring and pinion misalignment which trashed the whole differential. Look above your pinion yolk and see if the fluid has been whipping up onto the undercarriage. There would be a stripe of fluid perpandicular to the drive line if that's the case... then you'll know the pinion seal is leaking. But... if it make you feel better.... go get it checked out.
God knows these rear ends have their problems. I have had noise in the rear diff that the dealership has told me on several occasions is "normal"... which I know is absolute crap. But, it finally began to manifest itself in another way.... one that they can't argue with which is the groaning on low speed turns. When they tear the diff down to replace the clutch packs, they'll see that the ring is worn like hell, and then replace the whole enchilada like they had to in my '98. It's all good though.... as long as it's under warranty, I don't care.
BTW... I have 10K on my car... but the problem showed up at about 6K miles. So... maybe get it looked at.

 

I think Dustin's reason is probably the case. To assume there's a major problem here is a bit premature. When your differential was filled the oil was at ambient temperature. After driving around in LA the oil is heating up and possibly weaping out of the breather. Not something I'd exactly want to rush to the dealer about. For the person that said they had this problem, took it to the dealer, and then it was fixed. They most likely just lowered the fluid level slightly. One thing I've noticed about Mustang owners is they beat the sh*t out of their cars and then turn cry baby over minor situations spouting "Japanese cars don't do this or that." Oh my God, I saw a drop of oil. Whatever you do, don't get your hands dirty wiping it up. Time to resurface the garage floor I guess.

 

You may be 100% right about the cause. And maybe oil leaks don't bother you - maybe you're used to them. I'm not. I didn't freak out over it, but I don't expect that a new $30,000 car (actually, any new car) to stain my driveway when I bring it home from the dealer. I'll bet I'm not alone. It has nothing to do with "getting my hands dirty."

You're welcome to feel differently.

 

Paul: you're right-on with your comments. ANY new car (foreign or domestic) should NOT leak.. period. If you bought a used car, then that's to be expected.. but new, no way. Take it in... warranty will cover any costs.

 

Did you expect progress?

 

Yea. I really wanted to believe!

 

You and me both, brother.

I wouldn't start to panic just yet, however. Take it to a dealership you trust - have them look at it, determine the cause, and fix it. Boom. Done.

If you start having myriad problems, then I'd become concerned.

As an aggregate, I don't think it's reasonable to expect these cars to be quite as refined or drum-tight or trouble-free as a Honda or Acura or Toyota.

But they ought to be as well made as a Mazda 6, for example. And with all the advancements over the past few decades, that ought to be good enough.

When I told my friend - who recently bought a Lexus IS350 - that I was going to buy a Mustang, he just looked at me like I needed my head examined for buying a Ford.

I'm hoping to prove his concerns are invalid.