8.8 pukes gear fluid through the vent tube

[Guest]

[dan50]

Admittedly I've asked this on another board, but I have not really gotten an answer that makes sense...

I have an 83 Bronco with an 8.8 rear end, 3.55 gears. The driver's side seal leaks a little bit, just enough to make the back of the drum brake setup wet, not enough to drip.

After I drive at speeds of up to 60 mph, it pukes gear fluid out of the vent. Like a lot. Enough to drip. I thought the vent hose wasn't long enough, so I extended the hose 2 feet up to the frame rail. So now instead of puking gear fluid onto the ground it pukes onto the frame, the fuel tank, and my exhaust. 

How do I begin to diagnose my issues? I've owned this Bronco 10,000 miles, about 5 years or so, and haven't had any issues until the past 200 miles. When I bought it there was a bolt in the vent tube, I think that's why the driver's side seal blew. I have done NO offroading, nothing over 60 mph, no driving through mud, no driving through water, just going to the frickin store, and moving the vehicle every time I moved. Anyways one day BANG I notice all kinds of oil stains on the back of the Bronco and sure enough, there's the vent tube puking out fluid. I poured 1/2 a quart in two weeks ago because I was concerned it was low (it was)... and then it started REALLY puking when I road tested it.

Thx..

[Blk88GT]

What's the fluid level and what are you putting in it?

[mmb]

x2 it is overfull

[dan50]

I bought it in 2004, never checked the fluid. Five years later, it starts puking. Never touched the fluid level until after it started puking. I don't think fluid level made it puke initially.

Had it refilled to the fill plug, half a quart went in.

Drive it around town about 5 miles and no issues.

Take it on the highway and do 60, it starts puking like crazy. Maybe fluid level is doing it now, but I thought it was filled properly.

How do you overfill an 8.8?

[mmb]

If it has an aftermarket cover on it     ...... It is very easy to do, if it has a regular cover on it the car might not have been level

It is the fluid level, or your breather is damaged. 

The 8.8 does not have any internal brakes or any fluid running into the rear other than the gear oil.   

[dan50]

Appears to be a factory cover, a shop refilled the rear, so I don't know if it was level or not, but my assumption is that their lift is level.

I was thinking if the bearings are bad, or if the gears aren't meshing properly, that the rear is overheating, which might overheat the fluid, making it puke out. But I don't know how to see if that's the case. I don't know squat about drivetrain issues.