Extending differential vents ?
#1
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Jackson, New Jersey
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Extending differential vents ?
It seems that whenever I go out offroading, we always seem to find some deep water to go through. I was told that I should drain out my differentials, incase any water has gotten into them through the vents. I plan on doing this soon, but I also want to extend the vents on the front and rear differentials. What I'd like to do is run tubing up from the vents with one way valves at the ends of them, but I have no idea how to do this, what size tubing to use, where to find the one way valves or even where to the vents are. Also, if it is worthwile I would also like to do the same for the transmission if there is a vent for that too. Is there anybody that knows of a current how-to, or that can give some information on materials so that I/anybody else that wants to do this can have some reference?
#2
ok i have no idea what these vents look like, im not excatly sure of a perfect fit but i can help a little....
id just take some of that flexible aluminum dryer hose and then take some silicone and 'glue" all around the vent then put the hose in the glue and let it set... as long as its not yanked on or doesnt get hit really hard it should hold...
id just take some of that flexible aluminum dryer hose and then take some silicone and 'glue" all around the vent then put the hose in the glue and let it set... as long as its not yanked on or doesnt get hit really hard it should hold...
#4
Originally Posted by 4X2XLT
ok i have no idea what these vents look like, im not excatly sure of a perfect fit but i can help a little....
id just take some of that flexible aluminum dryer hose and then take some silicone and 'glue" all around the vent then put the hose in the glue and let it set... as long as its not yanked on or doesnt get hit really hard it should hold...
id just take some of that flexible aluminum dryer hose and then take some silicone and 'glue" all around the vent then put the hose in the glue and let it set... as long as its not yanked on or doesnt get hit really hard it should hold...
And yes, John, as Matt noted: there's some info on the first page of my Cardomain site. Far short of a full how-to, but it should help. We can always get together sometime after you get the materials together if you're still puzzling it out then, and I'll help you.
#5
Listen to John G., he knows what he's talking about.
What you're talking about are called check valves. Don't use a check valve, or you're asking for trouble. As the differential and axle housing heats up under load, the air inside will expand, and hence be expelled through the axle vent tube. So far, you check valve is cool; it will allow air out, but no water in. That also means no air comes in.
So where's the problem?
When your differntial and axle housing cools, it will draw air back in through the same vent tube. If you close the axle vent tube with a check valve to prevent water from entering, you prevent air from entering too. If you cool the axle/differential rapidly (as in driving into deep water), the air within the housing will cool and condense, but since it cannot come in through the axle vent tube (because of the check valve), it essentially draws a vacuum across the entire axle housing. With the cooled axle not able to draw air in, it will pull a vacuum across any other potential opening that it can. You may wind up "sucking" water in through the axle tube seals, pinion seal, or possibly the diff cover gasket.
Your best bet is to extend the vent tubes like John says, and for added insurance, secure the top end of the vent tube in an upside-down U configuration. Good luck.
Originally Posted by winks
...What I'd like to do is run tubing up from the vents with one way valves at the ends of them, but I have no idea how to do this, what size tubing to use, where to find the one way valves or even where to the vents are.
So where's the problem?
When your differntial and axle housing cools, it will draw air back in through the same vent tube. If you close the axle vent tube with a check valve to prevent water from entering, you prevent air from entering too. If you cool the axle/differential rapidly (as in driving into deep water), the air within the housing will cool and condense, but since it cannot come in through the axle vent tube (because of the check valve), it essentially draws a vacuum across the entire axle housing. With the cooled axle not able to draw air in, it will pull a vacuum across any other potential opening that it can. You may wind up "sucking" water in through the axle tube seals, pinion seal, or possibly the diff cover gasket.
Your best bet is to extend the vent tubes like John says, and for added insurance, secure the top end of the vent tube in an upside-down U configuration. Good luck.
#10
Originally Posted by n3elz
Mike is too right about the check valves for sure. He described well why the need to "breath".
Funny how information comes full-circle like that...
Last edited by mkoenig; 01-04-2006 at 10:23 AM. Reason: typo, again...
#15
Originally Posted by n3elz
On my cardomain, on page 1, down the page aways...
#16
#20
2wd, man! ARrrrggg!! haha... Anyway, can I run them into the taillight area and make some splash guards for them?
I found the tranny vent, but the cap wouldn't come off all the way, it just kinda lifts up... guess I'll have to give it a heeve-ho, superman pull or some other variation...
I'm about to go to Lowes and pick up what I need, how much 1/4" do I need??
I found the tranny vent, but the cap wouldn't come off all the way, it just kinda lifts up... guess I'll have to give it a heeve-ho, superman pull or some other variation...
I'm about to go to Lowes and pick up what I need, how much 1/4" do I need??
#21
Originally Posted by rwenzing
John- The factory rear axle vent on my 2003 4x4 is routed up along side the fuel filler neck and clipped in place near the top. Did yours go there or somewhere else? From reading your instructions, I get the impression that the original axle vent on your Edge was shorter than that.
However, if you watch my video (when you get it) you can see the huge volumes of water that get churned up into the body panels (and out the fuel filler door, lol) and I felt like water was going to go into the tube on the top, so I wanted it to end in a "drier" spot.
#22
#23
Originally Posted by n3elz
Precisely where mine went, Bob.
However, if you watch my video (when you get it) you can see the huge volumes of water that get churned up into the body panels (and out the fuel filler door, lol) and I felt like water was going to go into the tube on the top, so I wanted it to end in a "drier" spot.
However, if you watch my video (when you get it) you can see the huge volumes of water that get churned up into the body panels (and out the fuel filler door, lol) and I felt like water was going to go into the tube on the top, so I wanted it to end in a "drier" spot.
#24
Originally Posted by rolla_guy72
I just got done a little while ago, I ran it up into the taillight area but I also bought some heavy pvc sheet to put in there to keep mud and crap out.. and hopefully water, too.
I'll seal it all up with some RTV or whatever to make sure...
I'll seal it all up with some RTV or whatever to make sure...
When I sometimes come out of deep holes with steep slopes, my rear goes down into the water pretty durn far...
#25
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