2005 Ranger - V6 - 3.0

This may seem like a dumb question, but is the gear oil in the rear diff the same oil which is dispersed in the axle, or is the axle fluid independent and filled in a separate hole in the axle?

I ask because I am getting ready to change my rear diff fluid after 10 years (@170km now), and thought i may have seen a tiny bit of what mite be oil on my driver side wheel hub on the lip and was worried it may be from my axle seal. Then it wouldn't make sense to really change that fluid until I changed that seal, which I am not ready to do quite yet. Maybe just top up the diff and see how much fluid it takes? .......

 

Yes, the differential oil is at a level that is above the lower part of axle tubes, so that oil lubes the axle bearings and seals at the end of each axle
So same oil for/in both areas

On the top side of one axle tube is a VENT port, should have a hose attached that is clipped to the under side of the bed, and it should have a small filter on the end of the hose
As you drive the oil in the differential heats up and expands in volume, like ALL fluids do, if the vent gets clogged up then pressure in the housing can build up and force oil out of the end seals of the axles

Axle seals can leak, but more common leak is the brake slave cylinders leaking brake fluid, so if you see "wet" then make sure its oil not brake fluid

 

So is it a good idea for preventative maintenance then to change those little filters when you change the rear differential fluid if there is no leaks.

This will be 18 years I have had my truck and it is not my daily driver, so these days when I do a "fix" I like to do the little associated details with whatever system it is, as I'm hoping it will be the last time I do I ever do any of this work. ie. Axle seals with rear differential fluid.

can you just clean those filters?

thank you for your time

 

Yes, you can just clean them, filter is there mostly as a "bug cap", lol
Bugs like to build nests in the ends of open hoses