[fastfed]

Friend and I went off roading yesterday, time of my life my brand new 17 SV 4x4 did awesome.he has a 2011 pro-4x which obviously did just as well. That said a friend was asking "where is your rear diff breather" looking at him shocked I never even heard of this. There was a ton of water where we went, I'm talking high, almost to the door line at times.

I started to google this, and now im concerned, do I have water in my axles now? this sucks!

 

[whistler]

Probably not. The vent will allow water to enter if only if it fails.
If you are still concerned, change your diff oil.

 

[fastfed]

its brand new, lol don't want to crack the case, probably void my warranty.

should I install that mod ? I'd probably void my warranty then too

 

[whistler]

I would do it. They have to prove that the modification caused damage to void your warranty.

 

[fastfed]

ok thanks. I can always just put that valve back on it if there is an issue, correct?

Also, without opening the diff, how would I know if there is a problem? I guess I couldn't right? It would probably take a thousands of miles to find out if the diff fluid is watered down and damage was done?

Now I'm going to worry about this lol

 

[whistler]

Take out the fill plug and either suck some of the oil out or just use your finger. If the oil is clear and not milky it is not contaminated with water.

 

[OutFrontFrontier]

There have been some on here that have been denied warranty on axle seals due to the diff breather mod. Others dealers have blessed it as a great Idea. Its a call the dealer will make at the time of repair if needed. I opted to do the mod on mine a few years back but since I only have 2 weeks left of my warranty my concerns are quickly fading. As Whistler said, pull the plug and check for milky fluid. Its easy to replace and if you plan on wheelin quite a bit its something you should get comfortable doing whenever water is in play..

 

[fastfed]

Actually I want to ask Nissan what they think. It's a 4x4 and sure I won't be swimming with it in a pool, but getting water to the axles for a second or so is not so uncommon here.

What are they going to tell me? do the mod?

 

[Nissan4Life]

I still have a bag of the proper fitting if anyone needs any.

 

[Unkle Patio]

Nissan4Life, I'm planning on doing this mod soon, what are you asking for the fitting? Thanks

 

[GTwannabe]

It would probably be a good idea to change the rear axle fluid. OEM axle vent is just that... an overpressure valve. The axle "breathes" by sucking air past the seals. Not good if they're submerged in water.

Add a real breather, but keep the OEM unit. If Nissan's craptastic axle seals fail in warranty, put it back to stock before going to the dealer.

 

[fastfed]

I looked under my truck and played with the valve, springs up and down fine obviously very little force in the spring and barely goes down.
That said i'm not going to change the fluid and even if I checked the diff for water what could I do about? The truck is brand new less then a couple weeks old, I should what, bring it to the dealer and explain I have water in my diff, they'd look at me like I'm nuts and why I would even check that. I'm sure if I told them "I went swimming with my truck" they'd mark it down and probably try to void anything or future things.


I will however install this mod and take it off if I ever have to bring in to the dealer.

 

[whistler]

If you had water in your differential, most everybody would change it as fast as possible.

 

[17 Fronty]

Man you should at least. Take the fill plug out and check. I wouldn’t take the chance of water in it. It’s so easy to change. Do the vent mod and as said switch it out if going to a dealer.
If that diff was under the water. It’s in there. And your already doing damage by driving.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fastfed]

my friend who's got over 100k miles on his pro4x has never heard of this before either. it was a co-worked who brought this up.

I'm not changing the fluid on a brand new truck under full warranty still, no one else here thinks this is crazy?

I'm not arguing, I just don't see a win on my end with this situation.
If there is water in there I have no way of explaining how it got in there, dealerships not going to be ok with driving through the swampy everglades and I'm not going to open the diff and void my warranty. If there is water in there now which you guys are pretty much saying there is, It will brake something eventually.

the truck doesn't even have 400 miles on it.

 

[whistler]

My first post said there was probably not any water in your differential.
My warranty was gone on my 2004.5 Dodge a week after I bought it. It cost twice as much as my Frontier and that was 13 years ago.
I dismantled so many things on the Frontier, taking measurements the first few months I had it. Probably took apart my front end 20 times.
I still have less than 8,000 miles on the truck.
Guess I never sweated warranty.
Just saying.

 

[Sabretooth]

I looked under my truck and played with the valve, springs up and down fine obviously very little force in the spring and barely goes down.
That said i'm not going to change the fluid and even if I checked the diff for water what could I do about? The truck is brand new less then a couple weeks old, I should what, bring it to the dealer and explain I have water in my diff, they'd look at me like I'm nuts and why I would even check that. I'm sure if I told them "I went swimming with my truck" they'd mark it down and probably try to void anything or future things.

I will however install this mod and take it off if I ever have to bring in to the dealer.

Good will say don't know why Nissan didn't do the same in rear as they did in front but they didn't. Truthfully though don't think you have anything to worry about never got any in mine after the pu sat in water at the dealer in NY 2012 looks that they seem to fail quicker after prolonged contact with elements salt, water, dirt n mud an yours is brand new. Do mod like Nissan4life has he's made a nice little kit it's same of the one I did. Like you said I would just what others said R&R it keep original if you have problem down road stick it back in.

 

[Passivaggressor]

I doubt you have water in your differential. However it doesn't matter if your truck has 2 miles or 2 million miles, when you take it off road you have to expect things to happen. Changing the diff fluid is a pretty damn easy job, just loosen the fill plug to make sure it can come loose and take out the drain plug and let it flow. Buy the correct amount and type of oil and pump it in there. Job done and peace of mind along with it.

 

[BCBrian]

So let's just say there IS water in your diff...... by REFUSING to do a simple fluid change you will blow axle seals, possibly blow the pinion seal and could damage the bearings in the differential and cause corrosion on the gears or worse. You take the truck to the dealer, they look at the undercarriage and see mud, scuff marks on the frame etc. They determine that you have abused the truck and do not cover the repair. Now you have to pay to fix it.....

Just because you and your friend had never heard of this is irrelevant. This issue is WELL KNOWN here and is often the 1st mod most of us do BEFORE going off road. Dirt can get in the stock valve and cause it stick in the open or closed position and cause the issues mentioned above.

Check the fluid and change it if it is contaminated. Be sure to use the correct fluid. Do the mod and be done with it......

Good Luck!

 

[OutFrontFrontier]

Near Spokane Wa? Bring it over I'll check it or ya!! If you bring the fluid I'll swap it for ya if needed. Formerly ASE certified, I won't f*c* it up! We Love you and your Nissan and want to be friends for a long time. The dealer just wants money!! As a side note, 5 years at Toyota dealer, I never noted mud on undercarriage on any service records?? Did see a popped v6 get denied but he still had a fish tank in the air cleaner housing..