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Breezy · **How bad is -** 07-14-2009, 12:58 PM

leaking axle fluid/grease?
Dh changed the oil before leaving again and there was grease flung every where under the car.
I had tried to get an appt before heading to W VA for Mels wedding but they didn't call me back.
The car is in the shop now BUT it has been there since 845 and no word.
So anybody know cars? How bad is it?

Truckman · 07-14-2009, 01:33 PM

All leaks only get worse; they don't stay the same or get better...If the grease leaks out to the point you don't have enough lubrication for the parts it is protecting, the repair will be many times more expensive...If the grease or gear oil reaches the brakes, you can lose braking power when you need it most, making the repair many times more expensive...Get it fixed ASAP...

Ex-pro mechanic out...Ben

toverman · 07-14-2009, 01:47 PM

As for not hearing anything, I'd call the shop. Some I've used aren't real good at getting back to me even if they've checked out my car.

kenw · 07-14-2009, 01:50 PM

So you took it in just because the underside of the car had a lot of grease on it? It could easily have been road grime. Just because there's grease on the bottomside doesn't mean it came from your car. What kind of car?

if it really is from your car, it depends on the speed of the leak. A slow leak that can be topped off routinely is of no concern unless you are overly environmentally anal.....

I've got a Camry with a valve cover gasket leak for 7-8+ years. Not enough leaks between 5k oil changes to need to add any, so I will defer the replacement of that gasket (and the $3-400 charge to do it) as long a possible. Sometimes a drip gets on the exhaust manifold and smells a bit, but that's about it.

Breezy · 01:59 PM

Thanks guys it is there to be worked on. But last time I was in there I was treated like I was stupid cause I am a female, but I am the one who drives the stupid thing so I know when something is going on. But dh left again yesterday so he couldn't take it in.
They think it is all covered under the warranty but not positive last I heard.
It started doing this when we had new brakes put on in Oct. And I was just now able to get anyone to listen to me as the guy I usually deal with is no longer there.
I am wondering if they are going to give me a rental at this point or what. My luck it will be there for a few days.

I am thinking they did something (accidental of course) when they put the new brakes on and didn't catch it. The sad part is the oil was changed at the same time and didn't need it again, but it was close enough that dh went and head cause it had been so long.

Ben I know what you are saying, mad dad an ex mechanic was telling me (I took him out for his bday and he rode with me) that it was the rutters (sp?). I told dh and he checked those while under there and all that he could see looked good and yeah we know that he can't see the upper side. But he got very concerned when globs of gunk fell out from around the oil filter etc...
Thanks again :D

Breezy added 5 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Honestly Ken,
I don't know, dh just told me to get it in asap lol, so for once I listened. I don't want another car to have to pay for right now.
It is a Kia Sadona (don't ask I hate it and at the time we got it it got us completely out of debt and that was the goal) Sometimes I regret it but it is paid for and gets me from point a to point b.

Not that I know tons about cars but the little pan/shield that is under the axle is covered on the upper side and it is only on the passenger side. Drives side is extremely clean compared to the pass. Dh knows a lot about cars but just isn't/hasn't been here enough to attempt taking it to the hobby shop and fix it and if it is under warranty then he shouldn't have to waste his time right lol.

RKEnnis · 07-14-2009, 02:20 PM

From your description, it sounds like a torn boot on the CV joint. The boots get torn, and the spinning drive axle starts slinging out grease like crazy. The grease usually shows up inside the wheel well, and on top of any chassis parts that are underneath the axle area.

If you caught it early, they can probably just replace the torn boot, and repack the CV joint with grease. If the CV joint got worn out from lack of grease, they'll have to replace the joint itself.

Unfortunately, either way it's a fairly labor intensive job. Normally I wouldn't expect the see torn boots until the car had relatively high milage, though. 80,000 miles or more.

What is the mileage, and are you sure it's grease (thick and glumpy), not oil (thinner and drippy)?

Breezy · 07-14-2009, 02:30 PM

Randy yes it is thick and glumpy.
The mileage is just shy of 42,000.
Thanks again all

kenw · 07-14-2009, 02:30 PM

Randy's analysis is probably right on target. Either a boot or a bearing seal on the passenger side half-axle. Best case they replace the boot and nothing was damaged. Medium case, the CV joint (a bearing of sorts) needs to be replaced. The amount of effort on their part for replacing the boot or the CV is exactly the same; they still have to pull the axle to replace either. In this case the grease is usually a greyish color. (edit: your later description of it to Randy sounds like CV grease)

If (worst case) the bearing seal inside the transaxle is bad, then it's a lot more involved to repair. And the oil slung all about is transmission oil (usually a dark reddish color).

Breezy · 03:47 PM

Thanks ken it is gray not red so that is good

Breezy added 74 Minutes and 54 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

I HATE when people think women are completely stupid about cars!
They finally called me back have none of the parts and are telling me it is just the rutters. I said that doesn't explain all of the grease. His response was there was no grease.
NO **** my husband wiped it all of except for the part on that shield, just for proof.
UUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH I want to scream. And $255 to change the rutters.

SeanS · 07-14-2009, 06:02 PM

It sounds like you're describing two issues. One the brake rotors which your dad identified, and two the grease which dh identified.

I worked as a service manager for many years, and a big problem can be communication around the shop. Even if you described something perfectly, it doesn't mean it always gets all the way to the guy looking at your car. It's a fact of life, some places are better than others. The tech probably drove the car, heard the noise, reported it needed rotors and everyone forgot to look for the grease. All this is clearly speculation, but it happens.

My suggestion, tell them you'd like to come and have them show you. A good service provider will have no problem lifting the car, pulling a wheel to show you the condition of the rotor, and showing you underneath to see whether there's any grease leaking. If they won't do that for you, take it somewhere else.

Breezy · 07-14-2009, 06:09 PM

Thanks Sean,
After they had it all day they did absolutely nothing to it.
And for some strange reason they had none of the parts that had been previously ordered for it. I have to take it in on Friday to get everything else done, and I will tell them to lift it and I will show them the grease and ask to see the rotors.
DH can change them but it would only save us about $75 and I am not sure it is worth the saving as I am sure he would be there for several hours.
Thanks again for the suggestion Sean.