Went out in the mud a few weeks ago. Had a blast flying through the mud trench. The following week I changed differential covers. As I was draining the diffs the oil looked like milk. I'm pretty certain I got water down the axel tubes. Lucky I was changing covers or I could have had a mess in there for a long time.

Blue Mesa

 

awesome picture!!! I know it's not a picture thread but that picture is awesome.

 

How bad could it be if i got 'milk' in my axles? What would it damage?

 

Well, yeah, i understand that, but what kind, and how bad of a damage can it do?

I think i got water in mine, I just don't feel like changing it =)

 

If there is water in your diff you have 2 simple choices.....

1. Replace your oil now or
2. Replace all you internals later

 

Better safe then sorry when it comes to that, I'd say.

 

Its always been my practice that everytime I go through high water, or mudding (uck!) to change out all my fluids.

 

Well if you got water in it there is a great chance of axle or pinion seal leaking from the extra presure, I know my pinion seal leaked because of it. It takes maybe 30min to change both axles. Here is write up how to do it.

http://project-jk.com/jeep-jk-write-...hange-write-up

 

I know you went through deep water, but how did the water get there? Shouldn't they be sealed? Even from the axle tubes??? Is there an inherent issue here?

If I felt like I had to change oil every time I hit water I would not take it off road anymore.

 

water shouldn't get in there in a perfect world. But the only way to be sure is to change the fluid after wheeling through deep water. Lot cheaper than replacing all the gears. Your axels are only sealed as high as your vent tube.