Front differential leak

I have a freightliner cascadia and I noticed a small leak on my front differential a week ago but it's been driving just fine, no noises, grinding,etc. Today is Monday and I can't get an appointment until Friday, am I okay driving it until then or will my wheels fall off? If I put gear oil in the wheels will that help me for the next 500 miles? I work local. What are the dangers if I keep driving it? Any advice is appreciated

 

Pull diff plug, check level.

If its a gallon low or lower, its probably cause for worry
If the inside is rust or sludge thats cause for worry, only if you feel chunks is there really a STOP DRIVING IT NOW warning.

Top it off and hope and pray.

Seriously though, a little leak on a diff *usually* isnt bad... unless it becomes a major leak.

even at 0 oil, its not helping matters, but might not even cause any more issues in 500 miles than you already have.

 

How do I know if it's a gallon or more lower? Does it matter if I top it off from driver or passenger side? Sorry I'm new at this

 

It's probably nothing and could roll just fine for months or years but without a better description of where and not being able to see it nobody can really say for certain. Where is the leak exactly and how much leakage? Is it just some dampness in the general area on the diff or does it pour oil on the ground when parked? There's a pipe plug on the back of the differential housing. The upper one, remove it. If oil starts dribbling out it's full and you'll be fine. If not add some.

 

You do not fill a differential from the wheel ends, on the back of your "pumpkin" (the big roundish thing that actually houses your differential) there should be a plug on the bottom (for draining oil) and a plug off center roughly 1/3 to 1/2 up from the bottom, see pic.

 

Sometimes if the vent is plugged it will cause a leak.Have someone check the fluid level and also check the vent to be sure it's not plugged.You can usaully clean the vent with a small screwdriver.

 

Thank you so much I really appreciate you. What kind of oil should I put in there?

 

My power divider has a leak. Will leave a half dollar sized stain on the concrete over a 12 hr period. I check it every couple months and it's rarely very low.

Point being it doesn't take much to look like a lot. Or it's usually not leaking as bad as it looks

 

Post a picture, this way we know what your looking at.

 

3/4 7/8 11/16 or something for that square plug up top - put your finger in and point it down, if your finger is dry, it needs topped up.

75-90W I think?