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Guardedly Opmistic

4083 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  gadfly2
For most of yesterday I was thrilled with my new '14 Ecodiesel Crewcab 4x4. I picked it up at noon in Calais Me, by the time the day was over the engine had fourteen hrs running and one hr idling. Fuel data avg out at 9.4 l/100kms, 25 mp US gal, 30 mpg imp. No fuel stop and still 200 kms range left
Highway driving with no load - it's hard to imagine a more comfortable ride in a truck. The acceleration and braking was incredibly smooth. Nothing but praise.
Unfortunately, one hr from home while stopped for coffee a dark cloud came over the experience.
Both rear wheels had a fluid dripping from the hubs. It looked like used engine oil. I am certain it was coming out of my wheels and was dripping onto the lower rim. I suspected differential fluid but being 1am, I had no choice but to continue on.
This morning I popped the plug on the differential. Right up to the ledge. Brake fluid, on the max mark.
Once I had eliminated the possibility that I had driven through the offending fluid, I wiped up the fluid. It did not return. Any ideas?
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Congrats & condolences. That is a weird one. No other fluids in that area; can't imagine what the culprit would be. May be prudent to run it by the service dept for a quick look. Good luck & keep us posted.
Mmmmmmmmm. I come up with nothing except brake and rear end. Doubt any lube would have been placed in or around those rear wheels. Also doubt it would be a seal since the fluid came from both sides.


Agree - Have a dealer take a look.
How about the factory overfilled the differential? Not likely, but that might explain the mystery.
Love a good mystery. Let us know what you find.
Mystery Solved - I hope

Still at the dealer, getting the DRL turned on. The service dept was the truck is dry and clean with no signs of fluid loss. The likely culprit is being put down to dust from fresh brake pads seating themselves being mixed with the spray coming off the damp highway. Sounds plausible?
Still at the dealer, getting the DRL turned on. The service dept was the truck is dry and clean with no signs of fluid loss. The likely culprit is being put down to dust from fresh brake pads seating themselves being mixed with the spray coming off the damp highway. Sounds plausible?
certainly possible, and at 1 am easy to be overlooked, well not overlooked but identified...

anyway welcome to the boards, heres to hoping your +'s continue to outweigh the -'s....
sure sounds like it's a possibility.
but I would be on the look out for anyone reporting that this have happened to them, or maybe just a part of it... like the dust.
Still at the dealer, getting the DRL turned on. The service dept was the truck is dry and clean with no signs of fluid loss. The likely culprit is being put down to dust from fresh brake pads seating themselves being mixed with the spray coming off the damp highway. Sounds plausible?
Thanks for circling back and giving us the answer. That certainly was a weird set of circumstances.
Certainly had me nervous and concerned. A potential catastrophic failure on day one would have been hard to recover from. As it is, the love affair is back on. This truck has more than enough power for what is expected of it, rides like a sedan and I'm still amazed that I recorded an honest 30 mpg (imp) at 75 mph cruise over 1500kms with no break-in period.
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Ecocentric,
After reading your post, I wanted to ask if you got it undercoated with an oil based undercoat before taking possesion? I have heard that it runs somthing wicked for a few months after application (undercoating such as KROWN). if so, driving in the rain/moisture you would have seen it running at each application point. I hope it was fluky thing and it wont happen again.
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