It looks like that sensor might have been over-torqued and that's what caused the crack? But is that the differential? Is it certain that it's cracked and it's not just weeping from the sensor and that it's clinging to a casting line or something?
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Gen 5 3.6R Cracked and Leaking Differential
Good afternoon fellow outback owners and enthusiasts,
This is my first forum post so if it is not in the right place please correct me.
I recently brought my 2016 3.6R outback, ~82,000 miles, in for what appeared to be an oil leak. After cleaning the oil from the engine bay and using fluorescent detection dye, the diagnosis was a cracked front differential (attached images). The mechanic said he had never seen this happen in this car, and I struggled to find anything similar online or in these forums. Any ideas on what may have caused a crack in this location? Other than the slight leak there has been no noticeable change in how the car handles. I’ve owned the car since 52,000miles, I drive primarily on the highway, very rarely on some dirt roads with no serious off-roading, and the car hasn’t been in any accidents. Regardless of the cause, it seems I am in need of expensive repair and at the very least a case replacement.
TLDR: cracked front differential in odd location, 2016 3.6r outback, causes?
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This is my first forum post so if it is not in the right place please correct me.
I recently brought my 2016 3.6R outback, ~82,000 miles, in for what appeared to be an oil leak. After cleaning the oil from the engine bay and using fluorescent detection dye, the diagnosis was a cracked front differential (attached images). The mechanic said he had never seen this happen in this car, and I struggled to find anything similar online or in these forums. Any ideas on what may have caused a crack in this location? Other than the slight leak there has been no noticeable change in how the car handles. I’ve owned the car since 52,000miles, I drive primarily on the highway, very rarely on some dirt roads with no serious off-roading, and the car hasn’t been in any accidents. Regardless of the cause, it seems I am in need of expensive repair and at the very least a case replacement.
TLDR: cracked front differential in odd location, 2016 3.6r outback, causes?
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
I'd get a second opinion - if you're lucky you might be near one of the recommended shops:
What area are you in?
www.subaruoutback.org
What area are you in?
Other: - List of Recommended Independent Subaru Repair Shops
Updated March 25, 2023 Totally stealing this from ForesterBill on SF.org... Looking to start a list of independent Subaru-only repair shops that forum members recommend. The shop must work exclusively/primarily on Subarus and not on multiple brands. Subaru dealers are excluded from this list...
www.subaruoutback.org
I think @Brucey might be thinking of the pump gasket leaking CVT fluid - this has been fairly common on the 3.6R's TR690. As mentioned, if you're under 100k miles, it's a free repair. I had mine resealed and I know for sure it can in fact look a lot like a rear main seal leak (because that's what my indie shop said when they saw it). We also have a member who's a dealer tech who's said the same thing.
AFAIK, differential leaks are not very common on Gen 5s, but should be very easy to diagnose. Gear oil has a very distinctive (and strong) smell - you shouldn't need UV dye to tell if the front diff is leaking. It's also very easy to confuse the fill ports of the CVT and front diff so maybe they put the dye in the CVT. Either way, that's not likely a shop I would continue to use.
www.subaruoutback.org
AFAIK, differential leaks are not very common on Gen 5s, but should be very easy to diagnose. Gear oil has a very distinctive (and strong) smell - you shouldn't need UV dye to tell if the front diff is leaking. It's also very easy to confuse the fill ports of the CVT and front diff so maybe they put the dye in the CVT. Either way, that's not likely a shop I would continue to use.
Leakage/weep at differential and/or bell housing on a...
While changing the oil last week on my wife's 2015 Outback 3.6R (20K miles), I noticed some type of fluid leakage in the vicinity of where the differential and transmission bell housing meet. The leakage is very slight, to the point that nothing hits the garage floor overnight and there was no...
www.subaruoutback.org
Thank you for the correction!I think @Brucey might be thinking of the pump gasket leaking CVT fluid - this has been fairly common on the 3.6R's TR690. As mentioned, if you're under 100k miles, it's a free repair. I had mine resealed and I know for sure it can in fact look a lot like a rear main seal leak (because that's what my indie shop said when they saw it). We also have a member who's a dealer tech who's said the same thing.
AFAIK, differential leaks are not very common on Gen 5s, but should be very easy to diagnose. Gear oil has a very distinctive (and strong) smell - you shouldn't need UV dye to tell if the front diff is leaking. It's also very easy to confuse the fill ports of the CVT and front diff so maybe they put the dye in the CVT. Either way, that's not likely a shop I would continue to use.
Leakage/weep at differential and/or bell housing on a...
While changing the oil last week on my wife's 2015 Outback 3.6R (20K miles), I noticed some type of fluid leakage in the vicinity of where the differential and transmission bell housing meet. The leakage is very slight, to the point that nothing hits the garage floor overnight and there was no...
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
