Diff vent pipe: what is it? What does it do? Do I need one?
My Sierra diff seems to have come without this, but I see it on lots of pictures from other builds. Mine does have a small black plastic cap on top of the diff and it looks like there was once something attached to it but it must have broken of.
So am I missing something important?

just a little piece of rubber tube about 4 inches long will do just fine fitted to that nipple and thats it

nipple

Problem is that the part of the nipple that holds the tube is broken of.

wont hurt as long as you can get the pipe on

otherwise just leave it

My diff needs a tube about a foot long otherwise it chucks oil out all over.

I can't imagine doing without will keep all the oil in.

The 'nipple' is only a plastic push in thing I guess it would only be coppers from ford.

Cheers

mark

Diff vents just vent the pressure from the expanding gasses as the diff fluid heats up and keeps the dirt/water out. Otherwise the pressure will blow out the axle seals.

Some are just a little tube with a loose cap on it, and some are hoses that go up and curve down to keep the water out.

Seems a little odd you are losing a lot of oil out yours mookaloid, is it right above the ring gear or something?

It's in the standard place - maybe I just drive mine harder

The vent pipe is still available from Ford fo about 60p, mine was the same when it came.

fwiw, mine chucked oil everywhere too.

i put a long bit of pipe on and cable tied it to the wishbone bracket. no oily mess after that.

tom

Mine lost a bit of oil (and it was filled with the correct amount) so a long tube was fitted.

I also put a fuel filter (one of the push on plastic ones) on mine as I was worried about dust etc getting in the diff.

John

Thanks guys,
I'll be off to the local Ford tomorrow to get a new nipple and pipe then!

Its just one bit. The cone end presses into the diff so you might have a bit of a wiggle to get the old one out.