Could use some Help

[HK2K4]

Ok, here it goes. I have a 1999 Quad 1500 4x4. I just moved to Colorado from New York. I went up into the Mountains today and drove around. I get back and notice I am dripping a little oil. So I look underneath the truck to see where it’s coming from. It doesn’t seem to be from the engine, but from a tube that is connected to the differential and runs up to above the wheel well. It looks like this tube sprayed oil or is leaking somewhere and dripping down. It wasn’t like this before I went into the mountains. Is this some sort of pressure tube or something for the differential and it defiantly has that differential oil smell.

[BleedDodge]

It's there for a reason. I wouldn't worry about it.

[HK2K4]

ok, its there for a reason. Whats it for?

[pind]

it is a diff breather line, keeps pressure from building as the unit heats up, which results in blown seals.
it is tied off up into the frame, to lessen the chance of it becoming plugged, or drawing in water during periods of diff submersion.

There is a possibility that the diff was over filled with oil, causing some to blow out, but I am not sure the exact circumstances

[BleedDodge]

I'd believe that. If it's there, it must be there for a reason.

[Lil Mule]

I lived in Colorado Springs for a year and moved there from Kansas. The altitude difference will change things. It will take a week or so for a vehicle to adjust to the change but older cars will have to go to the shop because they have no computer. Just like when you bake a cake and it has "high-altitude" directions on the box.

[BleedDodge]

Yeah, in 1960 they were putting cars in the shop. Imagine that.

"Good day sir, something is wrong with my car, what do you think it could be?"

"Oh well that's obvious, you have no computer..."

[pind]

"What's a computer?"

" I have no idea, but it sounds pretty complicated... Like something that would compensate for high altitude."

Ok, I must admit that I have never tried high altitude baking, but I will go with the auto compensation built in to todays fuelie systems.

On the other hand, having a diff barf because of altitude.... never seen one with a fear of heights yet. It does sound like a rather isolated problem, though it would be neat to hear if anyone else has experienced this. I do some running up into the 8500 to 10000 foot range back in the mining districts up here, and have not had any similar problems.

People, speak out.

[Lil Mule]

Nothing but a bunch of slack jawed smarty pantses in here. :P Anyway, moving to that higher altitude will make some parts of your car "adjust" your cpu that controls the fuel to air mixture and needs to make changes. I realize that in my post that this is what I was addressing and not the issue of your leaking tube. That tube is there for a reason it is called a blow by tube. Our 10-ton hemmets had those tubes on the engine, if the amount of fluid/pressure is to high, it seeps out. imho the altitude, and your jaunt around the Colorado Mountains caused the leak and is no cause for concern.