Leak help needed

[dawgn86]

Wondering if you folks could help me identify this possible leak. What could it be and the repair needed.

2008 Nissan Frontier V6 Automatic Crew Cab pickup with 104k miles. Rear diff fluid if fine and full. Brake fluid resevoir is full. This picture is of the right rear wheel from under the truck. It looked like a film of oil was on the splash guard and dust covered. Wasnt any fresh fluid there. I wiped it all down and took the pic.

Any ideas?

 

[demarpaint]

If you haven't pulled the wheel and had a look, do so . It could be the early stages of a leak from the brake system, or rear axle seal. You might have caught it soon enough that a drop in any fluid level, gear oil or brake fluid will be hard to detect. Now that you cleaned it up check it daily and if you see any indications of a leak, smell the fluid. Brake fluid and gear oil have two totally different smells.

 

[Warstud]

Take a wet rag and wipe it off and sniff it. If you ever changed diff fluid you know what it smells like.

 

[dawgn86]

I did pull the wheel..nothing on the front side or around the brake caliber...I did smell it but didnt really smell anything familiar...diff fluid has that distinct smell. I cleaned it up and will continue to watch it close.

 

[Chris142]

It can only be one of 2 things. Differential gear oil or brake fluid.

 

[Warstud]

Could be a wet spot of brake fluid when the brakes were bled.

 

[oldhp]

My bet is a axle seal starting to go.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

I recall some vehicles with rear wheel drive had an arrangement on the backing plate to divert oil leaking through the seal to ground without getting on the brake assembly. I believe my 54 Ford Customline had that arrangement.