What is growing in my diff oil ?

[tdi-rick]

I've been running some A-RX in the T/case of my Land Rover, and dropped it tonight and went to fill it with some dino Castrol Multitrax (75w-90, GL-5) for a rinse phase.
The Multitrax has been sitting in the workshop about 5 or 6 years, one container has been part used, the other had an unbroken seal.
Upon opening, there is a fungal/black/icky like growth/deposit around the base and up the sides of both containers.

What on earth is it ?

The fluid otherwise is clear and smells like diff/gear oil.

I filled the t/case with some Fuchs 90LSD fluid instead, although I'd rather have the 75w-90 seeing it is winter here (up to -7*C overnight)

Any insight or conjecture welcome.

Rick.

 

[MolaKule]

The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Most likely a microbial fungus has developed.

I would only use the unopenend container or go buy some new stuff.

Take the Black Lagoon coated bottle and pour bleach on it and then throw it away?

 

[Kestas]

If it is biological fouling, a simple drain and fill may not be the answer. There's no guarantee the new lubricant won't get fouled. The typical procedure to deal with biofouling is to first kill what's there with a biocide by adding the biocide and running it for a while, then swap out the fluid. I wonder if Grotan (biocide) would be appropriate to treat the rear axle.

 

[MolaKule]

I don't think the axle or differential fluid is contaminated, just the fluid possibly in and around the bottles. High humidity and warm temps allow bacterial growth.

 

[Steve S]

I thought there was no rinse on rear end, trans and hydraulic?

 

[RavenTai]

Never have seen microbe growth in any oil (not to say it could not happen) , have seen it in kerosene (Jet "A") smells like extremely stinky feet, always associated with pools of water in the bottom of tanks.

wonder if you are seeing additive dropout? Perhaps molly, zinc, or some other additive settling out???

 

[tdi-rick]

thanks fella's

Additive dropout or microbial action ?
I'm really not sure.
Bottom line is I'm not using it. It will end up in the waste oil drum at a mates workshop to be recycled.

Now to psyche myself up to drop the t/case out to replace the input shaft oil seal. SAE90 leaks just as easily as 75w-90.
Shame it was too much for the AR-X.

Rick.