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Possible Reasons for a Highway Truck to have Oil leaking from back wheels?

N

NoelG

New Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2019
Messages
4
Location
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Hello everyone:

I have a question. There's a trade school project where I need to identify what is causing oil to be dripping out of the back wheels of a 1998 Western Star 4964EX Highway truck. For some context the truck has 405, 500 km of travel and engine hours of 6, 321.

What advice can you share on what could be causing it, how to fix it and where I could go for more information?

Unfortunately I have encountered challenges finding this information myself so if anybody has pointers that would be wonderful.

Thank you.
 
bam1968

bam1968

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2014
Messages
533
Location
IA
Occupation
Excavating Contractor
Most likely the wheel seals are leaking.
 
DMiller

DMiller

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Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,582
Location
Hermann, Missouri
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Cheap "old" Geezer
Axle seals
If Both are leaking either overheated brakes cooked seals or the axle housing vent is absolutely choked with crud
Or the optional just been forever since off and seals worn out
 
R

rondig

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2013
Messages
517
Location
fort macleod alberta
Occupation
excavation
Wheel seals or axle gasket...or unlikely broken /cracked case. Also seen tandem hub nut back off so bad that it started to leak from behind
 
crane operator

crane operator

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Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,324
Location
sw missouri
You guys all cheated your way through school, and now are helping someone else with their home work assignment.

He tried Google and wikipedia, and neither cover old trucks and their various illnesses, and here you've given him 108 years of experience with no skinned knuckles or sore back muscles to show for it.

Detention for everyone!
 
old-iron-habit

old-iron-habit

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Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
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Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
crane operator said:
You guys all cheated your way through school, and now are helping someone else with their home work assignment.

He tried Google and wikipedia, and neither cover old trucks and their various illnesses, and here you've given him 108 years of experience with no skinned knuckles or sore back muscles to show for it.

Detention for everyone!
Click to expand...

I got a sore back reading it.
 
crane operator

crane operator

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Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,324
Location
sw missouri
old-iron-habit said:
I got a sore back reading it.
Click to expand...

Aren't you supposed to be paddling back to shore on a ice floe after being the last one in a fishing shack? It's the paddling that's worn you out.

He didn't even give us the VIN or serial number. I can't get any kind of a diagnosis, let alone even think about a parts man thinking about it without a VIN. If he was at orielly's, they'd want to know if it was two wheel drive or four wheel drive, two door or four door, because that's what they've got for blanks on the screen.
 
R

RZucker

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
4,077
Location
Wherever I end up
Occupation
Mechanic/welder
crane operator said:
Aren't you supposed to be paddling back to shore on a ice floe after being the last one in a fishing shack? It's the paddling that's worn you out.

He didn't even give us the VIN or serial number. I can't get any kind of a diagnosis, let alone even think about a parts man thinking about it without a VIN. If he was at orielly's, they'd want to know if it was two wheel drive or four wheel drive, two door or four door, because that's what they've got for blanks on the screen.
Click to expand...
Sometimes the paint color helps too. :D
 
old-iron-habit

old-iron-habit

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Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
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Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
crane operator said:
Aren't you supposed to be paddling back to shore on a ice floe after being the last one in a fishing shack? It's the paddling that's worn you out.

He didn't even give us the VIN or serial number. I can't get any kind of a diagnosis, let alone even think about a parts man thinking about it without a VIN. If he was at orielly's, they'd want to know if it was two wheel drive or four wheel drive, two door or four door, because that's what they've got for blanks on the screen.
Click to expand...

A week ago Saturday we fished Island Lake near Northome, MN. Still 30 inches of solid clear ice. Fishing sucked.
Every year our MN Chapter of Antique Caterpillar Machine Owners Club has a meeting at the Alexandrea, MN vocational school. They have a very highly rated diesel mechanic school at that campus. At our meeting there last spring we were told that over 70% of the "mechanic,want to be's" have any basic mechanical knowledge when they come in. Over half have no clue even how to check oil. They start from scratch with the students from the very basics. The first semester drop out rate is about 70 percent. Most had seen a (great money, good career, diesel mechanic) add on TV and did not realize there was work involved. That being said they have turned out some great mechanics from the ones that people not are are not afraid of work and study, going from nothing to being top mechanics.
 
crane operator

crane operator

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8,324
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sw missouri
old-iron-habit said:
A week ago Saturday we fished Island Lake near Northome, MN. Still 30 inches of solid clear ice.
Click to expand...

It was 73 here today, supposed to be 83 on wednesday. I was looking for a little ice to put in my glass. :)

old-iron-habit said:
being top mechanics.
Click to expand...

And I passed three signs today - all advertising top pay for truck and trailer "technicians". What's a trailer technician? Does it make it a better paying job if they call it "technician"?

I respect the guys today that put in the work to understand the electronics and emissions that these new trucks are coming out with. I'm amazed at what the good ones understand.
 
DMiller

DMiller

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Hermann, Missouri
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Cheap "old" Geezer
Have to laugh at "Technician" signs too, was a 'Mechanic', when got to the Nuke became a Equipment 'Operator' they later changed that to Ops Tech, still was a Equipment Operator with all the old hands. Knew guys that could work trailers, usually good at decals and rivet guns patching side grinds or roof peels many could not fix electrical nor refrigeration units!! How many remember outer axle seals, grease packed? I know of TWO still running those old Eaton Axles(Fords), farm trucks now but line equipment in the Day.
 
kshansen

kshansen

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Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
11,165
Location
Central New York, USA
Occupation
Retired Mechanic in Stone Quarry
DMiller said:
OMG we have ALL seen so much and SO MANY failures!!!
Click to expand...

If the OP gives the instructor any one of the many ideas expressed and does not give credit to the OP then the OP should give us the instructors email address and we should all tell him what we think of his teaching abilities!

Just went back through the thread and no one mentioned "Fred screwed up when he worked on it and forgot to adjust the bearings" At the shop we had a guy named Fred and for years after he left we still always said "Fred screwed it up", no matter if the machine was built after Fred left!

I have a feeling that now that has been replaced with "Ken"!
 
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