Fluid Leak - Seems to be Diff - How Bad?

[amusante]

So based on stains on my driveway, it looks like there is some sort of leak coming from 3/4 back of the car - basically it looks like it's right around the rear axle. It's not just water dripping on a cold morning, because an old stain is still very visible. Please excuse my blurry pic of a weiner shaped stain, but those occurred on two different nights. Any input?

Do I need to get the car into a shop immediately? Was going to wait until my 45K service in a few weeks to bring the car in.
I have a third party warranty - will this be covered?
Any other possibilities?
Sport diff going bad?


Left stain is old - right stain is new; both similar shapes

[Works2shoot]

Seems like a slow enough drip, but maybe you should just do your 45k service a bit early?

[MrFunk]

I'd take it in. If leaking on your driveway it's leaking everywhere else too (while driving etc).
Do your 45k early if need be or do it separately. A few weeks early is prob no big deal.
I'd assume your warranty would cover it.

[amusante]

Seems like a slow enough drip, but maybe you should just do your 45k service a bit early?

Yea I know terrible pic, I took it at like 515am this morning. That's what I was thinking also, but the next 3 weeks are crazy with work/vacation time, so I'm just not sure if I can actually get there/have no car

[BlownOne]

Is it more on the driver or passenger side of the sport diff? It's either the actual diff or the electronic side as both hold fluid, but one is gear oil and the other is atf fluid...there isn't a lot of either fluid so I wouldn't wait unless you want bigger problems. Swipe your finger across the fresh fluid and smell it or get under the rear of the car and see where it's coming from.

[amusante]

Is it more on the driver or passenger side of the sport diff? It's either the actual diff or the electronic side as both hold fluid, but one is gear oil and the other is atf fluid...there isn't a lot of either fluid so I wouldn't wait unless you want bigger problems. Swipe your finger across the fresh fluid and smell it or get under the rear of the car and see where it's coming from.

It's hard to tell what side it's closer to, but seems to be in the middle. Also, my car is 6MT so I'm not sure if that changes your assessment. I also tried to do the finger swipe, but it must've been there too long as I couldn't get anything to stick on my fingers

[BlownOne]

No the diff is still the same in a manual or dsg (sports diff). You should be able to lay down and peek in with a flashlight with the car on the ground to get a better idea.

[LYKUNO]

So based on stains on my driveway, it looks like there is some sort of leak coming from 3/4 back of the car - basically it looks like it's right around the rear axle. It's not just water dripping on a cold morning, because an old stain is still very visible. Please excuse my blurry pic of a weiner shaped stain, but those occurred on two different nights. Any input?

Do I need to get the car into a shop immediately? Was going to wait until my 45K service in a few weeks to bring the car in.
I have a third party warranty - will this be covered?
Any other possibilities?
Sport diff going bad?


Left stain is old - right stain is new; both similar shapes

You didn't mention what model year your car is, but back in 2011, there was a problem with leaky seals on the sport diffs as covered in this lengthy thread. Repairs were covered under a TSB/warranty.