Greetings fellow IG drivers:
Took new delivery IG SW June 2024, with relatively little use (<1,900 miles) ahead of May 2025 Moab Gathering. Prior to Moab, alignment and general check, noticed very slight oil drops on tail of front differential. Checked / cleared OEM breather spring. Returning from 2025 Moab Gathering (first off road use of vehicle, w/ two water crossings) noticed a very slight high pitch whine (engine accessory?). Vehicle has now (5,200 miles, of which almost 3,000 miles is the May 2025 Moab Gathering / desert southwest trip ) developed a much more noticeable high pitch whine related to vehicle speed not engine RPM (think turbine engine pitch and rpm) suspected of being front differential pinion / bearings (almost deafening noise traveling on the highway with window open next to concrete median / sound barrier wall from front left, less noticeable on right, changes volume and rpm w/ vehicle speed and load, disappears when off the accelerator / coasting, definitely front differential!). Prepping for Utah return this weekend, installed Eibach F1.7"/R1.2" lift springs, complete Agile Offroad underbody skid plate set, oil & filter change, with alignment and vehicle check included CV joints and seals, drive shafts, and differential fluid levels. No oil drops, pinion seals look good / clean, CV joints / driveshafts good, but NO measurable fluid level in front differential and "standard OEM 23mm" below fill plug w/ allen wrench fluid level in rear differential, see pictures. Drained estimated 1+ qt. clean like new oil from front, and maybe 2+ qts clean like new oil from rear, no signs of water or metal / magnetic contamination. Refilled almost 3 qts front and 2.5 qts rear to get proper (near OEM 23mm below fill plug) fluid levels. Front differential still has high pitch whine, maybe slightly muted (not really?) but it has the proper oil and level. Still have to check transfer case fluid level but no signs of any oil leaks or seal issues. Vehicle was basically in garage storage for first year of ownership with no oil leaks or drops on floor ever. In fact now even after Moab the under body is like new, free of any grease / oil residue or leakage, rust or anything, save for evidence of silt accumulation and staining likely from Moab water crossings. Check your differential fluid levels!
Cheers!
Steve
Austin
Took new delivery IG SW June 2024, with relatively little use (<1,900 miles) ahead of May 2025 Moab Gathering. Prior to Moab, alignment and general check, noticed very slight oil drops on tail of front differential. Checked / cleared OEM breather spring. Returning from 2025 Moab Gathering (first off road use of vehicle, w/ two water crossings) noticed a very slight high pitch whine (engine accessory?). Vehicle has now (5,200 miles, of which almost 3,000 miles is the May 2025 Moab Gathering / desert southwest trip ) developed a much more noticeable high pitch whine related to vehicle speed not engine RPM (think turbine engine pitch and rpm) suspected of being front differential pinion / bearings (almost deafening noise traveling on the highway with window open next to concrete median / sound barrier wall from front left, less noticeable on right, changes volume and rpm w/ vehicle speed and load, disappears when off the accelerator / coasting, definitely front differential!). Prepping for Utah return this weekend, installed Eibach F1.7"/R1.2" lift springs, complete Agile Offroad underbody skid plate set, oil & filter change, with alignment and vehicle check included CV joints and seals, drive shafts, and differential fluid levels. No oil drops, pinion seals look good / clean, CV joints / driveshafts good, but NO measurable fluid level in front differential and "standard OEM 23mm" below fill plug w/ allen wrench fluid level in rear differential, see pictures. Drained estimated 1+ qt. clean like new oil from front, and maybe 2+ qts clean like new oil from rear, no signs of water or metal / magnetic contamination. Refilled almost 3 qts front and 2.5 qts rear to get proper (near OEM 23mm below fill plug) fluid levels. Front differential still has high pitch whine, maybe slightly muted (not really?) but it has the proper oil and level. Still have to check transfer case fluid level but no signs of any oil leaks or seal issues. Vehicle was basically in garage storage for first year of ownership with no oil leaks or drops on floor ever. In fact now even after Moab the under body is like new, free of any grease / oil residue or leakage, rust or anything, save for evidence of silt accumulation and staining likely from Moab water crossings. Check your differential fluid levels!
Cheers!
Steve
Austin
