2 issues with my Vitara that are puzzling me. I

The first is the leaking passenger side axle where the cv meets the diff.  It's a slow leak that sprays all around.  I have the maual hubs which I read should help.  I just installed the aluminum XL7 diff earlier this year with a new seal. There is no play when I move the cv side to side.  My friends' is leaking in the same place, also lifted.  How many others have this problem?  Is it because of the lift?  Has anyone found a solution other than changing the seal 3 times a year?  One guy was saying that he took it apart and put it back together and it never leaked again??? Anyone else have that experience?

Second thing I'm stumped on is my stinky engine.  Anything more than moderate acceleration and it starts smelling like burning oil/fumes. Sometimes smells like fuel when I just started it, upon acceleration. There is no smoke ever coming from the vehicle. But it smells like blowby?  I've blown a pcv last year and blown some vaccum hoses too. Fixing these things has reduced the problem but then it seems to get progressively worse from then on.  Using high-mileage oil seemed to help as well but the problem is still getting slowly worse.  I do have a small engine leak but I don't think that's whats causing the smell because it is so small.  I haven't noticed a loss in power. The engine burns a small amount of oil, though barely enough to warrant topping up between oil changes.   Any insight or experience out there to get me on the right track?

Thanks,
John

With my leaking oil pan the oil does make it's way to the exhaust and I can smell the burnt oil even though there is no smoke coming from the vehicle. I work in a shop and can tell you that you can smell one drop of bunt oil if you're in the immediate area. If it's hitting the exhaust it could be wafting up from the underside when you come to a stop. As for the fuel smell, You've done everything I would have done. Maybe an injector leaking into the cylinder while it sits overnight? Does it stutter a bit on start up or does it come right around?  A leaking injector would wash the oil off of the cylinder wall as gas made it's way into the crankcase possibly allowing some of the initial combustion force to get by the rings, presurizing your crankcase, pcv and vaccum lines.

Just a thought...

BoGiggers

If it's hitting the exhaust it could be wafting up from the underside when you come to a stop.

Does it stutter a bit on start up or does it come right around? 

I didn't mention before, the smell is coming through the vents.  The higher speed, the worse it gets.  On the highway it smells every time I pass someone or go up a hill.  Pulling a trailer even worse. If I take it really easy I can avoid the smell. Once I passed someone and my check engine light went on and it smelled heavily right away.  When I got home I noticed a vaccum hose had popped off and when I put it back on the check engine light went off.

I starts up like it always has in the 5 years I've owned it: a little slower than other vehicles but never a stutter.

if it is spraying a lot keep an eye on the level in the diff so you don't run into other more serious issues.  also, the longer left this way the more chance you have of condensation or other crap finding it's way into the diff. 

Thanks.  I'm going to change the bearings.  There is SOME play there.

Rear main on the motor  My did the some thing