Breaking in the Gears...

[TJ Edge]

Just had 4.10's and a D35 PowerTrax NoSlip installed. I'm breaking in the gears as recommended: driving 30 minutes and then letting them cool down for 15-minutes or longer for the first 500 miles.

I smell gear oil after driving for only 5 minutes or so. There are no leaks or any wetness around the diff covers or seals. Should I be smelling this?
How long should it last?
When should I switch the break-in oil?
When should I switch to synthetic (and what brand/type)?

TIA

[TJ Edge]

It's gettin' better and better. Just got back from lunch on the trail. The wild mustard is 8 feet high out here in San Diego! The extra 7" of lift/tire and added Belly-Up clearance really comes in handy when you're plowing through the weeds growing between the tire tracks. :cool:

Gears are smelling better, and the TeraLow is feeling even smoother. Still pretty loud in 3rd through 5th 4WDLow, but I imagine that will get better with age. I bet everything will break-in just right with a few more lunches! :D :D :D

[DevSlashNull]

Wow, thats the way to do a lunch. Wish i had time to get out and bounce around a little in the afternoons. My guess on the ear oil smell is that the gears are heating up as they should be, and causing some expansion of the oil in the diff, this is causing a positive pressure in the housing, which is just venting thru the vent. If your not drippin, I wouldnt worry much. Enjoy that "lunch"