Land Rover Repair: Gear oil smell, vent hose, rear tires

Question
I have a 2002 Range Rover when I got out of the truck I noticed a gear oil smell around the rear tires, does it sound like a rear seal is leaking.

Answer
If you smell gear oil around the back of the truck the first thing to check is the vent hose that comes off the top of the rear end.  If it gets clogged with mud you will get pressure buildup and leakage.   If the breather is clear, you probably have a leak from an axle or pinion seal.