Swivel housing oil level

Hi everyone, went to check the oil level in the right swivel pin housing on my s3 recently, before removing the hub.
I was a pretty mystified when I took out the filler plug (about half way up) and oil started gushing out. I've made sure that it doesn't have a filler plug on the top, so my first question is how did whoever filled it up last get that much oil in there?
As a long shot someone suggested that maybe with the wheels turning oil was pumped out to the sides along the axle, but I'm not too sure.
Anyway my main issue is just to make sure that when I refill it I only need to fill it to the level of the plug. Seems kind of obvious but somehow the whole thing was full of oil so I just want to make sure I'm not missing something.
Cheers.

Someone who knows a bit more will no doubt post soon, but I'm pretty sure there is a seal somewhere and oil can migrate into it from somewhere else, possibly the axle/diff. Not sure at all but worth looking into for more info

Yeah that's kind of what someone else suggested. Just in terms of physics it seems pretty weird that there was enough pressure to fill the whole thing up (presumably emptying wherever it came from in the process). Definitely be interesting to find out.

Blocked breather possibly, but sitting in a hospital my mind is on other things.
James Martin will no doubt appear to help you further

there is a seal in axle tube but diff level isnt higher than swivel, there should be very little oil in axle tube ,was diff level right ?,you can over fill by doing when that side jacked up etc,as long as diff and swivels are upto level/filler plug wouldnt worry about it,

I'll look into that, cheers mate. Get well soon.

Ok cheers, I'll check the diff level when I get home. Sounds like nothing too serious for a change...

Harrris303 said:

I'll look into that, cheers mate. Get well soon.

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He ain't in hospicule coz he's not well ... Fanny is there looking after the Pregasaurus!!

Do try and keep up, dear boy!!

Hi, if you undo the 2 bolts holding the swivel you can pour lots of oil in that way!

When I finally remembered to check the diff oil level it turned out that it was well down, so it looks as though the oil worked it's way outwards along the axle like someone else said. Mystery solved (for once).
Thanks for posting everybody.