New LX470 0wner, Major Leaking??

[Hugga99]

Hi everyone!

I was stalking the forum for a few months while looking for a Cruiser. Finally found one, a 99' LX470 w/ 140k miles, and jumped on it. It had the TB/Water pump done at 130,000mi, new brakes, and was in great shape. I have only had a week, but got home tonight to what seems to be a major leak.

I am new to higher-mileage cars, but from thus thread it seemed these Cruisers are awesome, reliable high-mileage cars. I noticed a leak tonight, and looked under the car and it seems relatively severe. I have never had a leaking issue with a car before, so I thought I should jump on here for some help. As I said, I have only had it one week, and it was in the shop for a week (before bringing it home) for the known 1120 APPS issue. That was fixed.

From some quick research, I am leaning towards it being coolant. I tried looking for a hose cracking, or something of that sort, but could not find anything. I checked the coolant level, and it seemed rather low. Is this something where I should have the car towed to a shop, or refill the coolant, etc. I am not sure where to start, or what to do. I have included some pictures, I hope it helps.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I am trying to become a bit of a DIY'er with the help of this forum, and I have already learned a lot just from reading all the threads. I am in Austin, too, just as an FYI.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mike6158]

The color is strange for coolant. It looks more like transmission fluid from the transmission cooler lines. Does it feel like oil? What does i smell like. Antifreeze has a sweet smell to it.

Keep antifreeze away from pets or other animals. They'll drink it and it will kill them.

Generally speaking "keep away from pets" applies to any automotive fluid I've known people that lost their pets to being poisoned by antifreeze though...

 

[Hugga99]

It feels oily, yes, but I would say watered down oil. It seems to smell sweet, yes. I checked the brake fluid, and others, and it just seemed closest to the coolant to me. Does the color of the fluid look like transmission fluid, or antifreeze? I thought anti-freeze was green, maybe I am wrong.

Thanks for heads up about pets, I actually was at the dog park before I noticed the leak. First trip with the dogs, then this, haha. Unfortunate.

 

[Hugga99]

Also, if this is relevant, I turned on my heater for the first time today (cold here in Austin, again), not sure if that could have anything to do with it. I had used the A/C previously.

 

[TTO5]

Toyota coolant is pink or red in color. May take on an orange color if not changed in a while. I'm guessing radiator or radiator hoses. Good luck

 

[Mike6158]

Toyota coolant is pink or red in color. May take on an orange color if not changed in a while. I'm guessing radiator or radiator hoses. Good luck

That means the coolant in my TLC isn't from Toyota then. It's green. And it sounds like coolant to me too now that I know it comes in red and pink.

I'm about 1.5 hours from Austin, south of La Grange. For us, it's definitely cold

 

[Hugga99]

Yea, it is freezing, haha. I thought it was coolant, and it is dripping in 3 spots under the engine. The heaviest is right under the radiator. Has anyone else had an experience similar to this? Do you think it is likely just a cracked hose? I will check the coolant level in the morning. If I were to just refill the coolant, would it be safe to drive? I do not want this to go from a simple fix, to an expensive one, haha. I literally bought the LX470 from the dealer 10 days ago, and traded in a reliable 80k mi. Acura for it.

 

[Porter]

Well, if you're wanting to venture into DIY, this is your opportunity. Sorry this happened a bit too soon!
You can source your own radiator and or hoses and replace yourself for approx $300-350, or pay $800 or more at dealer. 2-4 hour job depending, and not too challenging. Sounds like you otherwise have a great truck- get this buttoned up and enjoy!

 

[Hugga99]

Is there any clear tail sign to know it is the radiator? Is it possible to just replace a leaking hose, and not everything, if it is just a hose? I did not notice any fluid around the engine, or on the radiator itself, just underneath everything.

 

[Porter]

If you're having trouble diagnosing, would recommend searching in this site, or getting another set of eyes on it. Sometimes hard to find leak source. I couldn't see mine until I pulled radiator and it was obvious- right in the middle. I also changed out a few hoses as well.

Not unexpected- it's a 16 year old. I replaced my starter this weekend for second time in my 99( did it myself this go round ). Eleven years ago when I was a new owner and had it done at a shop, I never thought I'd get into DIY, but it's addicting.

 

[Hugga99]

Ok, thanks. I will look again, maybe I can spot something. I was prepared for CV axles, also the steering rack, but I had not seen anyone with a radiator issue, never entered my mind. Is this something where, if I think it is the radiator, I should have it towed, or could I drive it to a shop? There are a bunch of shops within 15 miles, not too far. I took the car to the LC Specialist (Edwin) before purchasing, and Shawn gave it a quick look-over, said it looked good. I could take it to him, or the other guy I have used.

I need the car, as it is my DD. I do not think I have the time, at this moment, to do it myself. I will look it up anyway, you never know, but it sounds like a bigger job than I was hoping for, for my first DIY.

 

[Jrod]

Go go an auto parts store and rent a coolant pressure tester kit and pressurize your cooling system. They're easy to use and You'll quickly find out if you have a leak in the cooling system.

 

[SWUtah]

Call Edwin, he will tell you what to do to get it to him. Could be a bad radiator cap? And or over flow tank cap. If it's cooled off is there fluid in the radiator you can see? Is there fluid in the over flow tank? If the over flow tank still has fluid but the raditor is low then you need a new radiator cap. I would also get a new over flow cap, these are mileage and age issues. While your at the dealer getting these new caps get a new gas cap. You could also have some bad raditor hoses on that age truck that should be replaced also get new coolant put in. If you want to do it your self these are all things you can do pretty easy or call Edwin.

 

[Hugga99]

Ok, thanks. That is an easy tool to use? I will have to do that tomorrow.

....although, as luck would have it, my wife just called me and told me her cars "Coolant Level Low" is flashing, and the car is running rough. What are the odds, haha. Although she has a mid-2000 M-Class, so I would expect to have more issues with hers, just not within the same 2 hour time span!

Hers will have to be towed tomorrow, mine I can try and work on. Started the day with 2 cars, down to 0, haha.

 

[Hugga99]

I checked the caps, they seemed alright. Could a gas cap effect this, or are you just saying to change it our while at it? I will definitely call Edwin in the morning.

I cannot see any fluid in the radiator. I see, what looks like, an old stain on with a slightly reddish color, but it doesn't look fresh. All I can see it fluid on the bottom of the car, what looks like on top of the metal shelf (on the bottom).

Could a simple radiator cap cause this? I am not sure exactly how much fluid leaked, but I would say a few ounces, maybe more. There is 100% some still in the coolant tank, just not much.

 

[super90]

I cannot see any fluid in the radiator.

If you cannot be certain that the radiator is full and working to cool the engine and....furthermore you say it's "running rough"....STOP. The last thing you want to do is overheat the motor in your "new" rig.

Be sure the engine and radiator are totally cooled off, remove the radiator cap, fill radiator to the proper level with either the premixed Toyota 50/50 coolant or your own mix of the Toyota red coolant and water. Make sure the reservoir is filled to the proper level. Then take the rig to Edwin or whomever (two friends in Austin also use Flamingo Motors on "the drag" and like them) and get it checked out.

 

[Hugga99]

I think you mis-read, my LX470 was running fine, I just noticed the leak (I always look under it after parking). It is my wife's ML350 that, in bad luck, started running rough and flashed the "Check Coolant Low", an hour after I noticed my leak. I told her to park it where she was, she leave it for tomorrow...which she did. I would never continue driving a car with low coolant, and running rough.

In terms of my LX470, the leak has stopped...and the coolant tank is low. I messaged Edwin, and hope to drive it to him tomorrow. I am pretty sure it would get there alright, but I do not want to risk it. I think I may go and buy coolant first, fill it, then drive it over.

Did anyone take a look at the fluid I gathered? It looks like the coolant, to me, just want to be sure. Anyone recommend a certain coolant from Autozone for a 99'? I appreciate the help.

 

[super90]

Sorry for the mis-read.....I'm helping my eight year old with math homework in the background....

Short answer on the coolant is: Get the Toyota red coolant. That's the way to go. It's been discussed here and in the 80-series forum.

 

[Hugga99]

Ok, awesome. Thanks. I will grab that, fill her up, and talk with Edwin. Hopefully it is a hose, or something, or maybe nothing, haha. It is definitely not nothing.

 

[SWUtah]

Yes get the toyota coolant make sure everything is full before you drive. The radiator cap if old and bad won't hold pressure causing the coolant to escape from your Radiator. While your at the dealer get a new cap you will need it at your mileage same with overflow cap and the gas cap should be changed every 100-120k miles. Have Edwin pressure check your cooling system, if anything is leaking he will find it then after he has fixed any leak have him service your cooling system flush and fill with new fluid. You should then be good for another 60k miles. Good luck tell us what you find.