Oil residue on Transfer case, crossmember and skid plate (1 Viewer)

[KlausVanWinkle]

What would cause there to be a light oil residue on the, crossmember and skid plate?

As a lot of you know, I'm in the market for a replacement 100. One that I looked at tonight seemed decent. The only strange thing underneath was an oil residue on the transfer case, skid plate and cross member. What would cause this? Easy fix or keep looking?

 

[OregonLC]

Any chance it's just goo getting slung from a leaking CV boot?

Without pulling stuff off and cleaning it would be hard to tell. That said, if everything else is right about the truck it probably wouldn't worry me too much, especially if I knew I was going to have it apart to do some major maintenance (90k) anyway. In fact, it might be good bargaining fodder.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

No. CV boots were good. The guy was very surprised to see someone get under his 13 year old truck with a flashlight. This one is closer to a 180k service. Hoping that it's in the clear for the bad transmission by now.

 

[no-pistons]

Sloppy oil change?

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Could be leaky oil drain plug and be splashing back onto the trans case i guess. Maybe I'll get under mine and see what else if could be.

.

 

[OregonLC]

Is it dripping or just damp? How far forward is it damp?

 

[paflytyer]

How about grease getting flung from lubing the driveshaft, slip yoke and ujoints?

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

It's like a thin mist on everything. The trans case cross member is black and kind of shiny. Not dripping, just kind of wet looking. Especially the skid plate under the transfer case. Oil seeping through a seal in the T-case?

 

[paflytyer]

Sloppy oil change?

Hmm....funnel tipped over during oil fill, spilling oil everywhere.

 

[petrotk40]

has the transfer case oil ever been changed? It probably is from that job.

 

[phsycle]

I've had a 4Runner that blew a transfer case seal from running the 4WD on dry pavement. Maybe the guy ran with the CDL on. Wasn't a big deal. Seal is cheap and even if you had Toyota do it, it'd be ~$100.

 

[College Cruiser]

I've had a 4Runner that blew a transfer case seal from running the 4WD on dry pavement. Maybe the guy ran with the CDL on. Wasn't a big deal. Seal is cheap and even if you had Toyota do it, it'd be ~$100.

I lost the seal on my transfer case cost$700 for Toyota to fix haha. Hope it's not that in your case!

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I lost the seal on my transfer case cost$700 for Toyota to fix haha. Hope it's not that in your case!

I have a totalled truck with a perfect transfer case, I wonder how hard that is to swap...

I don't thing the PO even knows what the CDL is. He looked surprised when I pressed it. I also showed him that his antenna wasn't broken. There is just a button to raise and lower it.

 

[bluecruiser]

You have to crack the case to get to the t-case seals...not a $100 job on this truck....

 

[College Cruiser]

I knew my T case was leaking when the front output shaft was throwing the oil 360 degrees, covering everything from the cats(fire hazard!) to the cross member, as well as the whole underside of the truck from T case back. Is there a film on anything else around the T case?

 

[Muddy Bean]

Mine has this too....I think it's the seal...pinion seal?

 

[phsycle]

Well, crap. I guess I thought it would be a similar cost job. Just plastidip it, then.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Plastidip, move over duct tape. Plastidip doubles as a sealant.

No flinging that I saw. Just a residue or mist on the T case and it's crossmember. I'm wondering if oil leaked further upstream and sprayed onto it or what. If I get it, I'll clean off the oil and see if it comes back then come up with a plan of action.

 

[Skidoo]

Ask if they had transmission oil changed. Those trans pan bolt are !REAL! easy to strip. Also do the smell test, ATF and the gear oil in transfer case have very different smells.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I touched it hoping I could tell the color of it but with all the road grime it just looked black.