Red fluid found under car!

[Quade]

I just picked up a Vx yr 2000
Whilst admiring my new purchase, I noticed some oil underneath engine

I've been under the car and it's a red oil and seems to be coming from multiple locations, so it's hard to pin point

Power steering works OK

I'm guessing it's power steering rack or something crazily expensive

Can anyone offer some wisdom on what to check etc?

... Annoyingly the garage didn't pick this up when I took it for overview and advice
... Maybe the problem occurred just after buying

Thanks

 

[bctlex]

Power steering and transmission fluid is red. Toyota coolant is also red color. Do you notice any of these that are low? I would suggest to clean-up/wash everything, so you can then see where the leak coming from.

 

[Quade]

It's an oil, so probably not coolant
Will get it on a ramp!

 

[Quade]

They did a full service on it so all levels were filled up
Power steering area was pretty full!

 

[philthyphil]

They did a full service on it so all levels were filled up
Power steering area was pretty full!

What did you do?!!?!?! You made it bleed!!!

 

[Quade]

I'm sure it's just a flesh wound

 

[Quade]

ok, this is weird
I just went for a 1hr drive

I've inspected the engine bay and there is red fluid below powersteering cap ... on a stainless steel canister that holds fluid

Is it possible someone over filled it and its expanded and being pushed out of cap ?
There was previously signs of this (a lot worse) but i figured the guy who filled it had parkinson's because it was everywhere

What would you do next?
I guess i need to check level when cold?

 

[uHu]

Check PS-fluid with engine off. It goes down when engine is running.
Checking hot is more accurate than cold, normally. (what is "cold" anyway? minus 30 C, or +40 C?)
It doesn't take much overfilling to make it spill.
You can also check around the banjo on the pressure side of the pump, after cleaning it up, to see if there's any sweating.

So:
Check PS-fluid level with engine off.
Check Auto box fluid level with engine running.

 

[Quade]

Cold is about 15 Celsius... Not sure what that is in F

Does it have to be cold as in left overnight?

 

[uHu]

t0yota recommends checking at Hot, which equals normal operating temperature.

 

[Quade]

Ok, so the diff level has dropped quite a bit
I called the garage who sold it to me and they now admit they knew about it but failed to tell me
Since i've paid, all bargaining chips are gone, they dont seem interested! swines!!

He said he thinks its a seal on gear box or something?
any thoughts?