Uhhhh - Why is my oil RED….!?!?

[DIGLERZ]

Hey all,

Looking for thoughts/input from the group.. I’ve got a 94 Cruiser, I recently noticed some oil dripping on the driveway (with a reddish tint) so I thought maybe I was dealing with some sort of tranny leak.. Crawled under to find numerous leaking points around the lower oil pan itself.

Just pulled the plug to drain oil and start on pulling lower pan and the oil is noticeably RED.. No apparent milky or foaminess.

For context - Vehicle is running green coolant, and clear Swepco power steering fluid..

What other potential contaminant points should I be looking for..

Appreciate the input..

 

[Kernal]

Did you save any of the Red fluid? If you did you could send a sample to Blackstone Laboratories (not "labs") for an oil analysis.

Has the vehicle been serviced recently, by you or a Quickie Lube shop?? ie: Engine oil or Transmission fluid service?

Was it bright red, red tinged, barely red, brownish red, orange red, or ??

What did it smell like ie: sweet??

What brand Engine oil (or additives?) did you add last time you changed your engine oil?

What does the radiator fluid look like now (check the overflow reservoir also)?

Have you needed to add or top up your radiator coolant recently (assuming no external leaks?), any sweet exhaust vapor smell?

The most common oil type used on vehicles that is red would be Automatic Transmission Fluid

 

[LXDOC]

Who did last oil and filter service? Might check the transmission fluid level and color for correct fluid as well.

 

[efjayatee]

On a side note...replace your coolant to toyota Red.
Majority of us prefer to run OEM factory red coolant & fluids.

 

[FJ80HI]

Some times the oil will have a dark rusty red color if you use non synthetic as I do in my 91. I read where non synthetic are better for old engines

 

[Marvelicious]

Some times the oil will have a dark rusty red color if you use non synthetic as I do in my 91. I read where non synthetic are better for old engines

Is that old rumor still going around?

 

[60 toy ota]

Another side note, you should not be using traditional power steering fluid, you should have atf in there.