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.

 

[DIGLERZ]

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


View attachment 4167013

Hi,

I haven’t dumped the fluid yet so submitting a sample is an option.

Oil was changed myself with mobile 1 high mileage 10/30.

I would describe the oil color as brownish red, it’s not straight red but there’s enough of it to be alarming.

Coolant and overflow look normal.

Transmission fluid looks normal and level is correct.

Short of an error on oil fill are there any other avenues for potential contamination..?!

 

[Azca]

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

Or, a better option, hydraulic oil such as Mobil DTE 24 Light Hydraulic oil, ISO 32. From the factory, Mr. T used hydraulic oil for the engines. ATF works but does not enjoy the benefits of pure hydraulic oil due to the additives needed for use in transmissions.

 

[FJ80HI]

That is trans fluid. There are many places it can leak including two hoses and metal pipe that run in and out of radiator. Not an engine oil leak

 

[Rifleman]

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

Or, a better option, hydraulic oil such as Mobil DTE 24 Light Hydraulic oil, ISO 32. From the factory, Mr. T used hydraulic oil for the engines. ATF works but does not enjoy the benefits of pure hydraulic oil due to the additives needed for use in transmissions.

In the case of a leak when you're out on the trail, and in the need of replacement fluids, i think about commonality, and logistics. Common DEX3 ATF fluid, and Preston green coolant are going to be way easier to find at any Auto parts store then it would be to find real Toyota red coolant, or DTE 24 hydraulic oil. Just my 2 cents YMMV.

 

[FJ80HI]

In the case of a leak when you're out on the trail, and in the need of replacement fluids, i think about commonality, and logistics. Common DEX3 ATF fluid, and Preston green coolant are going to be way easier to find at any Auto parts store then it would be to find real Toyota red coolant, or DTE 24 hydraulic oil. Just my 2 cents YMMV.

Agree. I have been using the green in my fj40 and 80 for 40 years and never had an issue. See no problem with green

 

[Kernal]

So the oil on the paper towel is from what came directly out of the oil pan (drain) or from the drippage on the bottom of the oil pan?

Any work on or near the power steering or transmission cooler lines that start on the right side of the transmission (1994 FZJ80, A442F transmission), then out to the radiator, cooler, and back??

 

[Azca]

In the case of a leak when you're out on the trail, and in the need of replacement fluids, i think about commonality, and logistics. Common DEX3 ATF fluid, and Preston green coolant are going to be way easier to find at any Auto parts store then it would be to find real Toyota red coolant, or DTE 24 hydraulic oil. Just my 2 cents YMMV.

FYI you can mix hydraulic and ATF in the power steering system, there won't be an issue.

 

[DIGLERZ]

That is directly from oil pan.. No work on any of those items recently. No other signs of leaking or obvious potential contamination point..

I’m going to finish up replacing dipstick and sender o-rings, re seal lower pan, change filter and fill her up with fresh oil and see what we get..

 

[FJ80HI]

That is directly from oil pan.. No work on any of those items recently. No other signs of leaking or obvious potential contamination point..

I’m going to finish up replacing dipstick and sender o-rings, re seal lower pan, change filter and fill her up with fresh oil and see what we get..

Trans cooling lines run next to engine. You say from pan as in the oil pan drain or from around the pan? Trans fluid leaking can run down the pan and then drip. It could be spraying out a leak and hitting pan. Don’t see any way oil could be cross contaminsted

 

[DIGLERZ]

Hi,

I can confirm, it’s not from lines on the outside of the engine leaking down the pan. The red on the towel is actual oil out of the engine.

Agree, I’m struggling to see how it can cross contaminate. At this point I’m hoping somehow ATF was added inadvertently at some point recently (one of my kids thinking they were doing me a favor topping off the oil..) I pulled the filter while changing the alternator a month or so ago and didn’t notice anything odd at that point..

 

[mudgudgeon]

I'm wondering if it's possible for power steering fluid to leak into the timing case from the power steering pump?
If the seal on the pump shaft is no good, you have a potential pathway for red power steering fluid to enter the engine.

Is the power steering fluid level in the reservoir correct?

It's somewhat common for diesel engines to get diesel into the engine oil via a shaft seal leaking into the timing case.

 

[HopelessDiamond]

Newish guy, long time creeper here. Modern oils especially high mileage ones have a lot of additives and detergents in them. They can tend to have reddish colors in them. They show up more as the oils is doing their job cleaning. Mobil 1 oils are known for it.

 

[LongDuck]

@HopelessDiamond , dude, you've been around for over 6 years and never said a word,...?

That deserves some kind of award.