What is this fluid under my LX470?

[Pjo113]

I recently purchased a 2005 LX 470 a few weeks ago, little over 100k, good service hx at Lexus, Tb and Wp changed about 1k miles ago. I drove the car about 150 miles and noticed green fluid under the engine after parking in my garage, dripping below the engine, like near the axle distance from the front, not under the radiator. I've attached a pic below. Also both front axles just replaced, and steering rack.
I am new to this community (reading through ih8mud forums convinced me to ultimately buy this awesome vehicle). I'm not much of a wrencher either. To me it looked like coolant. It even sorta smelled sweet I guess. But the dealership where I bought the truck (not lexus or Toyota dealership) insists it diff fluid because the seals appear shot on their examination. Is this really diff fluid?. I have like 10 days left on a warranty and don't want to get screwed over, if necessary I'll pay Lexus or Toyota to look at it. Any thoughts/ insight is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

 

[labcab]

I'd also guess coolant. What color is the stuff in the overflow reservoir? Right behind the radiator on the left side.

 

[Wilsil]

The color suggest coolant. Eventhough Toyota uses red coolant.

 

[PLROD]

take the cap off the coolant reservoir tank and see if there's green liquid in there.

 

[fjfj60]

Looks like a non Toyota/Lexus shop did the timing belt and filler her full of non Toyota fluid.

 

[Pjo113]

Thanks for your fast responses!
The Tb and wp service was done at Lexus in RI. I looked in the radiator before taking it in for the leak check and it looked green to me. This puzzled me because if service was recently done at Lexus why would green coolant be in the radiator (knowing Toyota/Lexus uses pink coolant).
What color should the diff fluid be? It should never be this green correct?

 

[n55luvr]

Diff fluid won't be green. It's more of your standard amber oil color in most cases. I've seen it with a purplish tint as well as a red tint but never a green tint.

 

[abuck99]

Thanks for your fast responses!
The Tb and wp service was done at Lexus in RI. I looked in the radiator before taking it in for the leak check and it looked green to me. This puzzled me because if service was recently done at Lexus why would green coolant be in the radiator (knowing Toyota/Lexus uses pink coolant). What color should the diff fluid be? It should never be this green correct?

Gear oil can be Red, Clear(Mobil1), purple. Never seen green.

Did you look at the coolant reservoir as others have suggested? If Lexus did a TB service and waterpump didn't flush and use Toyota SLL (red) I would inquire why. Cooling system should be flushed at TB WP interval.

 

[rweigel1]

It's likely A/C fluid that was previously dyed to find a leak. One of my rear A/C lines sprung a leak and it looked the same.

 

[Pjo113]

Wow you folks are great on this site. I raised these concerns including the AC leak with the service manager. Will let you know the followup.

Another question
Is it normal for the oil pressure gauge on the right upper corner of the instrument cluster to move around while driving? Paid closer attention to the gauges while driving the car in for service and noticed this. The coolant temp did not go up but the drive is only couple miles from my house to the dealership.

 

[nissanh]

Oil pressure goes up with higher RPM and vise versa.

Is the leak you posed above is on the driver side wheel well or passenger side? Can you post a picture from the engine bay?We can see where exactly it is leaking.

 

[Pjo113]

The LX is at the shop now so unfortunately can't take a pic, but the leak was like right in the middle of the car, about as far back as the axles not under a wheel well. But if I remember correcty I think it was a little to passenger side.

 

[n55luvr]

The AC lines run down the passenger frame rail.

 

[94SRUNNER]

I agree, it looks like A/C oil dye. While I have not had the issue on our 470, our 80 Series had a condenser fail and there was green A/C oil all over the place.

You can pickup a set of UV glasses and UV light fairly inexpensively at most auto parts stores and track down the leak yourself.

It's likely A/C fluid that was previously dyed to find a leak. One of my rear A/C lines sprung a leak and it looked the same.

 

[caslim]

Definitely looks like AC or coolant. Possibly gear oil. I had an axle seal leak on me which produced a green residue on the passenger side.

 

[45Kevin]

Taste/smell it.
It will immediately be apparent whether it is oil or coolant.

 

[Pjo113]

Definitely looks like AC or coolant. Possibly gear oil. I had an axle seal leak on me which produced a green residue on the passenger side.

View attachment 1376862

wow it is green, axles are new on the vehicle, their dx was differential seals

 

[tacoduck]

subbed

 

[abuck99]

Definitely looks like AC or coolant. Possibly gear oil. I had an axle seal leak on me which produced a green residue on the passenger side.

View attachment 1376862

Holy guacamole -

Never seen green gear oil.

 

[SWUtah]

I'm voting A/C