What is this leak?

[playdrv4me]

Found this when I walked out to the truck this afternoon. Gotta say, not too thrilled with this thing so far...

This substance appears to be transmission fluid as it is red in color and greasy. I just had the timing belt changed so I thought perhaps it was coolant, but after comparing coolant and trans fluid on a white rag, it seems for sure it is not coolant.

That said, I have not run the truck today at all, and the transmission fluid level is WELL above BOTH the "COOL" and "HOT" points on the dipstick. Perhaps it will drop significantly once it is running, no idea.

Differential oil is dark and stinky isn't it? I'm thinking this has to be transfer case or transmission fluid, but no idea where from. Perhaps trans cooler lines?

Help appreciated as always... By the way "X" marks the spot. For whatever reason, there's a yellow X on my skid plate, and the leak is immediately behind that, where the two little holes are on the skid plate.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Pink crusties on the skid and location make me say coolant.

 

[playdrv4me]

Hmm, I noticed that too, but that area also seems dry. And I swear this stuff is oily, notice how those little bits of plant material stuck right to it overnight. I'm going to go leave it at the Toyota dealer that did the t-belt swap, since I don't want it to run out of whatever fluid that is before I get a chance to move it.

 

[APKhaos]

Well, coolant would be my first candidate but there is also the trans oil cooler integrated with the radiator. Its possible that they may have damaged the trans cooler nipples, or left the hose clamps loose. If you pop the skid plate off the answer should be obvious. There is the old school test if you are up for it: Coolant has a distinctive sweet taste; AT oil does not. A fingertip is all you need to apply, and you will not die. Well, not soon anyway.

 

[4Peanut]

Differential oil is dark and stinky isn't it? I'm thinking this has to be transfer case or transmission fluid...

Most are running the same oil in the transfer case as the front and rear differentials. Did you taste it? Coolant will be sweet.

 

[Bawlz]

The crusties say coolant to me too. Def take it back/leave it at the dealer that did the work, and let them deal with it.

The truck needs to be running to check transmission fluid level.

 

[Nottajeep]

Should only be 2 red colored fluids. Toyota red coolant and and the tranny fluid. By rubbing your fingers in it, it's either watery or oily texture.

Transfer case/ gear oil is brownish tint.

 

[rusty_tlc]

The coolant has a greasy feel to me.

The the spot dries up it's likely coolant, given how far forward it is I'd bet a doughnut it is coolant.
I'd be for taking it back to the shop that did the belt change.

Did you have the water pump done at the same time?

 

[playdrv4me]

Thanks for the info. Well, I drove it to the Toyota dealer (about 5 miles) and it made it fine. However by the time we arrived the drip was more like a small stream. It certainly has the consistency of coolant, I mean the stuff is almost like water. I checked the trans dipstick AGAIN after I dropped it off and the level was still quite a bit above the "hot" mark.

So while driving it seems like whatever it was sloshed around on the control arm and such. So now my concern is that hopefully coolant is not making it's way back to the transmission. I'm on the way to a movie right now, but I'll do the "taste test" on my way home

 

[SupraTuRD]

There is the old school test if you are up for it: Coolant has a distinctive sweet taste; AT oil does not.

Please do not "taste" it.

 

[SupraTuRD]

I would remove the skid plate to take a peek. Drive around until it's up to full operating temp to build up pressure in the cooling system and you'll probably see where it's originating.

 

[inkpot]

Are you checking the transmission fluid level with the engine running or not?

 

[Texas993]

Are you checking the transmission fluid while idling?

 

[paflytyer]

The yellow "X" you were wondering about is on your oil filter cover. I'm sure the garage that was doing the oil changes marked it as a "quick find" to where the filter is. Nothing to do with the leak you have, which I also think is coolant.

Also, if you've already dropped the truck back off at the dealer, I wouldn't waste your time taste testing any fluids. Since you're not stuck on the trail somewhere, there's no need.

 

[dfrelich]

There is the old school test if you are up for it: Coolant has a distinctive sweet taste; AT oil does not.

Smell it. Just for reference, dip your finger in the coolant. Be sure to let it cool first.

 

[Kigiin]

"coolant not making it back to transmission"

?????

 

[paflytyer]

Smell it. Just for reference, dip your finger in the coolant. Be sure to let it cool first.

Ah, if you're gonna smell it, you might as well taste it real quick too. Not a sip, just a tiny dab on the end of your finger.
Smelling works fine though. It really does smell sweet.

Be aware that if you have a dog (or even a cat) they will lick up whatever coolant is on the ground and it can and will kill them if they get enough of it. Please be careful with that, your neighbors pets will come for it too.

 

[Bighead]

"coolant not making it back to transmission"

?????

I'm assuming he's talking about the "pink milkshake" (radiator/tranny cooler failure) that the 3rd Gen 4Runners have been dealing with.

 

[Campfire]

Well........... I forcast that the dealer didn't sell you a water pump when they did the timing belt. Now it's going to need one and they have to do the entire job over again.
If they did do the water pump, they might have missed a piece of gasket or the thermostat housnig is over there in that corner also.
Good luck.

 

[playdrv4me]

No they didn't, and that's partially my fault because at the time (and still right now) I wasn't sure I was keeping the truck yet, so they were trying to save me the extra cost. The truck was a one owner local vehicle that has a very extensive maintenance history yet, at the same time, they didn't do a few oddly important things. I found out they also traded in an IS at the same time they traded this truck, so they were definitely veteran Toyota owners. Either they just plain didn't think the timing belts mattered, OR they'd had enough experience leaving them undone and knew how to time it so they never had to do it. All of the teeth on the belt were fine inside, but this belt actually had stress cracks all around the OUTSIDE which is why I felt rushed into changing it out before I made my decision on keeping it (since I technically got the LX only as a holdover after I got a very good trade offer on my old 7 series toward a different BMW, then saw this LX there and got that instead). Having seen my friend's stepdad's 2003 LX go 320k with little more than routine maintenance, I figured it was a safe bet to tide me over for a while.

Unfortunately, I already tasted it, and that didn't help at all . It might have had some sweet taste to it right at the beginning, but then it was HORRIDLY bitter. I would figure if kids and pets love to drink coolant, it's probably not bitter at any point. For whatever reason, I still think this is either transmission fluid, or a mix of transmission fluid and coolant together. Whether that's even possible I don't know. My concern about the coolant making it back to the transmission is only because I know that the transmission fluid cycles somewhere around the radiator or trans cooler and that perhaps some fitting being broken or hose coming loose could mean the two come in contact. As long as that's not possible without the cooler actually failing internally, I guess I won't worry about that. After getting out of the movie I was fully expecting to find a massive puddle of liquid under the truck when I got back to the dealership to drop the key in the night drop. Instead, the cement was moist, but the regular drip had slowed down or stopped again.