User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 04-09-2021, 08:04 PM #16
RumHam26 RumHam26 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Palatine, IL
Posts: 140
RumHam26 is on a distinguished road
RumHam26 RumHam26 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Palatine, IL
Posts: 140
RumHam26 is on a distinguished road
I'm not sure I understand your situation fully, but the check you power steering lines/fluid level. The power steering fluid is the same ATF, and I believe the lines run close to the radiator. Mine are pretty rusty.
RumHam26 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 10:07 AM #17
Bad Luck Bad Luck is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Posts: 4,410
Real Name: Patrick
Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute
Bad Luck Bad Luck is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Posts: 4,410
Real Name: Patrick
Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute Bad Luck has a reputation beyond repute
Quote:
Originally Posted by varol1 View Post
Well... I decided to verify and now I'm not sure if I might have the abhorred milkshake.



Top left is coolant, top right is ATF, and bottom is what's pooling up under the radiator. Coolant and ATF each have their characteristic smells; the fluid in question doesn't seem to have any particular smell.. does that mean the two fluids have mixed? Could it be any other fluid? FWIW, there were no other symptoms the last time I drove it a week or so ago. Shifting was butter smooth, etc. And, the radiator is brand new.

Thoughts?
Like phattyduck said when coolant and transmission fluid mix it becomes milky and pink. Very similar to strawberry milk or milkshake. I agree with him that it is likely a radiator leak. In order for powersteering fluid to get on the radiator there it would have to spray on a lot of other surfaces in order to reach that so that's not very likely.
__________________
2000 SR5 V6 Manual 4WD https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...biography.html
2000 Limited V6 Auto E-Locker Sold 3/2022
Bad Luck is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 10:40 AM #18
Novashards Novashards is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 140
Novashards will become famous soon enough
Novashards Novashards is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Franklin County, PA
Posts: 140
Novashards will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by varol1 View Post
Thanks - will check out.

Not sure if it's related, but the top and bottom radiator hoses are also flattened or "sucked in" when the truck's not running. Should I look to replace the radiator cap? The radiator itself was replaced less than 5k miles ago.

When I bought mine I replaced the radiator cap as well attempting to fix a collapsing upper radiator hose but then noticed the reservoir level never changed from cool to hot after a good drive. I found out the tubes going from the radiator cap neck to the coolant reservoir were completely clogged with crap due to lack of maintenance by the previous owner. Wire to break up the crud and an air compressor to blow out the lines fixed my issue.
Novashards is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 11:13 AM #19
varol1's Avatar
varol1 varol1 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 72
varol1 is on a distinguished road
varol1 varol1 is offline
Member
varol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 72
varol1 is on a distinguished road
Thanks for the additional suggestions, gang.

I decided to check the PS reservoir to rule that out and I was shocked to see the level was below the tip of the dipstick; I topped it off.

I still don't understand how fluid could be collecting at the base of the radiator, especially having not run the engine in over a week. It seems unlikely but I wonder if there are two separate leaks, one in the radiator somewhere and one in the PS lines.

I sprayed the undercarriage with Simple Green yesterday and pressure washed everything from the bottom, which I'm hoping helps to see where any leaks may be. I also read a few threads on the low and high pressure PS lines developing leaks/cracks, so that's what I'm hoping to identify when I take a look later today.

The saga continues...
varol1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-23-2021, 12:26 PM #20
varol1's Avatar
varol1 varol1 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 72
varol1 is on a distinguished road
varol1 varol1 is offline
Member
varol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Golden, CO
Posts: 72
varol1 is on a distinguished road
In case anyone is curious how this saga came to a conclusion:
  • I took the truck to my trusted mechanic who ended up spending over an hour at the car wash pressure washing the radiator and condenser with "oil eater" soap - he said there was so much ATF in the fins from when the tranny cooler had failed (had to be from one of the hose clamps since the cooler was pressure tested and checked out).

  • He called out the 'sucked in' radiator hoses which I'd tried to resolve by installing a new OEM radiator cap. It turns out a previous owner had used stop-leak and clogged up the hose going to the radiator overflow reservoir.

  • Thanks to RumHam26 for suggesting to check the PS reservoir since it also uses ATF - sure enough, the level was quite low and I topped it off before mentioning it to the mechanic. He found a small leak coming from the PS return line and fixed it by replacing an 8" section of the hose.
I've named this entire adventure red fluid nightmares thanks to Toyota using the same color fluid for the tranny, power steering and radiator. Brilliant on their part.

Thanks to everyone for all the tips and suggestions.
varol1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 08-28-2021, 03:47 PM #21
g r a n t g r a n t is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: 0,0
Posts: 13
g r a n t is on a distinguished road
g r a n t g r a n t is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: 0,0
Posts: 13
g r a n t is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by varol1 View Post
In case anyone is curious how this saga came to a conclusion:
  • I took the truck to my trusted mechanic who ended up spending over an hour at the car wash pressure washing the radiator and condenser with "oil eater" soap - he said there was so much ATF in the fins from when the tranny cooler had failed (had to be from one of the hose clamps since the cooler was pressure tested and checked out).

  • He called out the 'sucked in' radiator hoses which I'd tried to resolve by installing a new OEM radiator cap. It turns out a previous owner had used stop-leak and clogged up the hose going to the radiator overflow reservoir.

  • Thanks to RumHam26 for suggesting to check the PS reservoir since it also uses ATF - sure enough, the level was quite low and I topped it off before mentioning it to the mechanic. He found a small leak coming from the PS return line and fixed it by replacing an 8" section of the hose.
I've named this entire adventure red fluid nightmares thanks to Toyota using the same color fluid for the tranny, power steering and radiator. Brilliant on their part.

Thanks to everyone for all the tips and suggestions.

Glad I found this. A few days ago, 2500km from home and on vacation, my 07 4Runner started the same leak. Underside front left / driver’s. I’ve been underneath and can’t get a clear look since I can’t get the skid plate off easily. I’ve had my truck oil sprayed for years as I am in Canada. So - hard to trace. I have the same photos you posted too!! Hoping it is just a clamp or easily replaceable hose. Going to have to leave it here w the local dealer and pray for the best.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
g r a n t is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bay , fluid , hose/cap , leak , saturated

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Need help identifying this hose dwmckeehen 3rd gen T4Rs 8 10-15-2019 12:58 PM
Need help identifying this hose dwmckeehen 3rd gen T4Rs 1 10-14-2019 05:15 PM
Need Help Identifying Hose djsting 3rd gen T4Rs 3 08-07-2019 04:17 PM
Help identifying hose near transfer case wkeryder4 4th Gen T4Rs 3 10-27-2018 09:09 PM
Need help identifying hose TxUrbanRunner Classic T4Rs 4 10-01-2011 02:19 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:07 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
***This site is an unofficial Toyota site, and is not officially endorsed, supported, authorized by or affiliated with Toyota. All company, product, or service names references in this web site are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Toyota name, marks, designs and logos, as well as Toyota model names, are registered trademarks of Toyota Motor Corporation***Ad Management plugin by RedTyger
 
Copyright © 2020