Fluid Leak Help please?

[Safari Runner]

Ok so I got home from school about an hour ago Its only like a ten minute drive from home. In the garage when I pulled in I noticed an odd smell from the 4runner like it was overheating. When I drove home though the gauge read normal. I popped the hood and there was a small amount of redish fluid scattered around the front section of the engine bay. There was also the same fluid dripping to the floor on the passenger side. Its a small amount and it stopped dripping. Im pretty sure its not power steering as some of the fluid ended up directly ontop of the steering fluids cap. Its not ATF and yes i have a full bypass trans cooler. Is this engine coolant or something would it be leaking from a hose? anyone have an idea?

 

[TheDurk]

OEM Toyota coolant is piink or red. Sounds like it boiled over, maybe because it was low on coolant. It could be leaking from the heater core and that is what you see on the floor on the passenger side. What's your fluid level? I'll bet that overflow is empty when the truck cools off.

 

[badattitude]

Last time I noticed coolant like that there was a blockage in the cooling system. In my particular case it was just the overflow bypass that was blocked by a piece of rubber from the radiator cap that broke off. The leak was from the top hose due to pressure, the hose was fine. I also noted that the radiator hoses collasped when the truck cooled. Go back after it sits overnight and see if your radiator hoses are collasped, If they are you may have a blockage somewhere.

 

[Safari Runner]

Yes! the overflow was empty! So I should add some Toyota Red and water?

 

[IanB]

Yes! the overflow was empty! So I should add some Toyota Red and water?

1st you should figure out how your coolant got out, and fix that. Be VERY careful driving with a coolant leak, if you overheat your engine you can warp the heads and cause a lot of damage.