Mystery (Trans Fluid?) Leak. Ignore or make a priority?

[noxor]

Hi all.

99 4runner limited 4wd, 135k miles. Purchased in November and was driving from NY to NV when trans went out. Fluid was black and smelled terrible so just went with the cheaper quicker route of swapping in a used one and went on my way. Ever since then it has had a small drip on the ground from the front end.

I have no idea where its coming from. Fluid is all over the trans/pan and then down essentially. The fluid drops do appear reddish when dabbed with paper towel. All fluid levels are checked often, are ok, and I havent had any problems.

Its very messy!

See pictures. I can take more if anyone request a specific location they want to see. Any thoughts? Looking at these pictures they kind of suck so I will probably get back under it and take a few more soon. Thanks!!

Imgur album here: https://imgur.com/a/hwGrC

 

[LittleCaesar]

Maybe when you put the new trans in your forgot to put the O-ring in that helps join the two pieces of the dipstick.

I'd also take a good look at your steering rack.

 

[noxor]

Maybe when you put the new trans in your forgot to put the O-ring in that helps join the two pieces of the dipstick.

I'd also take a good look at your steering rack.

thanks for the tips! I should have clarified, a shop put in the trans, but hey techs arent perfect. I will check those areas out. Would be great if it was something as simple as the dipstick connection!

 

[mtbtim]

Dude, spray a bunch of degreaser like Simple Green under there and then pressure wash it off. If you don't have a pressure washer, just visit one of those coin-op car washes. With it all cleaned up really good, you'll have a better chance of narrowing down where the leak(s) are originating from.

 

[noxor]

Dude, spray a bunch of degreaser like Simple Green under there and then pressure wash it off. If you don't have a pressure washer, just visit one of those coin-op car washes. With it all cleaned up really good, you'll have a better chance of narrowing down where the leak(s) are originating from.

I'll do that this week at work. Will update with results.

 

[noxor]

Update time

Alright I cleaned everything and found

1) I have leaky coolant lines to the back passenger heater. Unrelated to big mess I am concerned about but I will be needing to clamp off the hoses to the heater lines under the hood. I have shown a pic of those, circled the hoses that are leaking below (metal has rusted out, VERY SLOW leak, or else I would have no coolant by now...)

2) I think the leak is coming from the black cover in the front (front of the vehicle) part of the trans. It looks like there is a drain built into the trans, on the bottom, where the front black is mounted. I have also pictured that and circle the drain area.

I also found that I think I have a bolt missing from where this black piece is held on , but, if there is a drain, I dont think that cover is important. Something behind it is leaking I think.

Any thoughts??

Link to album here:
https://imgur.com/a/KRx8N

and here is a link to a site that shows whats behind the black cover, and you can see the small drain on the bottom.

http://rigs.corequipment.com/Cebby/93 4Runner/Transmission_Mods/a340f detail 005 (Medium).jpg

 

[Nate_GB]

It's really hard to tell what's going on in your photos. But from the sound of it, what your describing is the little block off plate that is removed to acces the bolts that hold the torque converter to the flywheel. If the fluid is definitely red, and definitely coming from in there, the only place it could be leaking is from the trans input shaft area where the torque converter slides on, or from around the edge of the trans fluid pump. It is possible to install the trans without the torque converter being fully seated which, I suppose, would cause a leak. However, I don't know how long the trans would go without the torque converter being seated properly. The other thing it could be is the rear main seal on the engine leaking. However this would result in an engine oil leak, not trans fluid. Unfortunately, it sounds like the trans needs to come out to confirm...

To answer your question, ignore or make a priority? If it was my truck, I would not be ignoring it. Also, if it was my truck, I would have it back at the shop that did the swap to have them remove the trans and verify the issue was not their install.

 

[noxor]

To answer your question, ignore or make a priority? If it was my truck, I would not be ignoring it. Also, if it was my truck, I would have it back at the shop that did the swap to have them remove the trans and verify the issue was not their install.

appreciate your reply. I re-ordered the photo and added a description to them now. ignore the last few.

there IS a chance it is an oil leak that happens to be making its way down the outside of the trans, but I cant see much above it since my view is blocked. edit: am getting oil dye to check it out.

I cleaned off everything really well and at the rate it drips I should have a few new ones tomorrow so I will check it again.


Is there some kind of marker I can add to my engine oil (maybe some kind of UV dye?) edit: found some on amazon for cheap. Ill definitely get this and see whats going on.

 

[phattyduck]

Engine oil = tan to brown
Transmission fluid = Red to dark red

Soak some of it up with and white paper towel and see what it is...

-Charlie

 

[noxor]

Engine oil = tan to brown
Transmission fluid = Red to dark red

Soak some of it up with and white paper towel and see what it is...

-Charlie

Thanks Charlie. The problem was the fluid wasn't being collected quick enough before dripping onto other parts etc, so I didn't want to make a quick judgment. I used a funnel to collect some of the fluid and its definitively trans fluid, from the bell housing.

Its too late to go back to the shop who did the swap, and they are 1.5k miles away anyway so thats out of the picture essentially (I had to get a swap when I was driving across the US after it died en route)...


So that's where I am at now. It drives fine, isn't leaking a ton, and I am checking the fluid a few times a week and its not really going down much. I have put on a few thousand miles since the swap and its been good so far. I don't want to pay to have someone drop it just to fix a $4 seal, but at the same time I feel like dropping a trans is a lot to do.

Thoughts? Do you think someone who can follow instructions well and is patient can do this? I do basic maintenance on my vehicles and have been able to fix minor problems when they have come up before but this is getting serious. :smash:

 

[phattyduck]

Pulling the trans is a pretty big hassle, especially if you don't have a good trans jack and a lift... I was able to do a trans swap (plus some extra 4WD swap stuff) in a two day weekend with the help of a friend and his tools (no lift or trans jack at my house). We are both 'good' mechanics though with access to plenty of tools.

A small leak isn't a huge deal as long as you keep up on the fluid level. You can probably be up to a quart low before the trans complains...

-Charlie

 

[noxor]

Pulling the trans is a pretty big hassle, especially if you don't have a good trans jack and a lift... I was able to do a trans swap (plus some extra 4WD swap stuff) in a two day weekend with the help of a friend and his tools (no lift or trans jack at my house). We are both 'good' mechanics though with access to plenty of tools.

A small leak isn't a huge deal as long as you keep up on the fluid level. You can probably be up to a quart low before the trans complains...

-Charlie

Great thanks! After talking with some friends we came to the same conclusion. It's not ideal but its not something I can tackle with what I (don't) have.

 

[96RedRunner]

Thinking on your issue I come up with questions and comments.
If T/C was not installed correctly you would have problems real quick.
so if Trans is acting like it should, no odd sounds your good in that area.
It is possible to nick T/C seal when putting trans back in.
Have you done a drain and fill checking for metal in ATF?
Overall you can drive see what happens, keep an eye on fluid, could equal big $$.
Pull it fix it, equals $$ situations like yours is crap shoot