Pink Fluid Leak Near Rear Passenger Wheel

[AuSeeker]

Thanks. Funnily enough I just watched a video on a Youtube channel over here where they drained a similar system on an Audi RS6. It's really thin fluid, not the thicker oil type consistency I was expecting.

(If anyone wants to see it

)

It's basally hydraulic fluid much the same as brake fluid.

 

[Ali0227]

Possible rear heat heater core, there's one on my '07 Highlander leaking coolant on floor, has two coolant lines to/from that can be hooked together to bypass the core.

No rear heat.

 

[Ali0227]

Do you know if this has X-REAS?

I didn't know so called dealership and parts department using VIN # told me it came with reguar shocks.

Do you know if I need to do anything about the pip that has a 2 or 3 small holes in it?

 

[Ali0227]

No rear heat.

 

[Ali0227]

I don't see anything pink in the first 2 photos. I do see grease spots. In the last posted photo I see something pink that could be red grease from something; u-joint grease maybe? Lucas oil has their "Red 'N Tacky" grease.

Do you have any photos of the wet pink stuff by the rear tire?

Unfortunately I don't. I wish I had taken photos. When I wiped it up with the paper towels, the color was definitely exact color of pink coolant on the towel. I was reading somewhere online when I selected AI search option that ATF fluid mixed with gear oil can look pink, do you know anything about that?

 

[Ali0227]

If the ATF fluid mixes with gear oil, can it look pink like coolant? Haven't lost any coolant in reservoir. So bummed I didn't take a photo. My mechanic was close by and showed it to him. He took a quick look under car (not on the lift) and he didn't see anything. Thought it could be brake fluid. After I left I realized it can't be brake fluid b/c OEM is amber or brown. Any chance it could be a rear axle seal leak? The car was stored without any use for 6 months. TIA.

 

[Ali0227]

It's basally hydraulic fluid much the same as brake fluid.

If the ATF fluid mixes with gear oil, can it look pink like coolant? Haven't lost any coolant in reservoir. So bummed I didn't take a photo. My mechanic was close by and showed it to him. He took a quick look under car (not on the lift) and he didn't see anything. Thought it could be brake fluid. After I left I realized it can't be brake fluid b/c OEM is amber or brown. Any chance it could be a rear axle seal leak? The car was stored without any use for 6 months. TIA.

 

[SurferUK]

If the ATF fluid mixes with gear oil, can it look pink like coolant? Haven't lost any coolant in reservoir. So bummed I didn't take a photo. My mechanic was close by and showed it to him. He took a quick look under car (not on the lift) and he didn't see anything. Thought it could be brake fluid. After I left I realized it can't be brake fluid b/c OEM is amber or brown. Any chance it could be a rear axle seal leak? The car was stored without any use for 6 months. TIA.

Not unless someone put ATF in your axle...you would know if it was gear oil. It STINKS and it isn't pink.

Did you put any sort of fuel additive or stabiliser in before storing it?

I had some spark plugs on a motorbike turn red. I was a bit concerned it was coolant entering the cylinder, but it seems certain fuels and additives can cause a red manganese deposit.

If this got diluted with condensation and made it to the tail pipe I suppose it could be pink ish.

 

[SurferUK]

Do you know if this has X-REAS?

I didn't know so called dealership and parts department using VIN # told me it came with reguar shocks.

Do you know if I need to do anything about the pip that has a 2 or 3 small holes in it?

If you mean the holes I think you mean in the photo that shows the exhaust, they won't cause a problem as such, it's probably where condensation is dripping out of the exhaust right where you saw it, if anything.

As it's pink, to me it's either coolant, or the fuel/additives I wondered about.

I think you need to just drive it and keep an eye on the coolant level really.

As it was stood for 6 months it could be something innocuous like a slight weep into a cylinder that would never build up with daily use.

 

[ArthurKotb]

Unfortunately I don't. I wish I had taken photos. When I wiped it up with the paper towels, the color was definitely exact color of pink coolant on the towel. I was reading somewhere online when I selected AI search option that ATF fluid mixed with gear oil can look pink, do you know anything about that?

No, sorry. SurferUK is right about gear oil stinking. The gear oil I use for my outboard motor's lower unit smells so bad I have to open the garage door and turn on fans when I change it.

Since this pink stuff was under a wheel maybe you drove through something? I know the car was sitting for a while but a rubber tire on a concrete floor can hold water/moisture for a long time. Pink can even be moldy rain water.

Since you aren't seeing anything now maybe you should just keep an eye on it and not worry just yet. I took our old Sienna on a 2400 mile trip, parked in the garage when we got back, and the next day there was a big puddle of what looked like oil. I mopped it up and took it to Toyota Service and they never found a thing and it's never happened since then, over 3 years now. hwell:

 

[Ali0227]

Not unless someone put ATF in your axle...you would know if it was gear oil. It STINKS and it isn't pink.

Did you put any sort of fuel additive or stabiliser in before storing it?

I had some spark plugs on a motorbike turn red. I was a bit concerned it was coolant entering the cylinder, but it seems certain fuels and additives can cause a red manganese deposit.

If this got diluted with condensation and made it to the tail pipe I suppose it could be pink ish.

I did put stabilizer in at the gas station. I’ve been doing this for 10 years. It was a decent size puddle and it wasn’t anywhere near the tailpipe.

 

[SurferUK]

I did put stabilizer in at the gas station. I’ve been doing this for 10 years. It was a decent size puddle and it wasn’t anywhere near the tailpipe.

I think it's a case of you get a pressure test done on the cooling system and a leakdown test done on the block, or just drive it while monitoring levels and temp.

As you mentioned the ATF is T-IV I'm guessing yours is like mine that has the old 4 speed transmission with a dipstick so you're in luck there at least, for checking the ATF level.

 

[Ali0227]

If you mean the holes I think you mean in the photo that shows the exhaust, they won't cause a problem as such, it's probably where condensation is dripping out of the exhaust right where you saw it, if anything.

As it's pink, to me it's either coolant, or the fuel/additives I wondered about.

I think you need to just drive it and keep an eye on the coolant level really.

As it was stood for 6 months it could be something innocuous like a slight weep into a cylinder that would never build up with daily use.

Thank you, didn't know what I'm looking at under the vehicle .... good to know the holes in exhaust not a big deal.

As for checking coolant, the reservoir hans't lost any coolant that's noticeable to me, should I check the radiator level? New radiator put in fall of 24'.

 

[SurferUK]

Thank you, didn't know what I'm looking at under the vehicle .... good to know the holes in exhaust not a big deal.

As for checking coolant, the reservoir hans't lost any coolant that's noticeable to me, should I check the radiator level? New radiator put in fall of 24'.

It's fine to pop the cap if you want when it's cold, but it should always be full as the reservoir is where the coolant expands to when it gets hot, then it gets drawn back as it cools.

No harm in checking though.

 

[Ali0227]

I think it's a case of you get a pressure test done on the cooling system and a leakdown test done on the block, or just drive it while monitoring levels and temp.

As you mentioned the ATF is T-IV I'm guessing yours is like mine that has the old 4 speed transmission with a dipstick so you're in luck there at least, for checking the ATF level.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on it and see what happens. Going in for an ATF drain and fill in a week or two, so will get the tranny fluid level checked and see if they can see anything else. Thanks.

 

[Ali0227]

No, sorry. SurferUK is right about gear oil stinking. The gear oil I use for my outboard motor's lower unit smells so bad I have to open the garage door and turn on fans when I change it.

Since this pink stuff was under a wheel maybe you drove through something? I know the car was sitting for a while but a rubber tire on a concrete floor can hold water/moisture for a long time. Pink can even be moldy rain water.

Since you aren't seeing anything now maybe you should just keep an eye on it and not worry just yet. I took our old Sienna on a 2400 mile trip, parked in the garage when we got back, and the next day there was a big puddle of what looked like oil. I mopped it up and took it to Toyota Service and they never found a thing and it's never happened since then, over 3 years now. hwell:

Yeah, I'll just have to keep an eye on it. I have always put a tarp down on the concrete. When I researched storing my car in the winter a decade ago, I learned about the moisture issue. Interesting about your Sienna, that's awesome it was a one off ... they are so nice!

 

[ArthurKotb]

Interesting about your Sienna, that's awesome it was a one off ... they are so nice!

The Gen 1 Sienna was built in the award winning Georgetown, KY plant. At that time it was home to the Camry and Avalon. They knew that the Sienna was eventually moving to the Indiana plant because the Gen 2 would be too long to fit on the line in Georgetown so many of the parts used were actually Avalon parts and a lot of the welding was done in a different way.

Ours has been a really great vehicle and although I've offered the wife an opportunity to get a new(er) one she always says no. She loves this one.:kiss:

 

[Ali0227]

I think it's a case of you get a pressure test done on the cooling system and a leakdown test done on the block, or just drive it while monitoring levels and temp.

As you mentioned the ATF is T-IV I'm guessing yours is like mine that has the old 4 speed transmission with a dipstick so you're in luck there at least, for checking the ATF level.

Just checked ATF dip stick, it was to the full line; opened radiator cap and it was full to the brim! It actually looked orange so I got a paper towel to check and it was pink, I guess an illusion.

I don't know what that stuff next to my car was in the garage but it was not the same liquid consistency of the pink coolant, it was kind of thick almost like oil but not quite as thick as oil. My mechanic said it was probably from someone else's car. It's a possibility but hard to believe I would have missed that b/c I most likely would have stepped in it. I went all around the car when getting ready to store it and placed cotton balls with peppermint oil tall around vehicle o keep rodents away. Oh well, will just monitor.

 

[Ali0227]

The Gen 1 Sienna was built in the award winning Georgetown, KY plant. At that time it was home to the Camry and Avalon. They knew that the Sienna was eventually moving to the Indiana plant because the Gen 2 would be too long to fit on the line in Georgetown so many of the parts used were actually Avalon parts and a lot of the welding was done in a different way.

Ours has been a really great vehicle and although I've offered the wife an opportunity to get a new(er) one she always says no. She loves this one.:kiss:

Im sure she does, Toyota makes really good cars. I love my 4runner and hope I get many more years out of it. It's my baby! For many years, I used the stock Bridgestone tires, then in 2020 I put on Michelin Defenders and wow do they give a smooth ride and better handling at high speeds, IMO. I feel like I'm king of the road ... lol. Just wish the TPMS sensors worked. I had one non OEM sensor replaced and it only lasted a year. OEM too pricey.

 

[AuSeeker]

Im sure she does, Toyota makes really good cars. I love my 4runner and hope I get many more years out of it. It's my baby! For many years, I used the stock Bridgestone tires, then in 2020 I put on Michelin Defenders and wow do they give a smooth ride and better handling at high speeds, IMO. I feel like I'm king of the road ... lol. Just wish the TPMS sensors worked. I had one non OEM sensor replaced and it only lasted a year. OEM too pricey.

Just an FYI, you can get Denso TPMS sensors for less than 1/2 the price of OEM sensors, Denso is the supplier of Toyota OEM sensors.

Just make sure you get them from a reputable supplier like Rockauto, there are many fake Denso products out there made in China (especially on eBay and Amazon) !!

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