Small leak while warming up

[straycat76]

Hey all, first I tried searching for the answer...but have you ever tried searching "small leak"? A lifetime of reading popped up.

Anyway, I have noticed over the last 2 days or so a very small leak underneath the engine area of the 4runner after letting her warm up in the cold mornings. I can't pinpoint where it's coming from, or what it is. It's thin (too thin to be grease), and a dark grey/light black (eliminating coolant and transmission fluid). It also has a pretty distinctive strong odor. I'm not a mechanic, or very good knowing my runner well enough to know her smells apparently, so I can't figure it out. I'm thinking oil, but I cant see anywhere it would be leaking...and it seems kind of thin to be oil.

Anyone have any suggestions? Its a 2000 limited, 109k miles, automatic. I've attached pics as well. Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions/ridicule.

 

[straycat76]

ok...might be the transfer case? two more pics after crawling underneath...

Any idea what might be causing it? How would I go about fixing it?

 

[BigBluePile]

Is it kinda pungent? Looks like gear oil.

 

[straycat76]

Is it kinda pungent? Looks like gear oil.

Yeah, its got a strong "bitter" odor to it. Nothing like motor oil or transmission fluid.

Think maybe the cold weather is causing a seal to shrink?

 

[nevada]

the stuff on your finger looks like maybe ATF or power steering fluid.

 

[audiness]

If it smells terrible, its probably gear oil. could be the seals in the diff case.

 

[straycat76]

If it smells terrible, its probably gear oil. could be the seals in the diff case.

IN the diff case? That sounds complicated. What is it on the importance scale to get it fixed?

I never considered power steering fluid, I'll take a quick smell to see if it matches.

 

[audiness]

By seals i meant the output shaft seals. Overall not that terrible of a job.

 

[straycat76]

Yeah, ill probably take it to a garage...i dont know how serious it is and dont want to cause any further problems by neglecting it. It still has a minor drip, but not everyday, and in about the same quantity as the pics above.