Unknown Fluid Leak - Ideas?

[svana]

Hey guys, I was under my 4Runner this evening and noticed what I'm guessing is oil coated all over 2 places through the undercarriage. I'm not sure it's oil because the levels are still showing up full. I was hoping those that were knowledgeable than I may be able to help. I took a few pictures.

The first three pictures are towards the center of the vehicle, near where the front and rear doors meet.

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The last 2 images were harder to take, they were near the front wheels.






I appreciate any help or insight anybody would be able to give. Thanks!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

My guess would be a failed transfer case to shift actuator seal leak from the pictures, though I'm not entirely sure how it splashed onto the body since the drive shaft looks fairly clean?

Have you checked the fluid level on the transfer case? (crack open the fill plug on level ground, you should be able to stick a pinky in and feel fluid just under the edge of the threads, much like you would check a differential.)

 

[Gecko123]

I would smear some on a white piece of paper to see what color shows up if possible. Is it pinkish?

Different fluids smell differently. Rub some between you fingers and see if you can identify the smell.

Gear oil has a very strong odor.

 

[awdjunkies]

And/or when you can, power wash the under carriage and periodically watch to see where the oil is coming from.

 

[svana]

So I went out and checked the leak today, and wiped a white cloth along where the first picture was shown. Came out pitch black, smelled like a mixture of sweet and burning rubber. I didn't get to check the differential, it was too damned cold out and I had just finished changing the spark plugs. Hopefully it warms up tomorrow.

 

[awdjunkies]

So I went out and checked the leak today, and wiped a white cloth along where the first picture was shown. Came out pitch black, smelled like a mixture of sweet and burning rubber. I didn't get to check the differential, it was too damned cold out and I had just finished changing the spark plugs. Hopefully it warms up tomorrow.

Hmm Sweet like coolant? burning rubber like diff oil?

 

[svana]

Hmm Sweet like coolant? burning rubber like diff oil?

I don't think it smelled like coolant, but perhaps something similar. I've never smelled diff oil to be able to discern it. Also, I forgot to mention - when I wiped it off, it came off thick, almost caked on, and flaked apart when I would touch it.

 

[awdjunkies]

Sorry not Diff, meant Gear oil..

 

[BillBoost37]

Something I do often (and most people think I drink the stuff) is to take a can of brake clean and hose down the area. That'll get most of the gunk off and allow you to get a better idea where the leak is originating.

Trying to diagnose a large area is more difficult unless you know the common leak points/issues.

 

[mallard]

That looks like the transfer case, which would be what BlackWorksInc says… a seal where the actuator motor attaches. Is there any of the oil in front of that, i.e., towards the front of the car. If it is engine oil, then check your valve cover gaskets. +1 on getting a white towel or paper towel to see what color the fluid is. I had a mysterious fluid leak on my land cruiser kinda far back and turned out to be be a loose clamp on the lines going to the heater core. Took me forever to find it. Good luck.

 

[gshadow325]

is this drivers or passenger side?

 

[svana]

I haven't been able to clean it up, don't really have a great place to do so (apartment complex-don't have access to a hose and don't want to just have oil spilling all over the place). The oil is pretty much in the center of the vehicle along the shaft, but the pictures were taken from the drivers side.