What am I looking at here? SOS?

[sdwaltz]

Alright guys -

4Runner noob, I just picked up my rig a little over 2 weeks ago. I'm a total noob/novice when it comes to working on cars. I may read automotive journalism on a daily basis and can talk specs all day long, but when it comes down to it, I do not know my way around a vehicle...all I can really do is change my own oil. The upshot is that I bought this 200,000 mile example knowing that issues would crop up with the intention of trying to learn.

Now for the problem: I've sprung a leak somewhere.

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Pictured is the front end of my runner...I know it could be coming from the engine bay and leaking all the way down to the ground, but it appears to me that the leak is coming from...whatever part that is in the middle of the axle (this is how ignorant I am when it comes to identifying car parts). I would do a search as many on this forum suggest before posting, but I legitimately have zero idea what part that even is, so I don't know what to search for.

The consistency of the fluid is slick and it smells a little bit like oil, but I don't think it's oil. I can't comment on the color of the fluid because it rained today and mostly washed away. I will report back on that once my runner can sit for a bit and the pool of...whatever fluid it is...can collect again.

One other thing: it looks like my coolant is low.


The transmission is shifting just fine and the temperature gauge is just below the middle between cool and hot, so I don't think this is a pink milkshake issue or anything like that, but for how little I know I could be dead wrong.

Please help! I may not know much but am willing to learn and just need some of you fine individuals to point me in the right direction. Thank you!

 

[LittleCaesar]

Leaking valve covers more than likely.

Not too hard to fix. If you want to learn to DIY cars, this one is easy to learn on.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Alright guys -

4Runner noob, I just picked up my rig a little over 2 weeks ago. I'm a total noob/novice when it comes to working on cars. I may read automotive journalism on a daily basis and can talk specs all day long, but when it comes down to it, I do not know my way around a vehicle...all I can really do is change my own oil. I bought this 200,000 miles example knowing that issues would crop up and with the intention of trying to learn though.

Now for the problem: I've sprung a leak somewhere.

Pictured is the front end of my runner...I know it could be coming from the engine bay and leaking all the way down to the ground, but it appears to me that the leak is coming from...whatever part that is in the middle of the axle (this is how ignorant I am when it comes to identifying car parts). I would do a search as many on this forum suggest before posting, but I legitimately have zero idea what part that even is, so I don't know what to search for.

The consistency of the fluid is slick and it smells a little bit like oil, but I don't think it's oil. I can't comment on the color of the fluid because it rained today and mostly washed away. I will report back on that once my runner can sit for a bit and the pool of...whatever fluid it is...can collect again.

One other thing: it looks like my coolant is low.

The transmission is shifting just fine and the temperature gauge is just below the middle between cool and hot, so I don't think this is a pink milkshake issue or anything like that, but for how little I know I could be dead wrong.

Please help! I may not know much but am willing to learn and just need some of you fine individuals to point me in the right direction. Thank you!

Probably valve cover gaskets or any of the associated seals (cam plugs, half moon FIPG seal etc), Look under the hood. Follow the spark wires to the aluminum covers on both sides of the motor. Will probably see wetness on the bolts holding the covers on.

That coolant isn't too low. The other side of the reservoir has the level marks for cold and hot engine temp. Just fill with the coolant you have in there already ( green, red etc) to the appropriate level for engine temp

 

[mtbtim]

Leak Finding 101:

1) Degrease the underside of the engine as best you can and take it to one of those coin-op car washes and wash underneath to get rid of as much gunk as you can.

2) Take it back home and clean further with rags and degreaser everywhere there's a build-up

3) Now that you have things cleaner, you have a better chance of figuring out the origin of the leak. You look from the bottom up looking for areas leaking. Something leaking from up above can slowly make it way down to the bottom by dripping it's way down from component to component. You could have multiple things leaking or just one.

4) Just by the color, you should be able to differentiate between automatic transmission fluid and motor oil. If the trans fluid is really dirty, it may be harder to differentiate between the two but trans fluid does have a distinct smell to it that you can't confuse with motor oil. Your power steering system also uses transmission fluid by the way. You can differentiate between differential gear oil and motor oil because gear oil is thicker and it also has a distinct smell to it. You should easily be able to differentiate coolant from everything else.

Hope this helps.

 

[Renegade_Medic]

Also, it could be the power steering return line. They eventually weep fluid. I replaced a soft section of my PS return line for a couple bucks (hose clamps and a few inches of hose). It goes right over the driver front frame and caused a lot of grime build up in this spot. No more nasty PS rack. Again, you likely won't be able to tell until its a little cleaner.

 

[daniresch]

1. Clean the underside of your 4runner and find the origin of the leak. Crawl underneath with a flash light, there is no other way of finding leak.

2. That is not your coolant level. What that is, is your coolant blow off container and it looks pretty normal. To check your actual coolant level: remove the cap from the radiator when the motor is COLD. I repeat only remove the radiator cap when the motor is COLD. The radiator should be filled to the top of the cap.

 

[Scramble]

Looks like too much oil for valve covers. I'm thinking power steering fluid from the rack/line. Check the power steering reservoir.

 

[ridefast]

Agreed, looks like the steering rack.

Coolant might be original? Could be time to replace the radiator and replace coolant.

Need more info for further diagnosis.

 

[jgue467]

My guess is the steering rack too. Use youtube for how to vids along with the ones here. you can do this. :cowboy:

 

[reelamin]

It has been leaking for more than two weeks for sure. I'm guessing motor oil....and probably leaking valve cover. Mine has similar leak...a few drops every time I stop after a short drive. Allows me to keep fresh oil in it

 

[sdwaltz]

Wow...thank you ALL so much for the quick and helpful replies.

I got back under it a little bit ago and got a much better, closer look. For one, I can now say I'm about 95% sure it's just engine oil. I got a flashlight up above where I THOUGHT the leak might've been coming from and there is what appears to be oil all up in there. Oil level is about where it should be. About a week after I got it I checked the oil and it was low - still showing on the dipstick but below the fill line. Put some oil in and kept right on driving. Pretty safe to say it's definitely not a leak that's only been there for two weeks which makes me feel better. It also explains the very slight smell of burning oil I encounter sometimes while getting out of it after a 20 minute drive.

Once I get some time I'll have to check out the valve cover gaskets and a few of the other things that were suggested. I have a mechanically inclined friend that ought to be able to help me out and check everything that was suggested by you guys. But in the meantime I feel much better knowing it's most likely just some oil, which I keep on hand anyway and can keep filling until I get it fixed. Once I can figure out what's going on I will report back!

 

[Sean K.]

Looks like too much oil for valve covers. I'm thinking power steering fluid from the rack/line. Check the power steering reservoir.

This would be my bet as well.....

***EDIT*** After reading the OP's latest response....

Keep in mind OP: it can be both the rack leaking AND leaking valve covers. Ask me how I know, LOL.

Good luck with it.

 

[fblainen11]

Wow...thank you ALL so much for the quick and helpful replies.

I got back under it a little bit ago and got a much better, closer look. For one, I can now say I'm about 95% sure it's just engine oil. I got a flashlight up above where I THOUGHT the leak might've been coming from and there is what appears to be oil all up in there. Oil level is about where it should be. About a week after I got it I checked the oil and it was low - still showing on the dipstick but below the fill line. Put some oil in and kept right on driving. Pretty safe to say it's definitely not a leak that's only been there for two weeks which makes me feel better. It also explains the very slight smell of burning oil I encounter sometimes while getting out of it after a 20 minute drive.

Once I get some time I'll have to check out the valve cover gaskets and a few of the other things that were suggested. I have a mechanically inclined friend that ought to be able to help me out and check everything that was suggested by you guys. But in the meantime I feel much better knowing it's most likely just some oil, which I keep on hand anyway and can keep filling until I get it fixed. Once I can figure out what's going on I will report back!

That's a good sign that you smell burnt oil. That lends me to believing it's a valve cover gasket seal leaking or possibly a cracked valve cover. Both a good beginners job for you to get your feet wet.

It could be other leaks as well, but that's a good start. Next time you take a drive, pop the hood and see if you see any smoke coming from atop the exhaust manifolds. If you do, look up from there.

 

[thegipper]

This would be my bet as well.....

***EDIT*** After reading the OP's latest response....

Keep in mind OP: it can be both the rack leaking AND leaking valve covers. Ask me how I know, LOL.

Good luck with it.

I would still check the power steering reservoir to make sure the fluid isn't low. It's probably just the normal leaky valve covers but it takes 10 seconds to check the PS fluid.

Make sure you read the buyers guide about the other areas of concern on these rigs. They are pretty solid but they do have a few quirks.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html#post706218