Where is this leak coming from?
- Thread starter jminz
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BlackWorksInc
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Well first off the coolant is contaminated, so that's not a good sign to begin with.
I really can't tell much from those pictures to be honest. Can you see it from the top? maybe where it's dripping onto the axle shaft?
I really can't tell much from those pictures to be honest. Can you see it from the top? maybe where it's dripping onto the axle shaft?
jminz
New member
I can't see anything from the top. I was underneath for 20 mins and still not certain where its coming from. The most fluid is on the passenger side of the steering rack. Its weird because there is a lot of fluid on the rack but only a couple drips above it and i think those might be from the wind carrying it.
I apologize about the huge pics. I made original post from my phone.
I apologize about the huge pics. I made original post from my phone.
jminz
New member
How does the coolant become contaminated? It has not run hot or blown smoke.
BlackWorksInc
New member
It is contaminated because they probably put a generic "green" coolant in the vehicle, that's why it's got that nasty gang green colour to it.
The wrong coolant was used for your vehicle, most generic green coolants have silicates in them as well as other chemicals that are not specified for use in our vehicles. Thus the coolant in the engine is now contaminated with chemicals and additives it was not designed for.
You should be using a coolant that meets the following specifications:
-Ethylene-Glycol based
-Non-Silicate
-Non-Amine
-Non-Nitrate
-Non-Borate
-HOATs (Hybrid Organic Acid Technology)
The following coolants meet the above specifications based on some research:
-Genuine Toyota SLLC (Super Long Life Coolant) aka "Toyota Pink" (Do not confuse this with the "Toyota Red" Long Life Coolant, they are two different formulas)
-Amsoil's Coolant
-Zerex Asian Formula
paraordnance
New member
It almost looks like its coming out of differential seal. Gear oil? Its got really distinct smell, and new oil looks somewhat transparent. Hard to tell from the pictures but coolant should be more pink
BlackWorksInc
New member
[MENTION=11819]jminz[/MENTION]
Have you taken the skid plate off and looked upwards at the front of the engine for any leaks there? I'm having a hard time really visualized where coolant could be leaking from around there based on those pictures.
There's really only the overflow bottle, radiator, and engine block drain plug on the passenger side in terms of coolant..
Have you taken the skid plate off and looked upwards at the front of the engine for any leaks there? I'm having a hard time really visualized where coolant could be leaking from around there based on those pictures.
There's really only the overflow bottle, radiator, and engine block drain plug on the passenger side in terms of coolant..
jminz
New member
Yeah, i took skids off to look and I'm stumped. The wind has throw the leak all over everything. I will say that today I ran it, and afterwards there was maybe one drip on my garage floor (opposed to picture above where there was a lot).
This first pic, there is a small puddle of coolant below the v8 engine cover. No clue how it got there or where it came from. Can you make this out?
The second imaged, which i'm not even sure is relatd to my coolant leak. Appear there is engine oil on right side of engine.
Again, sorry for the pics, its the best I could do.
This first pic, there is a small puddle of coolant below the v8 engine cover. No clue how it got there or where it came from. Can you make this out?
The second imaged, which i'm not even sure is relatd to my coolant leak. Appear there is engine oil on right side of engine.
Again, sorry for the pics, its the best I could do.
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BlackWorksInc
New member
That could be it.
jminz
New member
Thanks oil leak could actually be coolant. Is that what you're saying?
BlackWorksInc
New member
It's possible, I am not there to really look at the leak in person so it's hard to say. But I have seen that waterpump/thermostat assembly incorrectly sealed/installed before leaking.
jminz
New member
Heard back from my mechanic. Leaking coolant from thermostat housing gasket. Oil leak is from valve cover gasket. Hes going to replace both. Is valve cover gasket failure common with these engines? I only found one other thread that talks about valve cover failure in the 4.7.
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BlackWorksInc
New member
Well I mean, gaskets dry out and seep, then leak over time. Valve cover gaskets tend to be one of the more common gaskets to leak over time. Most 100k+ vehicles will start to seep and/or leak from the valve cover gaskets (if you're following Toyota's 60k valve inspection guide, you'd be replacing them every 60k.)
Bottom line, it's a common thing on older, higher mileage vehicles and relatively cheap and easy to fix on the V8.
Bottom line, it's a common thing on older, higher mileage vehicles and relatively cheap and easy to fix on the V8.
jminz
New member
What would you expect someone to charge to change the thermo gasket and valve cover gasket? It was actually the oring that connects the thermostat housing to block.
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bob3dsf
New member
Does your mystery fluid feel oily? What does it smell like?
Interesting that I've had a somewhat similar, intermittent issue with a "class I" leak (formation of a drip/wetness) in the same spot as your second pic (RT side front diff). I've been thinking I had a very, very slight gear oil leak from my passenger side CV at the diff from the axle seal. I can't really tell the color but I'd say it looks kind of yellow like your pic of your garage floor (but I've never had any puddles like that, nor evidence of any leak collecting on the top side of my rock shield). It looks like gear oil, and it feels kind of greasy/oily (but the other day I saw a slight beginnings of a drip, felt slick but didn't have the distinctive smell of gear oil).
Its weird, I've not been able to see evidence of the leak at the edge of the diff housing where the CV axle dust cove meets near the housing... where I'd expect it to be coming from. I've briefly looked to see if it might be coming from somewhere else, though I'm virtually 100% (99.99999999) sure it's not coolant in my case. I have no issues with my coolant/radiator/etc... I guess I'll look around my valve covers for any evidence...
Interesting that I've had a somewhat similar, intermittent issue with a "class I" leak (formation of a drip/wetness) in the same spot as your second pic (RT side front diff). I've been thinking I had a very, very slight gear oil leak from my passenger side CV at the diff from the axle seal. I can't really tell the color but I'd say it looks kind of yellow like your pic of your garage floor (but I've never had any puddles like that, nor evidence of any leak collecting on the top side of my rock shield). It looks like gear oil, and it feels kind of greasy/oily (but the other day I saw a slight beginnings of a drip, felt slick but didn't have the distinctive smell of gear oil).
Its weird, I've not been able to see evidence of the leak at the edge of the diff housing where the CV axle dust cove meets near the housing... where I'd expect it to be coming from. I've briefly looked to see if it might be coming from somewhere else, though I'm virtually 100% (99.99999999) sure it's not coolant in my case. I have no issues with my coolant/radiator/etc... I guess I'll look around my valve covers for any evidence...
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