Mysterious Leakage...

So as the title says I have a mysterious leak...I can see it dripping off the bottom of the transmission...I collected some of the fluid in a bowl and took it to my mechanic for a diagnosis because I couldn't tell what it is...It looks like oil...but doesn't have the viscosity of oil...what's really weird is it doesn't have a smell of any kind

 

water? I know water drips somewhere up towards the engine/tranny and I think its normal. It happened to my Tacoma, it happens to my FJ, and it happens to my corolla too.

 

Where on the transmission? Or further back toward the transfer case? I know my front pinion seal is leaking.. got a new seal, just need to get or borrow a damned 30mm socket to get the yoke off.

 

Knowing the color of the fluid would be helpful.

 

As my post reads "It looks like oil"

 

Water drips from the A/C near that area...

 

I sure hope so...It's probably collecting junk on it's journey to the ground

 

That's the first thing I thought it might be...but then the brownish colour threw me off...I also haven't had my A/C on yet this year...

 

You say its brown? No reddish tint to it at all?

Got any pictures ?

 

mine leaks a brownish/copper shade of water...

on the passenger side between the suspension and the tranny too... turns out its my AC condenser, but it leaks when i use the AC or heater... i crawled up under the truck and noticed there is even some kinda dump tube or pipe or something that its coming from... must be one of those tacoma things...

 

Had a leak on mine brown, just bought it from dealer, one month ago looked at the oil filter area seemed to be coming from there, reached up turned the filter tight Azzhole dealer didn't even tighten the filter.

 

Could be water from the A/C.. there's a tube that dumps excess water on the passenger side on the first gens. If it was driver's side, then I might say you've got a transfer case leak.. either that or your differential is throwing oil..

Hope it's just water.

 

He'd know if it was some rank gear oil though. That's easy to point out, well, to smell.

Is it watery? Or does it have a, not exactly slimy, by filmy like texture?

 

yup brown...with a slight oily feeling and no smell to it I checked my tranny fluid and it's nice and red I'll try and get some pics together...

 

If it were a leak on my vehicle, I would concentrate more on where it's coming from. Clean all suspected areas of leakage. Use leak finder spray (talc) on suspect locations.
Flourescent dye can be added (checking one system at a time) to find out which system is leaking. It'll show up with a black light.

Check your diff and xfer case fluid levels too. If one of your breathers is compromised, it could be filling up with water

 

Very good ideas...Thx

 

The mechanic I saw about this said it's nothing to worry about...All my fluids are good and topped up...

 

Update:

So the liquid seems to be slowly dripping off the bottom of the transmission...Dropping onto the steering gear...Then running off the skid plate and finally falling to the ground...Now heres the confusing part...It looks greenish in colour before it hits the ground (ie: hanging off the bottom of the trans or steering gear) but when I collected the fluid overnight in a pail (about 1/2 oz) It's clearly brownish in colour with a slight oily feel to it and has little to no smell I also have been adding a little coolant to the overflow tank every so often...We've had a heat wave...Is that normal? I'll get some pics today as well...Thx for the help...

 

eeh maybe a blown head gasket or even a cracked block? any color/smell to your exhaust? the color and texture could be from coolant leaking out and meeting up with a small oil leak maybe from your oil pan gasket. Although, it could just be a leaky water pump or thermostat housing? Hopefully its the latter so that itl be a hell of a lot cheaper and easier to fix.

 

No color/smell to my exhaust...New water pump/T-stat...I did have a hairline facture in my Sublet Oil Cooler which got repaired just over a year ago...