Manual transmission leak - help to ID location

Hello - I have a 2003 Tacoma 5 lug, 2WD model. I just bought it and noticed what I thought was an oil leak accumulating. I put a drip pan under the leak area and determined it was red gear oil, not engine oil. Plus, the truck did not burn a drop of oil so I know it would have gone down a little due to the amount that leaked over 4 weeks.

When I went under the truck I did see fluid accumulating on the back of the oil pan, so I assume the leak is ABOVE the area near the oil pan.

I plan on doing some more investigation into the location of the leak but I wanted to see if there are specific places to look at which may be common areas.


I will post some pics later today.

 

clean it off and check around the speedometer plug thing. Mine leaks on my R150F but I think you have the W series transmission. That transmission plug thing is a common leaking area.

 

Thanks! I did crawl under the drivers side and saw the vent/inspection plug and it was very dry as well was the area around it. I think the speedo plug you mention on the drinkers side so I'll check it out. I still see the wet areas are in the very front of the bell housing and somehow hitting the rear face of the oil pan which is facing the rear of the truck.

Anyhow, thanks for the suggestion!

 

Red is usually Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)
Hopefully that's not in your manual transmission. It is much too thin

But ATF is specified for power steering fluid, so while you're down there you might check that out for leaks too

 

Is all that well advertised fancy gear oil or synthetic the normal color or might it be red??

Someone put ATF in by mistake ?

A blocked breather will cause gear oil to be pushed out.

Front Transmission seal leaking dripping out at the front of the bell housing

Op you could move the boot at the slave cylinder and take a peek inside with a good flashlight.

Just hope it does not get on the clutch that gets messy.

 

Clutch uses brake fluid, should be clear

 

If the clutch was leaking no doubt going into gear would be a problem