Leaking oily liquid

I have a 2021 Tacoma and it seems to be leaking oil from a drain plug on a round pan - I think this is the oil drain plug. As far as I know, this started somewhat suddenly as I did not notice any leaking before yesterday. I have uploaded pictures of the source of the leak.





Perhaps unrelatedly, I noticed the power steering fluid is lower than the min mark - is there any risk of mixing fluids if I fill it with whatever the manual recommends? I bought the truck used and do not know what the previous owner had in it.

 

I’d do 2 things:

1. Put a wrench on the drain plug to make sure it’s tight. Then clean it off.
2. Top off the power steering fluid with whatever the manual recommends. Then watch the level.

 

Looks like an oily liquid...

 

could be just your drain plug....

But...
See the wetness where the trans mates to the rear of the engine...
Could be drain plug blowing back but really doesnt look like it, hard to tell....

The engine to trans mating area doesnt automatically mean your rear main seal is leaking if it not from the drain plug blowing back...
Could be the rear of the upper oil pan leaking oil....
Theres no way to know which without inspecting & you cant inspect without pulling the trans, thats where experience comes into play...

Techs that work on these everyday know what is more problematic....

Atleast from what im seeing from the pics...

Drainplug is way low & the leak at engine to trans is much higher, oil doesnt leak upward, ever....

HOW MANY MILES ON THE TRUCK?

Furthermore, cant have tunnel vision when youre diagnosing oil leaks, anything is possible...
Timing cover can be leaking & blowing back...
Something up top can be leaking & running down the rear of the engine allowing that oil to accumulate at the rear of the engine / trans junction...

 

1) clean up the area around the drain plug and anywhere else that’s oily.
2) tighten the drain plug (DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN)
3) check the level of your engine oil to make sure it’s not low
4) add the appropriate power steering fluid to the p/s reservoir
5) check daily for a few days any leakage from your oil pan area and check the level of your p/s reservoir.

 

Some very, very gentle advice. Please. I wish to help you and support you.

When a new forum member posts extremely basic questions, such as "is this my oil drain plug and is it leaking?" after also stating they just bought the truck, I immediately proceed to this constructive advice.

Please, please, please, take your Tacoma to a reputable independent shop and ask for an inspection to help identify your leak(s) and any other issues from a technically correct perspective.

Be honest --> I just bought it --> it is leaking --> I do not have the experience yet to troubleshoot this, and I need help.

Any decent shop will be HAPPY to help you. You can expect to spend $150-$200 on shop labor for a 2 hr thorough inspection. They will test drive it, plug in a computer, rack it on a lift, and more. You should get a list of written conclusions and recommendations afterwards.

When you drop the truck off for this service, be sure to ask if they can leave it on the rack to show you where the leaks are coming from. And show you any / all other issues they discover so you can make good decisions. Certain issues will need to be resolved ASAP. Other can wait until later.

This is IMHO the single best use of your $$$ and time. Also, for you, this is the single best way for you to start to learn and to become self-sufficient.

I offer this in good faith,
AE

 

Doesn’t look like there’s a crush washer on that drain plug looking at it from that angle, It usually has a blue color on it if it’s a factory one. If it’s loose, especially with no washer, you can easily be leaking there.

As said, I’d clean well with some brakeclean, make sure your fluids are right, and snug the drain bolt then reevaluate after a day or two of driving. if it’s obviously the bolt then I wouldn’t be worried about until your next change, just make sure your oil is at a safe level till you change it. When you do make sure you put a crush washer on it, they do their job when they’re there.

 

Understood - I plan to take it to the toyota dealership to be inspected next weekend. Is there any reason you recommend an independent shop?

 

You are correct that there is some minor wetness where the front (towards the oil pan) of the transmission cover bolts on. That wetness is very localized and separated from the oil pan drip by dry metal which is why I think that it could be from the drain plug.

I am going to take it to the Tacoma dealer next weekend to be inspected and to have the oil changed. I just wanted to get a sense for what could be going on and if it should be alright to keep driving it to work for this week.

I bought the truck at 66k miles through Carmax. This thing had a single owner before me and the service record showed oil changes every 5k miles.

 

That’s what I thought. My first step would be looking closer and potentially doing an oil change or trying the shop vac trick to try and get the washer installed if it is missing.

 

Price and usually attention to detail. Dealer oil changers often have just been promoted from car washers.

 

There is a reason many in TW change their own fluids.. Missing washers, loose drain plugs, etc. Dealers maybe more often than independent shops people trust, but still ...

I can only blame myself if I installed the Fumoto valve wrong or do not add enough oil.

 

Took it to a mechanic to change oil - issue was that whoever changed the oil previously didn’t even use a crush washer!

oil is fresh now and it has a new washer - no more leaking.

 

Well, that's a good outcome!