Sloppy Oil Change or... Leaking part?

Hi, New to this forum, but seems like I could spend hours here...
Had a Tundra for 18 years, but now am considering buying this Tacoma - 2014 / SR5 / 4x4 / 100K miles / Access.
Should I be concerned about what looks like a possibly leaky spot?
Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

I'm gonna say sloppy oil change. Thats the drain plug, and I don't think many people are changing the crush washer out after x amount of oil changes, so that could be weeping a bit

 

I’d be concerned if you could see it dripping oil or a puddle on the ground.

 

Two things:

1. Either the crush washer is bad and is leaking
2. Threads are stripped causing the weep

I stripped my trans drain pan bolt in it leaked/weep just like the oil pan in your picture. Because the metal is so thin, Toyota manufacturing puts a bit of a shoulder seam on the hole for more thread engagement, but this makes it so that you can't cut new threads forcing a full drain pan replacement. Replacing the drain pan was fairly simple, but this would be if item #2 is in play in your picture.

I guess you can check the drain pan bolt with a torque wrench trying to see if you can torque the drain pan to factor spec. If it keeps spinning, then its stripped. If it can torque, then it's a bad crush washer.

 

Welcome to the forum. Looks like they left out the drain plug gasket/washer, or didn't tighten the plug, or like you said maybe splashed on the crossbar when they drained the oil.
If you are worried, clean it, tighten it snug with a 14mm socket, and see what comes back.

 

If the truck comes with a warranty I would not worry about it.
Use it to negotiate a lower price.

 

I would be more concerned about the rust.

 

Maybe it is just my eyes or the picture, but it looks like more than just a drain plug. It appears to have a nipple on it, maybe a Fumoto Valve.

Even if it is leaking, if you get a good price on the truck the oil pan replacement at worst is an easy and relatively cheap fix.

 

This ^ like $50 bucks for a new pan.

 

My truck had an oil leak that was showing puddles wherever I parked. I took it to the mechanic expecting a huge repair bill. Turned out it was only a bad drain plug washer!!

 

Not concerned.

 

So while I agree that the "leak" isn't a huge concern and a more thorough check underneath is warranted for anything out of the ordinary, that thing is basically rust free in the pictures.

 

THANK YOU, everybody, for your prompt and insightful replies.
It's such a wonderful vehicle, but
the rust has scared me off.
According to CarFax, it spent 50K miles in New York.

The search continues.

 

I didn't think the rust was too bad.
Any 7 year old truck in the northeast is going to have some surface rust.