Fluids all over the place.....

I recently went on a trip to the mountains and checked my radiator fluid and engine oil. The radiator was so low I couldn't see any fluid and engine oil was fine...






I got back Sunday and noticed a very large mark on my driveway. Upon further inspection it was radiator fluid I believe. As I was inspecting the fluid I looked under the truck to find a lot of fluid/oil all over my transmission and drag plate. WTF. My truck is the 2005 5 spd manual 4 cyl prerunner model and has no dipstick. I have been looking through many posts and I am getting conflicting info. My truck has 153k miles and I bought it at 117k used from dealer with well maintained services. Up until this point I have not messed with any trans stuff, but did have to replace both universal joints on my drive shaft.

I am more concerned with the trans deal rather than radiator leak atm. I thought I would drain it completely, but some say that is a bad idea to diy, some drain wrong fluid, trans fluid should never be changed, no need to change etc...

I am looking for some experienced opinions here. I have an oil leak on the top side (gasket i believe).... I think it may be leaking down and appear to be transmission fluid leak. The engine oil isn't low. My thinking process would be to purple power all over and clean the fluids and oil off, let it dry and see where the leak is coming from. I think it would be a good idea to open the fill bolt and see how much it would take on the transmission.


Thanks for reading and for any help/recommendations.

/R
Matt

 

I suspect the water pump seal leaking. There should be a weep hole to confirm this theory. As for the other pressure wash it clean and see if you can isolate it down. I would also check the timing cover for a leak while you're at it. Clean that area as required. Good Luck.

 

thats the rear main seal thats leaking

 

+1

 

I did some looking today and found that the leak is coming from the back of the water pump at a hose attachment. (dripping when car was off from what looked like the picture shown)

pic after i unscrewed two nuts



here is the seal ring and it looks fine ??

 

Here is a close up of the pipe.


I found it to be called the coolant bypass pipe. Apparently there were enough problems with it that an updated pipe was made out of stainless steel and is carried by toyota dealers.

Diagram shown here: <<

 

For anyone in the future looking to this post for help I will leave some things that will help you.

My pipe was leaking in two spots; where it connects at the water pump and in the back at the T. The upper part of the T broke completely off in the line that goes to the throttle body (which i had no idea about until removing it).

What you need to buy: pic taken from usadaytrader ...


It was $68 at toyota, which is kinda steep for such a simple pipe but if you buy the multiple parts to replace the old one you will be looking at about the same price. IMPORTANT- the gasket for the new pipe is on national back order. Go to auto parts store and get the roll of gasket material for $6, outline your new pipe and cut out the piece. Lightly clamp the pipe in a vice and line the cut out on the part that bolts to the back of the pump. Then tap the material lightly where the holes are with a small rounded hammer preferably. After a few taps you should be able to remove the three holes you need out.. Boom, you just made your own gasket.

Do it yourself and install info:
First, if the water bypass pipe is your problem you should be able to handle it. Obviously I hold no responsibility or liability for anyone elses actions after reading this, but it's not impossible to DIY by far. I think I saw $1500 for a labor cost I read online for this exact problem. Things you may want are a silver sharpie to label connections and things so you can just match them back up when re-installing, a drop light, 10 and 12mm sockets with extra extensions as well as matching wrenches. No special tools needed.

Second, quite a bit of stuff has to come off to get to this pipe. I know i saw a specific list and there is probably some info in repair manuals etc... What I did was unhook some vacuum lines, unplugged some sensors, removed the air filter stuff on top of the valve cover, throttle body and then I could remove the intake manifold. I had also removed belt, fan cover, and fan because I initially thought I was going to have to replace the water pump.

NOTE: There is a small rubber tube on the firewall side of the intake manifold that you will have to unhook one end from to get the manifold out. That rubber hose connects to a metal pipe which is bolted in place on the back side of the valve cover.When re installing the manifold it is KEY you unbolt that so you can have a little more play when trying to get the manifold back in. (The space is tight and you have to remove and replace the manifold at an angle.) When replacing it leave the hose connected to the manifold and when you can, connect the rubber hose to the metal hose and push the manifold up onto the bolts and back into place.

Just remember to label everything and take notes, you think you will remember things and you won't. I did my valve cover gasket at the same time so I had a whole lot of stuff off.

Third, the gasket on the intake manifold is pretty well designed and made. That was also on some sort of back order and it was at least a week wait from dealer and 5 days from my auto parts store. The parts guy said they had not replaced one or ordered one in two years so they may have been re used. I (reluctantly) cleaned the old off and replaced with addition to gasket sealer. Any good mechanic or "self guided tool operator" would and should replace old gaskets. My truck is an 05, but due to the fact I could not be out of a vehicle for that long I had to use the old one. My gasket also appeared fine, had no sign of fatigue, leaking, or rubber rot so I also had those reasons. Since it is a pretty good hassle I would suggest replacing it if you do this, for $25ish save yourself the trouble down the road. On a side note, my valve cover gaskets were completely solidified and broke like extremely thin plastic when i barely touched it (hence why it was leaking).

/r
Matt

 

Nice work - I appreciate it.

 

thanks YEABOY!! I am about to take on this project myself. this post helps me in confidence builder that I can do it... so you suggest to replace the gasket on the intake manifold since it might be bad upon removal or good and lucky like you that didn't replace it..

 

Old pics that photo bucket removed have been added to my profile if it helps anyone.

 

you have a manual transmission? it should have gear oil in it, not transmission fluid.

it would be very thick oil, if it leaks out.

 

In first post you said, “… I looked under the truck to find a lot of fluid/oil all over my transmission and drag plate...”, but you dont later address the oil leak, only the coolant leak. Unless I missed it.