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red fluid leaking from manual trans????

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by toms taco, Aug 13, 2012.

  1. Aug 13, 2012 at 4:44 PM
    #1
    toms taco

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    toms taco [OP] New Member

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    Hi fellow Tacoma owners. I have a '95 v6, 5 speed, 4x4, regular cab Tacoma. I have red fluid leaking from the top of my manual trans??? I'm quite sure these trucks use gear lube in the manual trans, so any ideas what it could be?
     
    toms taco, Aug 13, 2012
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  2. Aug 13, 2012 at 4:46 PM
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    steve o 77

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    steve o 77 braaap

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    drain the trans and see what's in it. I've never heard of any manual transmission oil being red.
     
    steve o 77, Aug 13, 2012
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  3. Aug 13, 2012 at 4:52 PM
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    jberry813

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    jberry813 Professional Fluffer Moderator

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    You sure it's the transmission leaking?
    Power steering rack is right below it slightly in front of it.
     
    jberry813, Aug 13, 2012
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  4. Aug 13, 2012 at 5:41 PM
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    Ga tacoguy

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    Ga tacoguy Well-Known Member

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    :) If the fluid is red and it is coming from your tranny, it could have REDLINE MTL or another REDLINE transmission fluid installed. I would see where the leak is coming from and try to fix it. Good Luck.
     
    Ga tacoguy, Aug 13, 2012
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  5. Aug 13, 2012 at 9:04 PM
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    steve o 77

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    steve o 77 braaap

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    I have redline MT90 in my trans and it was gold.
     
    steve o 77, Aug 13, 2012
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  6. Aug 13, 2012 at 10:02 PM
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    austinramsay

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    austinramsay Well-Known Member

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    austinramsay, Aug 13, 2012
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  7. Aug 13, 2012 at 10:03 PM
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    GREEKBOY12295

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    GREEKBOY12295 Well-Known Member

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    Its on its period
     
    GREEKBOY12295, Aug 13, 2012
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  8. Aug 13, 2012 at 10:20 PM
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    907doublebass

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    907doublebass Just a practical Taco

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    That sux, hope whoever owned the rig before you didn't dump ATF in there just cuz the bottle said transmission on it. Yes there are nature's D students out there whom I've stopped from doing so. When I drained mine it was OEM goldfish colored, replaced with royal purple 75W90. Smooth running ever since. Best of luck to you. Regards,
     
    907doublebass, Aug 13, 2012
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  9. Aug 14, 2012 at 8:39 AM
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    Hillingdoner

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    Hillingdoner Well-Known Member

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    First thing I thought of was redline and then I thought, no that is golden colour. Funny how the name puts that in your brain. Even had to double check a partial bottle I have left to see that I remembered it right as being golden coloured. It is golden coloured.

    So, where exactly do you see the fluid appearing to leak. You say from the top of the transmission. Is it up by the clutch cover or back by the shifters and transfer case end?

    If you pull the FILLER plug on the gearbox and transfer case and dip your finger in to check the level, what colour fluid is in it?

    Of course, if it has not been changed in a while or you don't know when it was last changed then would not hurt to go ahead and do so. I used the Redline MT90. Has been good for my gearbox. Mine was a bit noisy and notchy. Now with the Redline in it is nice and smooth and is quiet pretty much now.

    If you find the fluid is not red when you check it then I'd be looking more towards what jberry said (he's often spot on and knows a thing or two). Something to do with the powersteering on the truck. Somewhere in the system you could have a leak, might be running along and down to appear to be from the top of the gearbox especially if the leak looks to be coming from the clutch cover area.
     
    Hillingdoner, Aug 14, 2012
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  10. Aug 15, 2012 at 2:53 PM
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    toms taco

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    toms taco [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the replies. I checked the trans and it has gear lube in it. I recently had the timing belt changed and the dealer replaced the green coolant with red and I have a small hose leaking at the back of the engine dripping on the transmission. Thankfully it is not a tranny problem!
     
    toms taco, Aug 15, 2012
    #10
  11. Aug 16, 2012 at 5:18 AM
    #11
    BamaToy1997

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    BamaToy1997 Wheel Bearing Master

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    Nope, now you just have a coolant leak to worry about!...lol
     
    BamaToy1997, Aug 16, 2012
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  12. Aug 16, 2012 at 6:51 AM
    #12
    Hillingdoner

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    Hillingdoner Well-Known Member

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    ^:rofl:

    OP- Glad you found what it was. Now just to fix it eh? Glad it wasn't a gearbox issue for you too.

    Once you get the hose replaced, be sure to clean up all the antifreeze that has leaked and wipe everything down good. The Toy red antifreeze is nice in that it leaves a nice pinkish/white residue anywhere you have a leak.

    Cheers
     
    Hillingdoner, Aug 16, 2012
    #12

Products Discussed in

Mobil 1 104361 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)
$28.12
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