Fluid/grease under lower control arm

Just picked up a 2018 limited TRD off-road with 33,000 last week and just now noticed grease or fluid only on the underside of the passenger lower control arm and inside wheel. Must have looked right past it while I was inspecting the boots (which appear fully intact with no signs of grease leaking or splitting). There is no fluid on the ground or drip noted anywhere. The truck drives great at all speeds (side streets/fwy), does not pull, no sounds whatsoever when turning right/left. No fluid noted on top or coming from above. I purchased the truck from a private seller who took very good care of it. Didn’t notice any signs of hard use off-road and even the hitch appears new with no signs of towing which he reported as being the case. Height is stock, no mods, and not even a scratch anywhere underneath. Any help or input would be much appreciated!

 

Nice find! Welcome from OKC! Might have ran over something that squirted it a little.

 

Thanks!

Thats true. I’m probably just being a little paranoid, but thought I’d bring it up on here anyways.

 

Check black hose at bottom of power steering reservoir. They are known to leak. Mine was replaced at 10,000 mi on my ‘21.

 

When I change the oil when the truck is hot, it shoots straight out and hits the tire and LCA sometimes. It looks just like that. The drain plug is aimed right at it.

I bet during the last oil changed, it splashed on it.

 

Was the oil changed recently? The drain bung faces that way, and if drained hot, it certainly can deflect out of a drain pan and spray that whole area.

Don’t ask me how I know.


Edit. Ha, cause he said so ^^.

 

I just checked mine (just changed my oil) and it looks exactly like the photo, by the way.

 

Yes, changed before I purchased. Totally makes sense! Thanks everyone!

 

Buy a fumoto valve

 

Good call

 

May just be a bad CV or BJ seal, or PS hose. Check fluid levels.

(Edited original entry of possible timing cover leak, which plague V6 Tacos, not Tundras.)