Transmission Leak Question?

Hey everyone!

I have an 04 tundra with 120,000 miles on it. I just drove 800 miles and then the truck sat for 5-6 days and that's when I noticed a drip pool under my rig. Before I drove it I had absolutely no leaks. It looks like the leak is coming from the tranny, I have attached photos below. But I drove it today and it shifted fine and then when it was hot I looked a the tranny dipstick and it was at a good level, maybe a touch low. I am just wondering if this is a failure in a seal or some larger issue. I figured I talk to you all before I do online research and get some skewed responses. Thank you in advance for and leads on this issue!

 

Propeller shaft seal? Looks like its coming from that general area in the front of the trans..

 

That leak appears to be a trans front pump seal; only fix is to pull the tranny.

 

Could easily be a coolant leak. Maybe there's a hose/fitting on the back of the engine that's seeping coolant ?

Can Can

 

Could also be power steering fluid(ATF) dripping down.

 

Looks more like coolant to me.

Pull your trans dipstick and compare color/feel (smell too). Trans fluid unless fresh is probably darker

 

Oh boy, I hope it's ATF or coolant. Pulling the tranny sound like at least a grand in repair costs. I am mechanically capable, but don't have the time to pull the tranny.

 

Also check for power steering leak
Sometimes they use ATF in the reservoir and that can fool you
If the pressure hose is leaking it will get blown back

 

I was going to say this also, my power steering fluid is ATF

 

Definitely looks like coolant.

 

Good grief. Where are all the FurstGen privateers?

Rub a drop between your finger tips. If it's oily and never evaporates, it's transmission fluid; otherwise it's coolant. Coolant may also have a slight oiliness, but it will slowly evaporate away leaving a slightly sticky residue.

Judging from the location (rear of engine/firewall area), appearance (light pink and clear), and mineral deposits from leakage, it's coolant. The coolant is probably leaking from a hose or tube against/near the firewall that is associated with the heater core/cooling system. The leakage is likely falling onto the engine bell housing and running around to the bottom.

 

I’ve noticed some wetness on the metal (no drops just wetness) on my truck in that spot for about a year at least. I keep monitoring it and the metal has the same stained look as the OP without the droplets. I wipe and the color comes off as wet brownish rust. Seems there is a crack/metal shield right in that spot to inspect the fly plate thingy.

 

@empty_lord

 

Looks too thin to be ATF. Likely coolant. Heater core and hoses would be good to check out, they are in this vicinity. I would imagine if this were head gasket you would have bigger symptoms than the puddle.

 

Me thinks that’s a coolant leak, see if you can see more fluid around the top of the bellhousing.

the only thing trans fluid would be the front trans seal up that far, and if that was leaking, that’s not a good one. Because that indicates something happened to the transmissions pump.

 

If you don’t see anything up top, can still be coolant, there are freeze plugs behind the flywheel

 

+1

Coolant tastes like chicken!

 

Snapped a pic today. Mine wasn’t wet today like I mentioned earlier. Maybe water from rain gets up in there and rusty stains come down on mine? Checked on top of the transmission looking down from the firewall and looks good. There is a coolant pipe on top of the block on the back where I could see if it leaked would cause issue dripping down to this location. Or, the back freeze plug as suggested above.

 

I am having trouble determining if it's coolant or transmission fluid. Don't both of them taste sweet?

I checked under there this morning (after driving last night) and didn't see anything, so hopefully, it's coolant. Kinda makes sense because this problem happened during the first real deep freeze for the truck. Just as "Professional Hands Model" asked, is there any way that I can look into the freeze plug from above?

Thanks!

 

Anti-freeze is poisonous. Kills you by crystallizing in your kidneys. Maybe a trace won't kill you, but I think I would find another way. Anti-freeze has a sweet smell, transmission fluid smells like mineral oil.

@empty_lord said those freeze plugs were behind the flywheel. I am thinking the only way to inspect would be engine removal.

 

Taste.. antifreeze is supper bitter. A drop doesn’t hurt. Sadly you get that got damn taste a lot working under cars on a lift.


Only way to inspect the freeze plugs at the back is to drop the trans. Flywheel sits to close to the block to put a bore scope up there

 

Haha sadly learning this right now. Is it bad if the freeze plugs are blown? Is it urgent or could I just keep dumping coolant in there?

 

Once it starts it’ll only get worse. Long you put it off the better chance it has of blowing completely out and your stuck on the side of the road overheated.

 

Hey, resurfacing this thread. But I just have figured out where the leak is coming from (took a while to have time to look because of the construction Christmas rush). But I'm pretty sure it's coming from under the air intake manifold. Looked in there and saw a small pool of coolant. Does anyone have any info on why this might be the case? I know that it is probably a bad gasket right there. But is there any hose that enters into that area that I can check on before I pull the entire manifold off and such? Thanks!

 

Thanks for the feedback. Buy a lottery ticket...today.

@empty_lord @Professional Hand Model

 

Likely a freeze plug under the intake manifold. Good time to replace the starter while you're in there.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...t-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-798#post-2002188
https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...t-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-798#post-2003026

 

There is a coolant pipe that runs through the manifold, new intake manifold gaskets should solve that if it is indeed the leak

 

Haha why? Because it’s going to cost a small fortune to fix?

 

That’s what I’m thinking. Is @Lil Steve right when he said that there’s a freeze plug under the manifold?