Oil change discovery

I was changing my oil (4500mi, 90860 on the clock) and swapping to the aluminum oil can when I discovered this.

Why is it pink?? My only thought was coolant? I couldn't find an obvious source.

I'm also going to drill out busted bolts for the skid plate. What size are the threads?

 

Yep, coolant. Clean/rinse it off. Leave the skid off and monitor; check the fluid level. Try to find where it's leaking from or take it to someplace you trust.

 

Look on your water pump.
That where my antifreeze/coolant was leaking from

 

Check the water pump, it has a weep holes to warn you when the seal is failing. It means it’s time to replace it. Not too hard of a job, I did my own. You can get an OEM Aisin water pump on Rock Auto for a good price.

 

Also keep track of where your bolts go

some are longer than others

one misplaced bolt could be drastic

 

Water pump possible, but the more likely cause of this leak is the engine oil cooler o rings.

 

as far as i know. no. the issue seems to be not super common (i've only seen like 3 in person leaking in 6 years). so using the OEM o rings are probably the best bet (maybe find a slightly thicker o ring?) if i owned a second/third gen i'd dig in a little bit more, but alas, no ones called me to buy their rolled over 2nd gen yet

 

Does the engine oil cooler use coolant or is it air cooled?

 

Coolant:

 

Coolant.

 

Where do I get this pink coolant? Is it Toyota coolant?

 

Toyota super long life coolant. Dealer sells it. Or you can buy it from AISIN direct online I believe

 

So I got the Toyota coolant. Popped the hood and put some in the overflow reservoir. Next day, it's back to the same level???? Below "low".

Truck doesn't run hot (usually hangs out just under half temperature gauge)

Am I missing something? Do I need to check it while it's hot? Do I fill the radiator and not the reservoir?

 

When it has cooled off such that it's safe to open the radiator without scalding yourself, open the radiator and add coolant until the "fins" are covered. Alternately gently squeeze the upper and lower hoses to get rid of trapped air. Add coolant to the overflow to somewhere between Low and Full. Take the vehicle for a drive that is long enough for it to get up to operating temperature then park it and check the overflow again. Add some coolant if it is below Low. Let it cool and check the overflow again and if needed add again so it's below Full/Low. Check the overflow before every drive and add as needed until you can get the leak sorted.

 

Check everything when it’s cool, open the radiator cap top that off as well as the overflow. Might be a good time for a new radiator cap as well. If you don’t see any evidence of it leaking out, it’s possible you were just that low and the radiator drank up what was in the overflow when the truck cooled down.

 

also if you add coolant through your radiator, probably a good idea to burp your system with the cap off for around 10 minutes or so or until the bubbles stop.

 

Agree, also turn your heater on so it can purge as well.

 

Radiator was full. No need to fill.

 

Wait, did you end up finding a leak?

 

Must have been that low. I topped off the reservoir again and it stayed mid level....

See post#1

 

Yes, thank you for the clarification. I wasn’t sure if you had found anything since then.

 

I haven't looked. I struggle with the skid plate. So I only take it off when I have time to hurt myself putting it back on.