Was under the 4Runner today replacing the skid plate bolts with Class 8.8 hardware (since most of them are broken).

One of the bolts, the one ont he drivers side, int he middle, has a purpleish/pinkish fluid around it. Seems to be a very thin liquid, almost like water. WTF can this be?

 

Toyota RED coolant

 

Water pump, radiator, or hose is leaking?

 

You have a coolant link my friend.

 

ummmm....great...

Would this be covered by the powertrain warranty? (I think I still have it)

 

What would be the most likely reason causing this?

Is it still okay to drive the truck? The temp gauge still shoots at the middle (where the norm is).

 

Just make sure you have enought coolant...

 

Get a pressure test done at a local shop, it should not cost too much or even a dye test.

Do not mess around with stuff like this.

 

Drive it to get it checked...

 

My 2000 had a water pump leak at around 42000. I had coolant dripping from the back of the engine. I had a hard time determining where the leak was coming from. Toyota did not cover mine under its powertrain warranty. I did have them replace my timing belt while in there. It has to come off to get to the water pump.

 

I just went and looked in the coolant resivour. There is nothing in there besides a few drops. It is hte same color as the stuff that was ont he skid plate.

I cant get this checked until Tuesday, and I have a lot of driving to do. Im going to have to go buy a couple jugs of coolant.

 

I'v had a slow leak for almost a year now, comming from the back of the engine. First noticed it during the Moab trip, at the time I was running green coolant. Once I got home I flushed the system and reinstalled Toyota RED. It does slow down or stop minor leaks and leaves a stain showing exactly where the leak is. I usually have to add coolant once a month, when it needs it weekly, I'll have to fix it.....

 

Since you're in MA, it won't hurt to add straight water to the reservoir until you get it fixed. Save your $$ for the repair.

 

My best friend's dad (former mechanic) said that since Im not running hot, its not the water pump, and most likely not the radiator.

Does that sound right? Tuesday afternoon Im going to get some money and figure this out. That is, if I can get eh skid plate off.

 

If it ain't the radiator or the water pump, then it is just something MORE $$$ to fix!

 

time to crawl underneath the truck and look for the leak. Perhaps a hose that has been puntured from your many excursions???

 

I tried to do that, but the issue is, last time the oil was changed, I was sick, so I couldnt do it, so my dad took a case of Royal Purple tot he local Jiffy Lube. They snugged up the bolts (the ones that werent broken) holding upt he skid plate so tight, and stripped the head.

 

Sounds like coolant, coming from the freeze (casting) plugs at the rear of the engine.

 

...waiting for the "let physics do its thing" reference, I know you guys won't let me down!

I would say first order of business is to figure out who broke all your skid plate bolts! I have pounded on mine. I used a hammer and jack to fix it once and I had to remove it to hammer it back into approximate shape another time, and all my bolts are still solid! I would say fill it with water and carry some extra coolant and go get it looked at ASAP!

 

Nick did it, straddling a log.

I bought a couple jugs of premix coolant to carry. It was kinda retarded. When I was at Nick's earlier today, after dumping the coolant in, it wasnt leaking (around 3ish). But when I left my house at 9 to pick up to do street patrol, I stopped at the end of my driveway, and watched it drip like someone was pissing. I checked hte coolant and it was halfway between L and H, and when I filled it, I filled it to H.

Im gonna have to go find someone to check it tomorrow, because this isnt sitting too well with me. If not, Im probably going to skip school tuesday (4th day of school lol) to go to Wagner allt he way in Lancaster.