I just bought a 95 4-runner w/ the v-6 and 4wd. I've noticed a small tranny leak that appears to be coming from near the top of the drivers side bell housing. I know it is tranny fluid because it is red. Any ideas as to what would cause this? The bellhousing is wet, you can see it from the wheel well, everything else is good to go.

It could also be power steering fluid as it takes ATF.

Or red toyota coolant from the head gasket?

Thanks for the help.

I thought about the head gasket but I think I can rule that out right now(runs well, no water in oil, etc), besides if I don't think about it it doesn't exist, right?

But what structures could wet the drivers side bell housing? PS pump is on the pass side, do the hoses go behind the motor, against the firewall? I will check this oput later today.

Thanks again.

Take a good look at the rear heater hoses.. They are also in that corner and I had a leak just like that and it turned out to be one of those small hoses... And as mentioned, being a Toyota, it should have red coolant.. I was puzzled myself seeing as I have a 5-spd.. My first thought was a tranny leak and then it dawned on me that 90 weight is not red <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

O.K. I ran some tranny sealant dexron II as the tranny was low, you know the "formulated for high mileage" stuff and it looks like it may of stopped the leak.

I also did some research on red coolant, mine is green. Should I change it, or leave it. I don't know how long it's been in there but it looks clean. Am I damaging anything? I know the red is intended for diagnostic purposes but other than that what r the differences?

It is my understanding that Toyota red is better for the water pump. DO NOT put in Dexcool or other orange/red coolant. Those are high silicate coolants and will toast your water pump. If someone puts some green coolant in your Toyota it will turn a reddish brown - which is what mine was until I flushed and refilled it.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans"> DO NOT put in Dexcool or other orange/red coolant. Those are high silicate coolants and will toast your water pump </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Just curious why this is the case. I had my radiator off the other day (T belt change) and filled it with DexCool b/c I thought that is what was in there before (looked red, not green, and I didn't know about "Toyota red"). Anyway, looks like I may be chaning the coolant again here very soon, but before I do, just want to understand why the Dex Cool is problematic.