Mysterious Liquid - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

bdy0003 · 05-25-2009, 02:01 PM

I have been having some type of liquid come out of a certain part of my car. It is located to the left of my oil filter. That area, that metal thing is covered in this black sand stuff. But the liguid makes the black sand look like sludge.

This morning, I scrapped up the "sludge" and noticed the liquid that didnt have that sand liquid mix was green. It didnt really smell like oil. I cleaned some of it, but after driving 10 miles, there was a puddle at that same location. Here, I noticed the color of the liquid was brown, however not the same shade as my oil.

I thought it was the O-ring and gasket from my oil cooler that needed to be replaced, but it APPREARS as if thats not the problem. I'm not sure what the problem is now. Sorry I dont know how to post pictures up, otherwise I would.

desentrix · 05-25-2009, 02:34 PM

Although this thread is for a Volvo, maybe it somehow pertains to your situation?

http://www.volvoxc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13013

Seems to direct towards your power steering?

hill8570 · 05-25-2009, 04:48 PM

That's antifreeze coming out of the weep hole of your water pump. Your water pump is warning you that it's about to die. Might as well replace the timing belt while you're in there (same labor, cheap part). And, since other posts of yours imply a oil leakage problem, I'd replace the oil seals in that area -- the parts are cheap...it's all labor.

FWIW, if you want to do the work yourself, or buy your own parts, user "volkstoy" on ebay sells a water pump / timing belt / oil seal kit for <$100 shipped. Very good quality (mostly Toyota OEM manufacturers) parts -- not the crappy Chinese-made stuff you get at most auto parts stores, and the price is quite a bit better than even the least expensive dealership option.

desentrix · 05-25-2009, 05:00 PM

That's what I thought at first, but its common knowledge that if there's a green puddle under your car, and its not from condensation from the AC, its antifreeze. However, he stated something about it turning brown?

hill8570 · 05-25-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desentrix

That's what I thought at first, but its common knowledge that if there's a green puddle under your car, and its not from condensation from the AC, its antifreeze. However, he stated something about it turning brown?

<shrug> The brown might be some corrosion byproducts. Green can only be antifreeze, and the weep hole is just to the left of the oil cooler on the 5S-FE -- classic early stage water pump failure.

If it were my rig, I'd be doing a top-to-bottom cleaning with Engine Brite and a scrub brush -- it's a royal b*tch troubleshooting leaks with a decade or more of caked-on crud on the engine.

bdy0003 · 05-25-2009, 08:41 PM

I checked my log and the timing belt and the water pump was replaced at 121K. Now its at 158K. I went to check again to see what kind of liquid it would be. Interestingly, it looked like oil. I compared the liquid with what I knew was oil and sure enough, they were similar.

At this point I have no idea what to think. I am getting mixed signals on what the problem is, oil cooler or water pump. Maybe its a combination of both. I think I should bring it in to a mechanic to see what the problem is. Thanks guys for helping me out.