Fluid leak diagnosis help

[cjmcglaughlin]

So I just acquired a new fluid leak I can’t identify. It’s a red fluid, that feels oily to the touch, and drips directly in front of the right front wheel (see picture). I can see some of the fluid directly above the drip, but can’t see anything near the radiator or the trans cooler lines. It seems like it’s too far over to be the rad but I could be wrong. This just started happening. I did yesterday put some AT-205 stop leak in my power steering fluid (was seeping around the pulley) but I don’t think that would be this based on the color. Could I possibly have run over something? Any help is appreciated

 

[cjmcglaughlin]

Here is a pic where you can see it on the underside of the bumper mount (left side of pic). I have reached up and can’t exactly tell where it’s leaking down from.

 

[Doubeleive]

So I just acquired a new fluid leak I can’t identify. It’s a red fluid, that feels oily to the touch, and drips directly in front of the right front wheel (see picture). I can see some of the fluid directly above the drip, but can’t see anything near the radiator or the trans cooler lines. It seems like it’s too far over to be the rad but I could be wrong. This just started happening. I did yesterday put some AT-205 stop leak in my power steering fluid (forgive me) but I don’t think that would be this based on the color. Could I possibly have run over something? Any help is appreciated

FRONT RIGHT
is either coolant leak
or transmission fluid leak (the lines are on radiator right side)
both fluids are red, unless you are running green coolant
use a flashlight a try to narrow it down
could be reservoir tank
crack in plastic side of radiator
heater hoses

 

[cjmcglaughlin]

FRONT RIGHT
is either coolant leak
or transmission fluid leak (the lines are on radiator right side)
both fluids are red, unless you are running green coolant
use a flashlight a try to narrow it down
could be reservoir tank
crack in plastic side of radiator
heater hoses

I checked the transmission cooler lines and the heater hoses, and couldn’t see anything. I took a look at the reservoir but it felt dry underneath. Thank you, I’ll keep looking

 

[cjmcglaughlin]

FRONT RIGHT
is either coolant leak
or transmission fluid leak (the lines are on radiator right side)
both fluids are red, unless you are running green coolant
use a flashlight a try to narrow it down
could be reservoir tank
crack in plastic side of radiator
heater hoses

Also would coolant would have a sweet smell? This seems to be odorless

 

[cjmcglaughlin]

Update: I figured it out, it wasn’t coolant or ATF. I have a K&N filter that I cleaned and re-oiled, apparently some of the filter oil came out through the air filter housing.

 

[Doubeleive]

Update: I figured it out, it wasn’t coolant or ATF. I have a K&N filter that I cleaned and re-oiled, apparently some of the filter oil came out through the air filter housing.

yep that would be it, I would recomend a dry filter. sometimes that oil can get on the maf and could potentially lead to it throwing codes
most likely will never be a issue but down the road if you happen to get strange codes that could be why in which case it can usually just be cleaned

 

[Sam Harris]

yep that would be it, I would recomend a dry filter. sometimes that oil can get on the maf and could potentially lead to it throwing codes
most likely will never be a issue but down the road if you happen to get strange codes that could be why in which case it can usually just be cleaned

Agree 100%, and if you had enough oil on that for it to actually leak out, it’s way too saturated. You’re going to see problems with the MAF from that I’d be willing to bet.

 

[cjmcglaughlin]

yep that would be it, I would recomend a dry filter. sometimes that oil can get on the maf and could potentially lead to it throwing codes
most likely will never be a issue but down the road if you happen to get strange codes that could be why in which case it can usually just be cleaned

Yeah I’ve been on the fence about a dry filter. I like this one since it’s high-flow but between the better cleaning and lack of oil from a dry one I might make the switch. This one is supposedly lifetime, and has been on since well before I’ve had the truck. Any brand recommendation?

 

[cjmcglaughlin]

Agree 100%, and if you had enough oil on that for it to actually leak out, it’s way too saturated. You’re going to see problems with the MAF from that I’d be willing to bet.

Yeah lol I have a new MAF so hoping not. I’ll clean it as well as I can