colenzae

I Saul I'll cuddle a very black very thick oil on my driveway that seems to be coming from the transfer case. I have 230,000 miles on the vehicle so I thought it might be a seal failure. But I don't see any oil in the scene between the transfer case in any of the driveshafts. Anyone have any ideas? I cannot see the top of the transfer case but that seems to be where the oil is coming from

colenzae

If anyone stumbles across this thread and has the same problem turned out to be the oil leaking from the oil pan gasket. I don't know why the oil became so thick and viscous that I thought it was gear oil. But anyway problem solved.

salimshah

Thank you for the update.

Salim

colenzae

UPDATE:
Problem NOT SOLVED. Have thick, viscous oil on my driveway again. Service shop looked at it again and said it was the oil collecting in the frame rail because when you remove the oil filter most of the oil spills over the front of the engine. Initially I thought that made sense only this has never happened in the 12 years I've owned this vehicle.
Brought it to them AGAIN and they call me and say there is no oil in the area where I described the leak. Only after I SENT THEM PICTURES did they finally find the leak. It was as I originally suspected, a transfer case seal.
Why don't service managers LISTEN TO THEIR CUSTOMERS?? I've been using this shop for several years and they know that I am a longtime home mechanic. This should have been repaired the first time without replacing the oil pan......FYI for others who may run across this issue.....always go with your gut!!!

kolessc400

I work for a toyota dealer and i have seen this issue on many rx and highlander modles. The front cover on the front differential as the vehicle has only, front and rear diffs(not a tcase). The transaxle case halfs leak as well. Most dealers know of this issue because it is a common issue with those models

salimshah

I give high importance to 'gut calls' but they need to be buttressed with supporting evidence. Now the hunch moves up if you can not find any other theory.

In case of leaks, the best method is a good cleaning and then start looking. Some times the cleaning may aggravate the leak too, so watch out.

Salim

kolessc400

Yes Agreed cleaning is a good way to start...

colenzae

Well here I am weeks after I thought this issue was in the past only to see a leak from the same area again. Any thoughts as to why this leak is so intermittent and how to proceed from here? My first instinct is to take the car back to where the repair was done and let them keep and drive the car until they see the leak for themselves and repair it properly. I know oil leaks can be difficult but this is testing my patience. I may need to take a long road trip with this vehicle in the coming months.