cmanns

It looks like trans fluid. Vehicle has 59,000~ miles, Lexus maintained every year

The ridges ontop of the trans are just lightly filled, yet to dip my hand down there- don't believe any even leaked off the trans.

<Edit: The leak is right below the starter it's self in that valley. It's like something there leaks...

fastnoypi

it might be ATF leaking from a power steering line

cmanns

Yeah I searched google top to bottom for ATF ending up ontop of this automatic transmission model, these car models, etc and found nothing except maybe power steering leak.

It seems any trans-leak will result in ATF all over the trans and on the ground.

However I do notice the transmission shudders randomly from 1st/2nd slowly down to a stop and accelerating. I believe thats just in my head from seeing ATF though hehe

Only other thing I've noticed (prior to seeing the fluid few days prior) was that the car smelled like burnt ATF. Then 2-3 days later I saw the fluid pooled ontop of the trans.

Still none has really leaked off of the trans

HomerJay

Are you sure it's ATF? It maybe coolant, just a thought not sure if you are using Toyota red. The upper hose, thermostat housing and i believe a "freeze plug" in that area could be leaking slightly leaving a slight puddle that you are seeing.

cmanns

Def using Toyota red- I did notice the coolant overflow/res is filled up slightly below where it should be when we acquired the car I'll try to see if it's lower there.

This vehicle has been in my family since bought, recently was gifted to a family member I repair their cars- prior it was always taken to toyota and was just there less then 5-6 thousand miles ago.

I see records of all these 60k service, 50k service- yet all I see is oil has been changed, o2 sensor due to check engine light.

The transmission cold, is filled rather high.

I couldn't see any powersteering lines above the trans, nor do I see any fluid spray anywhere.

It really just looks like someone spilled ATF or red coolant ontop of the trans, yet how would it of stayed for 5+k miles? Car never is drove more then 30~ miles