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Engine coolant or Hydraulic steering leak?

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Old 05-06-2013, 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by js632
If it was coolant you should be able to smell it....does it smell like an overheating car? Is it slippery feeling on your fingers or like water. That looks a little too red to be coolant....my bet is on tranny fluid...or maybe ps fluid
It feels more like a watered down oil and it has no smell.
Old 05-06-2013, 08:51 PM
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Yeah thats gon be tranny fluid bud...no worries the dealer should fix it for you...i even believe there was a tsb with a replacement line that is supposed to be better than the original. Just make sure you got enough tranny fluid to make it to the dealer.
Old 05-06-2013, 08:58 PM
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Originally Posted by js632
Yeah thats gon be tranny fluid bud...no worries the dealer should fix it for you...i even believe there was a tsb with a replacement line that is supposed to be better than the original. Just make sure you got enough tranny fluid to make it to the dealer.
I should have enough to get to the dealer, thank you for helping me out.
Old 05-07-2013, 06:00 AM
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Hope it all goes well. i seem to be having a similar leak myself over the last few weeks just not nearly as bad. Not to hijack the thread here or anything, but I too thought this was engine coolant since the coolant reservoir was a bit low (still above minimum level but close to it). What do you guys think. It's coming from the two hoses that run right along one another from the radiator back into what looks like the tranny so I'd imagine it must be tranny fluid, but you tell me. It's certainly red in color.



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2 hoses coming out of radiator and heading back to what looks like underside of tranny

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View from the top (2 hoses just below the engine coolant reservoir)

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Here is my engine coolant reservoir/level:

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js632 what do you think, is this what you had?
Old 05-07-2013, 06:08 AM
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Originally Posted by JK BRO
Hope it all goes well. i seem to be having a similar leak myself over the last few weeks just not nearly as bad. Not to hijack the thread here or anything, but I too thought this was engine coolant since the coolant reservoir was a bit low (still above minimum level but close to it). What do you guys think. It's coming from the two hoses that run right along one another from the radiator back into what looks like the tranny so I'd imagine it must be tranny fluid, but you tell me. It's certainly red in color.

<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=455145"/>

<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=455147"/>

2 hoses coming out of radiator and heading back to what looks like underside of tranny

<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=455148"/>

View from the top (2 hoses just below the engine coolant reservoir)

<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=455149"/>

Here is my engine coolant reservoir/level:

<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=455150"/>

js632 what do you think, is this what you had?
Thanks I'm going to the dealer ship in like a couple hours and I will post how it goes. And mine has the red drops of oil all over the metal connectors just like yours but there is oil like all of the undercarriage of my jeep and its dripping down from a bunch of spots.
Old 05-07-2013, 06:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Spencer4336
It feels more like a watered down oil and it has no smell.
Originally Posted by js632
Yeah thats gon be tranny fluid bud...no worries the dealer should fix it for you...i even believe there was a tsb with a replacement line that is supposed to be better than the original. Just make sure you got enough tranny fluid to make it to the dealer.
ATF4 is what is used for both the transmission (if auto) and the power steering. It definitly has a distinct smell....

That said, that does look like ATF. The 2012 already has a transmission cooler, no need to add a new one. That said I wouldnt be surprised if it was a bad line. Check you transmission and power steering levels. If one is down, there is your problem.
Old 05-07-2013, 06:10 AM
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Originally Posted by JKred

ATF4 is what is used for both the transmission (if auto) and the power steering. It definitly has a distinct smell....

That said, that does look like ATF. The 2012 already has a transmission cooler, no need to add a new one. That said I wouldnt be surprised if it was a bad line. Check you transmission and power steering levels. If one is down, there is your problem.
I'm taking my jeep to the dealership In a little bit so I'll keep you guys posted.
Old 05-07-2013, 06:33 AM
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[QUOTE=JK BRO;3545693]Hope it all goes well. i seem to be having a similar leak myself over the last few weeks just not nearly as bad. Not to hijack the thread here or anything, but I too thought this was engine coolant since the coolant reservoir was a bit low (still above minimum level but close to it). What do you guys think. It's coming from the two hoses that run right along one another from the radiator back into what looks like the tranny so I'd imagine it must be tranny fluid, but you tell me. It's certainly red in color.



Attachment 455145



Your first pic looks like my 2010 looked. The lines leaking at the rubber to hard line joint should be replaced under the TSB. Ask the dealer about the TSB first.
Old 05-07-2013, 06:34 AM
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Spencer, are you running a K&N air filter?
Old 05-07-2013, 06:43 AM
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Originally Posted by MMXJKU
Spencer, are you running a K&N air filter?
I'm running with the stock one it came with.


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