Engine coolant or Hydraulic steering leak?
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: Ormond Beach Florida
It feels more like a watered down oil and it has no smell.
JK Newbie
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Booneville, MS
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.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: Ormond Beach Florida
I should have enough to get to the dealer, thank you for helping me out.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
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.
2 hoses coming out of radiator and heading back to what looks like underside of tranny
View from the top (2 hoses just below the engine coolant reservoir)
Here is my engine coolant reservoir/level:
js632 what do you think, is this what you had?
2 hoses coming out of radiator and heading back to what looks like underside of tranny
View from the top (2 hoses just below the engine coolant reservoir)
Here is my engine coolant reservoir/level:
js632 what do you think, is this what you had?
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: Ormond Beach Florida
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?
<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?
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 0
From: Torrington CT
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.
Thread Starter
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
From: Ormond Beach Florida
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.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Happy Place
[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.
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.