Oil leak - Power Steering Pump or Timing Cover? (Pics and vid included)

Tacoma 2016 TRD Off-road

I have some oil around and under the power steering pump. Started 1-2 months ago and I haven't had to top off neither the power steering fluid nor the engine oil. No issues or symptoms noticed or than the smell of hot oil after driving.
Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/C8SdI4gPowX/?igsh=eXdsYjZ2dDc1cGxy

 

Damn. Well ain't gunna rust.

 

I would bet on PS fluid. Looks just like mine did when the pump was leaking. My fluid was also low, though. Noticed it during S-belt replacement. The way it is caked around the pump is pretty much a dead giveaway.

 

check levels of both, see which one is low, clean with brakekleen and watch it in 5 days, prob the p/s pump shaft seal, if a slow leak live with it and clean as needed

 

There is so much oil on the face of the pump alone, I'd suspect the pump.
But I'd also think you'd notice the fluid level a bit low by now?

 

Is the pump whining? How’s the fluid level? I’d wash it all off a monitor it .

 

Good pics! It certainly is the power steering pump.

I'm with other's here that it is time for some brake cleaner and some pinpointed monitoring. Is it possible the leak is originating around this hose - elbow fitting? That would be lucky and a whole lot easier to replace than the entire pump. Just a thought.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!

 

Cliff Hanger Update:

I cleaned the area thoroughly and after 2 weeks of daily driving the oil is apparent again. I'm less sure that its the power steering pump because the liquid is not red and it seemed more to be coming out from above the power steering pump, not at it. Someone suggested ultraviolet oil dye in one of the oil reservoirs (power steering or engine). Which would say for sure. I can also take a closer look but it's hard to tell by eye. In the meantime it's not causing problems so it'll be a while before next update.

 

Timing cover is way more common.

 

Brake cleaning and monitoring is your best bet as others have mentioned. I’d definitely check that inlet hose, making sure the hose is tight and the clamp is on there securely. I hate to be the guy to mention this, but could be your timing cover. These trucks are famous for a leak that starts behind the power steering pump. The typical location of the timing cover leak is right around this area. They all seem to leak at the same spot for whatever reason, most likely due to a manufacturing defect. Mine even has a slow one too, it’s barely a weep here at 101k. That being said, your PS system operates on significantly less oil than your engine does. This means that you’re less inclined to notice a timing cover leak using your oil dipstick than a PS leak through the PS reservoir, especially since you say you aren’t losing PS fluid. That is, unless you’re really leaking a large volume of fluid. UV dye would definitely differentiate the two and narrow down what fluid is leaking at least. Definitely clean it up and monitor before you go guessing. If you haven’t caught it until recently, it could have been dripping and coating everything like it has, making it seem worse than it is.

keep us updated, and good luck!

 

my money is on the p/s pump.......seal on the shaft bad

 

That inlet hose fitting isn't wet at all since cleaning it FWIW.

 

It’s the dreaded timing cover leak . With all that oil leaks, you’d definitely notice a lower ps fluid level if it’s the ps pump.

 

OP do you have an update on this? My 2grfks has the same issue... 2020trdOR 130k miles

 

OP last seen August 2024

 

No need for an update, this happens on tons of them, unfortunately.

 

Yes, happens to the 2nd and 3rd gens. More of a messy vapor mist than a leak in most cases, making a mess on the surrounding parts.

 

Just noticed mine leaking in the same spot today as I was doing an oil change. Must have started between the 35k and the 40k mile oil change. I have an appointment on Thursday to get it checked. Has to be the timing cover being such a common issue in that area of these engines.

 

It's a real bummer this is still happening on these engines. My 2016 has this leak and last weekend my first attempt to seal it externally didn't seem to make much of a difference. I am going to pull the power steering pump off again soon and try to reseal again, as I can't stand to have leaky vehicles.

For now I'm going to continue to monitor the oil level and park over a mat. I did search around for a quote and was told between $5-$7k to do the repair since I have 116k miles and no extended warranty. I just can't justify spending that much money as long as the leak doesn't become more substational over time.

 

I’ve heard it did happen to the 2nd gens early on, but it doesn’t seem to be very common and didn’t seem to be all years. Whereas it seems to be incredibly common on the 3rd gens, and on all years.