Questions! possibily buying 3rd gen 4runner

Hey ya'll,
I've always wanted a 3rd gen runner (just love these years) and I recently found one at an independent dealership. I currently have a 1992 Jeep Cherokee that i've restored so I have some basic knowledge of cars and I enjoying learning about them. The 4runner in question is a 2002 SR5, 3.4 L engine, automatic, 6 cylinder, 2wd, with 119k miles. According to carfacts it had one owner and was kept up with normally. New timing belt was put on at 111k, new radiator. The undercarriage was incredibly clean, no rust. However, there was a leak that I noticed and i'm not sure exactly where it could be coming from so, I wanted to post some photos and get some feedback from those who know these better than I do (so far!).

-My guess is either the oil line from transfer case to engine? (it was more oil colored than transmission red)
-transfluid tube? maybe a pressure release vent tube?
-Leak from trans pan or seal
-filler neck leak?

I've never bought from a dealership, I'd rather buy private but no luck. They are asking $8900 and it's been on the lot since late April. I did test drive and its solid, smoothly shifting trans, good breaks. The problem is I wasn't able to get the car up to speed. Only got to about 50mph, want to take it on highway and do 70+. They were a little weird about me wanting to drive highway, saying they don't so I don't like that but I'm just going to take it for another test drive and drive highway regardless. I'm going to look at leak before drive, clean it off then check again after drive and evaluate.

All photos are looking toward front end. The last photo is the color of the drop that was on the filler neck?

I suppose my questions are regarding the photos, i'm not sure of where leak is or if im even close in my guesses. Does it seem sketchy? (to me, in the moment it didnt. until not allowing highway), this car is 2 hours from my house so would the leak be something I could get back home on? Any suggestions on other things to look over?

Thank you for your time & help, everyone!

 

welcome

 

Welcome, the valve covers, halfmoons, and cam plugs are an extremely common leak point (I'd say 80% of 4Rs and Tacomas have dealt with it at some point), and is likely your culprit. Oil leaks can be hard to trace as anything top down can drip and make it look like that item is leaking. 8900 is probably a little steep, may argue for the gaskets to be swapped as part of the deal? Low mileage with a good frame is a find though! Good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5fAXAuGozI&ab_channel=TimmyTheToolman

 

Welcome

 

Yep, I would say the same as
roboturner.

Check around the valve cover and see if you can find oil residue. It's a little hard to troubleshoot b/c the oil can be leaking from the front and the fan is blowing it to the back where it is making its way down the back side of the engine and onto the dipstick holder where you are seeing it before it makes its way to the ground. Sometimes just tightening the bolts on top of the valve cover will "fix" it until you are able to replace the gasket.

 

I can barely see your steering rack in your photos, but did you check all your steering rack lines, and especially around the steering shaft below the steering rag joint, my old steering rack leaked pretty bad from there and the PS fluid got all over the transmission too as it dripped and blew back onto it. Toyota uses transmission fluid in their power steering in these 3rd gens, so it would make you think it's from your tranny. Your steering rack is wet with seepage, it could be oil dripping down from valve cover gaskets (common), but just pointing out another possible leak source to examine.

 

welcome