Oil Cooler Leaking?

2020 SR5 2WD
74,000 miles

I noticed seepage around the filter housing earlier this year. Just changed my oil last week and today I checked the filter and its pretty wet. Was thinking if replacing the plastic housing with an aluminum one but I'm not sure it's the source of the leak even though its pretty wet. It seems theres caked on oil by the cooler and the bolt.
*Added Note: Yesterday I found the coolant was running low. I topped it off early 2023 after buying it at 51,000miles. I know the coolant keeps the oil warm/cool so maybe its leaking into the oil or vice versa? The last oil change was fine though, looked perfect. No milkshake going on.






Coolant when cold

Coolant when warm. Black mark from last top off. No crusty pink stuff visible under water pump or engine.

 

mine looks like that after an oil change if i dont wipe everything off really good. Not leaking though. Clean it good and keep an eye on it.

If you get a metal housing, def get the OEM toyota one, dont get an aftermarket one. Just keep the long, perforated stem from your current plastic one and put it in the new one.

 

i wiped the housing down after changing. Is seepage normal? Double checked the filter and drain plug, torqued properly. I've read the gaskets and orings on the heat exchanger can harden up. I use it primarily to tow my 4000lb trailer. 4th gear 3000rpm usually in tow-haul. Use 5w-30 for the purpose here in texas.

 

Get a metal housing. The plastic ones suck. Could have a hairline crack. Or the gasket wasn’t properly installed during install. Seeping isn’t normal. Just changed mine at 95k miles. It’s bone dry.


You just need to add some coolant to the reservoir. Coolant is part water, so evaporation is normal over time. Just fill it between the min and max. You don’t want that reservoir going dry as you’ll start sucking air into the system, and then you’ll have bigger problems.

 

no it shouldn't seep or leak any amount. I'd try the aluminum toyota housing and go from there.

 

I'd wipe the oil filter housing down better and keep an eye on it. Looks like it was slightly wiped during oil change. Check it's tourqed properly. If still leaking maybe something is wrong with one of the two orings. I have done 16 oil changes with plastic one and have no problems, got a 2nd oem plastic one ready if something did go wrong. If you do the metal one read the threads on here about switching the enternal parts so you dont screw up the actual filter.

Just add a tiny bit of anti freeze to get it to hot line when it's hot. I

 

The various auto parts stores near me have a loan tool program and each of them offers a pressure tester for the radiator.

 

Hose the area off with brakekleen and inspect after a day of driving.

You are likely fine. That is typical residual oil film collecting from previous oil change. My 4runner does this and my tundra.

If you clean it off with a good solvent vs wiping it down it won't drip.

 

On your next change, try draining the oil from the canister first, before removing the assembly. All that stuff might just be from the residual oil splattering everywhere if not drained correctly.