Hi All,

I need some help diagnosing my problem.

Specs: stock 95 4runner 3.0 V6 auto mileage: unkown.

Symptoms: white smoke @ cold start (for 5 - 10 min), slight rough idle in drive, loss of coolant +/- 1.5 L over 300+ miles (no external leaks), check engine light error 71- egr system. Very little "yellow milky type oil in cap" this was following a week of driving through flooded streets in CO.

Background: A month ago my check engine came on for the egr system- I replaced the egr valve- light came back on, turns out it was another valve that was broken as well (I have yet to replace it). Then a couple weeks ago I noticed coolant coming out of the overflow hose via the reservoir, dismissed it because it was a hot day. Last week I had white exhaust for 5 to 10 min until engine was hot and no coolant in the reservoir. After parking I could hear coolant boiling within the radiator. Today I looked at my cap and there was a very small amount of yellow-whitish oil on the cap.

I have narrowed it down to EGR/Head Gasket/Intake Gasket.

This weekend I am going to check the plugs, change the oil for a better look at it, and do a compression check to look for a correlation in pressure among adjacent cylinders.

Does anyone have recommendations on what to look for, other tests, and/or suggestions on possible causes.

Thank you for your time, for what its worth your help will save me cash in the long run.
John

 

probably head gasket. Same thing happened to me. I tried to blue devil the head gasket but didnt work. also had the same milky oil and smoke. i just took the head off yesterday (was a bitch) and getting it machined for 75 bucks. got a new gasket kit set for 80 and new head bolts for 40. gotta put in before weekend. ill let ya know how it goes, but def. check head comp. and if its milky probably your head.

 

Sounds like a head gasket. If you put your hand into the "white smoke," it will probably feel damp, not oily, because it's coolant getting leaked into the exhaust stream. A compression check is always good, but it's not going to pick up this problem.

EGR has nothing to do with white smoke; I think your EGR issues are just a coincidence.

You'll need to do something very soon; it's going to get worse, and then strand you.