I have a 1995 Tacoma pickup, has 120000 Plus miles on it.
When I started it the other day, I noticed a white smoke coming from the tail pipe. It idled kinda rough. But started driving it. When I noticed it starting to heat up on the temp gauge. Then the check engine light came on. Wasn’t far from home, so I got back okay. The radiator is full and clean, didn’t notice any oil in it. Checked oil, seems clean also. Just changed it a week ago. Plus put plugs and wires on the vehicle, been running good till this point. But…….. I’m wondering, could I have blown a head gasket or cracked head? Could account for the smoking tail pipe, but what about heating up? Thinking the check engine light is due to it heating up. I suppose a compression test is a sure sign. I have it at the dealer for them to check. Not sure if I want to have them do the work or not. Weather it be a head gasket or cracked head. Any thoughts?

 

sounds like a HG

 

Well, it isnt a tacoma, by the way just a pickup.
One other possibility, is the cat being blocked. If is is constricted, your going to get lots of heat.

Antoher: Thermostat? Maybe it just overheated and you just burned a bunch of oil and did some serious wear or nearly seized the engine?

I wouldnt run it without, removing spark plugs and looking into the cylinder holes witha flash light, see if any water got in.

Look through the cat (fun to remove, rusty) If it is bad, put another on, dont run without, please.

And check your thermostat, or just replace it.

Is you oil pressure good? Maybe your not gettin oil where it should be?

 

Does sound like an HG, particularly if you are using coolant.

 

I had the same problem. I just put a rebuilt comlpete heads on it and im in the process of putting it back together

 

Just got the call from the dealer, they say it is a head gasket, and "maybe" heads. They're going to do a pressure test on the heads and see for sure. So far $1300 for the gasket and head test. If I need heads could be up to $3600. OHHHH! Boy!

 

its a lot cheaper to do it yourself and its not that hard i put 1000 in mine and i got both complete heads, head gasket kit, head bolts, fuel injectors, fuel filter, oil filter,air filter, water pump, thermostat......If you want a good head rebuilder let me know and ill give you the website

 

Unfortunately, Saturday, I already gave them the go ahead to do the job, Now if they do find that the heads are bad, I'll just tell them to stop, have them dump it in a basket, and I'll tow it home, and find a new engine and do it my self. Thanks for all the tips and advice.