Today i was Driving my 3.0L 95 runner down the street taking it easy and all of the sudden it was sputtering, the car would almost want to shut off but wouldn't for awhile and i was getting white smoke out of the tailpipe. I think i could be the head gasket i heard if i opened the oil cap there would be white foam, I don't know if its true or not. I kknow the head gasket is also common problem to the 3vze engines, but was only replaced a few years ago by the dealer from the recall. It would be great if anyone can throw me any ideas for common problems for the white smoke. I want to keep the runner alive it currently has 175k

 

white smoke is from water getting into the pistons.. its not smoke its steam.

General cause IS headgasket failure.

 

yep, water/antifreeze leakes into the combustion chamber and gets vaporized, hence the white smoke. 3VZ's are known for this problem. Most people on here dont take kindly to them though from what ive read some of the head gasket weakness can be corrected by installing better head bolts, of all things, when you put a new head gasket on. Aparently the stock head bolts allow for too much play and dont withstand enough force.

 

check the coolant in the radiator as well as the engine oil. if the coolant has any signs of oil, or of the oil in the crankcase looks chocolate milkey then you know you have an issue.

 

I just replaced to oil about 600mi ago. i checked it from the dip stick and it looks fine but I noticed i lost about quart of oil. i checked the radiator and did not notice any oil in it, the radiator is still full but lost a quart of oil maybe i missed something, and yes i looked at the resiviour and its where it always has been. I know people hate these trucks with the 3vz's.

 

it was the mass air flow sensor i just hit it a few times and got it working

 

tyang, where you from? What nationality? I think I know you...

 

.... Messing with teh intake got rid of your white smoke.....

doesnt explain where the moisture came from.

 

it does not explain the moisture i just hit and it started to work again lol. Last night was when the problem started it looked like white smoke maybe due to the headlights behind me, but when i started it up today it was black smoke so i messed with the sensor and it seems to be running well right now i haven't really tested it out all to much we'll see. AND to answer gUARDIAN SAINTS question im from Denver

 

ahhhh

black smoke, running rich... lack of 02 ... explains why it was resolved LOL

nice nice