Hey Guys,
I got a 01' 4x4 Runner with the 3.4. I just recently changed the timing belt at 124K miles. It now has 130K on it and when I started it yesterday morning it kinda cut out on me (cold maybe?). It stayed running and I went on about my business. It was 35 miles to the deer camp pulling my 4-wheeler on a trailer. After sitting for a while I needed to move it so I put it in reverse and pushed the trailer into a better position (I did not have the 4-wheeler on it at that time). I had to jump on the gas to move over uneven terrain and the truck cut off (just figured it was cold). Along with the cutting out and such, I started to worry. It stayed there over night. I cranked it this morning and my friend informed me of the smoking. First a burning oil smoke and then condensation smoke. I left around lunch and it smoked again but stopped after a few minutes. Any thoughts? Bad Gas? (I just filled it up with gas and had the oil changed recently) I also work out of town and drive around 450 miles a week round trip. Never had any other trouble and should be pretty clean as fuel system goes- I fill it up twice a week. Please help. Should I worry? Any Thoughts?

 

32 visitors and no answers yet. I put some Gumout cleaner in it and a new PCV vaulve in it today. Have to drive it out of town tomorrow. Hope it will clean itself out. Been watching water levels to insure that it its not trying to blow out the head gasket. Any thoughts on the converter? Come on guys help!

 

Sorry I can't help you on this one. And I don't meen to steal you thread but I could use some help here as well. But I just encountered a similar deal with a 1996 3.4 I just recently bought with a 154### on it. My daughter drives it to school, and Tue. we had tires put on it and when we left the tire shop I followed her out but did not see her start the engine, and when she took off a quick short puff of smoke came out and there seemed to be a lot of water vapor that followed it. I could not tell if it was gray, blue, or black smoke because of my sunglasses. It quit and did not do it again, the whole time as I followed her home and had her restart again and nothing, stopped and restarted from several traffic lights. The 4runner was warm but had set for about an hour and a half. She lives with mom so I had them check this morning and they report no smoke on start up or intial take off. What I saw alarmed me as well and my first thought was head gasket but no milkshake on dip stick just good clean oil. Someone please help us. Are their any early signs of head gasket problems or do the just let go? Happy Yota Trails!

 

quick redneck test.

TASTE the drips out of the tailpipe. if sweet, that condensation is a head gasket prob.

if not sweet, it is normal muffler condensation


spit it out of course

 

Tried the neck test. Didnt taste sweet, Best I could tell. Checked all my fluids again and oil level looks great and clean as ever. Overflow is full at high temp so I dont know what to think. Started it up today after sitting for a while. It spit a 2 foot stream of water out of the tail pipe. It had what looked like black soot in it (if it was coolant it would have had a red tint to it). It also pulled a code - (random misfire of cylinder). When you gas it hard it hesitates and acts like its going dead but it keeps running and drives out fine as longs as you dont hammer down on it while its cold. Best I can tell- Bad gas or converter problems - (but no code pulled for 02 sensors). Anybody got any other suggestions? Im still a bit worried - - -

 

What's the exact code? Like P_____. A cyl misfire on a 3.4 usually points to a bad coil pack. Was that timing belt change the absolute last thing done to the engine?

 

Do a compression test.

 

Mine does the same thing and i have a bad ring in cylinder #5

 

Well the code # is 300 but I have a cheap code reader I think. It is not a very high tech device at all. The last thing done to the motor was the timing belt. When I replaced it I put a new water pump in, changed all of the drive belts and changed the coolant (all O.E.M. parts / even Coolant was Toyota). Other than that it is just a routine oil change with high milage oil.

I guess it might could be a coil pack but it only really happens at start up. Ive had coil pack issues before in a different vehicle and would waffel every now and then.

If it was a ring issue wouldnt it smoke all the time?

Im just getting soo much condensation from the tail pipe and a little smoke, I work out of town and drive it 160 + miles comming and the going home as well. On my way out of town this week after the initial crap in the morning and a small hesitation when I stopped some where. It drives out fine. It purrs at 75mph.

Im open to anything at this point - guess ill have a compression test done next -

 

It really sounds like a HG going. Just a slow leak for now. Mine did something similar to this. But what is strange is that you are not noticing any fluid loss...

 

I really hope not. I have to travel alot and need it to last.

 

Extremely rare for a 5VZFE to have HG issues in the later years. The 96's and some 97's had an external flaw, but that's it. These engines are rock solid. "Shotgunning" the possibilities over the Internet is going to get you nowhere. Get the exact code read on a good scanner and let's go from there.

 

Welp guys, I appreciate every thing so far. I think its the first thing I though it was.---- ITS BAD GAS!!!!!!!! I think I got it out mostly so far but we will see. It was running like nothing ever happened today and I just filled the tank of gas with 89 octane. I had another tank in before and ran some Gummout in it and I guess it cleaned it out. I'm going to go ahead and put another fuel filter on and go from there for now. Ill let you know how it goes.
Thanks

 

you need eat more salad !

 

I had no idea that would have that much of an effect on the Runner and the way it ran. Got to admit it - it scared the hell out of me for A bit. Ill keep yal posted just in case anything goes wrong. Salad good!

 

I'm glad that's all it was...Wow. I'd try and remember where you were and never get gas there again...

 

Yea, me too!!!! I bought it at a Kangaroo - Ill just get Frosty Slurpee Pops(beer) and Ice from now on. Thanks