[3G_runner]

Need some help about smoking from engine. I have a 3.4 v6. I cant really pin point where exactly the smoke is coming from, but its the back of the engine, towards the bottom on the driver side. The heat shield is blocking the manifold when im under scoping it out so cant really tell. Any suggestions. Rides fine and dont think it's burning oil. But i can smell and see the smoke when the engine is hot. Color of the smoke like steam but smells like burning oil or rubber like.

[JohnsD90]

Originally Posted by 3G_runner

Need some help about smoking from engine. I have a 3.4 v6. I cant really pin point where exactly the smoke is coming from, but its the back of the engine, towards the bottom on the driver side. The heat shield is blocking the manifold when im under scoping it out so cant really tell. Any suggestions. Rides fine and dont think it's burning oil. But i can smell and see the smoke when the engine is hot. Color of the smoke like steam but smells like burning oil or rubber like.

make sure the cap is on all of the engine fluids.

[shawnstcyr]

Sounds like leaky valve cover gaskets.

[CaliCal]

changed any fluids earlier ?

[Cambo]

Definitely valve cover gaskets. I have the same thing on the passenger side and I can see it is the oil leaking down from the valve cover onto the exhaust manifold.

[longhaul747]

As already mentioned above most likely the valve cover gaskets. Mine leaked and sometimes I could smell something burning. Never seen smoke under the hood but I am sure it did at times. Normally its not difficult but you have to remove the throttle body and replace a gasket for that. So I had the dealer replace mine to the tune of $400. At the least they steamed cleaned the engine as well ;-)

[rdgt4r]

its easy to do yourself except for the driver side because of the intake but its all just unbolting a few things and slap some new gaskets for around 30 bucks.

[andyo]

My 2001 SR5 had become our 3rd vehicle about 5 months ago. I've been starting/driving it once a week since then to keep it running. Over the past 2 weeks I've noticed, that once the engine gets up to temp, I'll smell something burning.

A quick inspection with the hood up showed that where the header meets the downpipe, there was a small stream of white smoke rising through the engine bay. This only happens when the car is up to temp and only smokes in that spot.

Any ideas what this could be? It doesn't really smell like oil, if anything it almost smelled electrical. Not saying that it is, but it doesn't smell like an exhaust leak either.

My photo didn't turn out, but this photo of a Tacoma engine bay is pretty close to the area I'm talking about: .

In the photo, it'd be under and to the left of the ABS module (top-right - has the white reservoir and black cap).

[thezentree]

I'm no expert on these engines but white smoke is usually indicative of burning coolant. I hope I'm not leading you down the wrong path but it's worth investigating.

[andyo]

It's so weird b/c it's such a localized area that the smoke is coming from. Doesn't come from the tail pipe, just the engine bay at that joint.

Checking the coolant level is easy enough.

[thegipper]

Use a mirror and a flashlight and see if you can get a better look at where the leak is coming from. Checking your coolant level and oil level is a good start too.

It could be as simple as the valve cover gaskets are leaking. Mine have been for quite a while now and it smells more like burning rubber than oil. They leak pretty bad on mine but I still don't need to add any oil between changes.

Super common for the 3.4 V6 to have leaking valve cover gaskets (cam seals/half moons).

[Scramble]

Originally Posted by andyo

My 2001 SR5 had become our 3rd vehicle about 5 months ago. I've been starting/driving it once a week since then to keep it running. Over the past 2 weeks I've noticed, that once the engine gets up to temp, I'll smell something burning.

A quick inspection with the hood up showed that where the header meets the downpipe, there was a small stream of white smoke rising through the engine bay. This only happens when the car is up to temp and only smokes in that spot.

Any ideas what this could be? It doesn't really smell like oil, if anything it almost smelled electrical. Not saying that it is, but it doesn't smell like an exhaust leak either.

My photo didn't turn out, but this photo of a Tacoma engine bay is pretty close to the area I'm talking about: .

In the photo, it'd be under and to the left of the ABS module (top-right - has the white reservoir and black cap).

I agree with thegipper, valve cover gaskets. The oil drips down onto the exhaust when the truck is sitting & then burns off when up to temp. Smells like burning plastic or rubber. When I'm DD her I dont get the smell or smoke at all, only after sitting for a week.

[andyo]

Originally Posted by thegipper

Use a mirror and a flashlight and see if you can get a better look at where the leak is coming from.

I can see that it's coming right off of the flange where the header meets the pipe. It's just a think stream of white smoke and I don't see anything dripping on it that would be burning. It's pretty rusty too. Could that mixed with the car not being used as much making it start to go? Use it or lose it?

Thanks for the reply gipper.

[andyo]

Originally Posted by Scramble

I agree with thegipper, valve cover gaskets. The oil drips down onto the exhaust when the truck is sitting & then burns off when up to temp. Smells like burning plastic or rubber. When I'm DD her I dont get the smell or smoke at all, only after sitting for a week.

OK that makes me feel much better. I was worried that if something was smoking like that I shouldn't be driving it. Where there's smoke there's fire.

Thanks for the reply Scramble.

[Scramble]

Originally Posted by andyo

OK that makes me feel much better. I was worried that if something was smoking like that I shouldn't be driving it. Where there's smoke there's fire.

Thanks for the reply Scramble.

Well please make sure that's it! LOL