2000 4Runner issues - con't

[skidad-l]

2000 SR5 4Runner, 5 spd, 42000 mi., intermittent smoke at startup per previous post. Had water pump replaced, timing belt, gear box service, man. trans. fluid replaced, oil change and 'corrected spark plugs'. Still blowing what we thought was 'white smoke' at startup, intermittantly. Have since found in 30 days of driving and 1,000 miles later that we're burning oil. Perhaps that smoke has been 'blue smoke' all along? Dealership performed compression test and all was well during previous evaluation. Can anyone advise? Thank you.

 

[TheBlueWave]

2000 SR5 4Runner, 5 spd, 42000 mi., intermittent smoke at startup per previous post. Had water pump replaced, timing belt, gear box service, man. trans. fluid replaced, oil change and 'corrected spark plugs'. Still blowing what we thought was 'white smoke' at startup, intermittantly. Have since found in 30 days of driving and 1,000 miles later that we're burning oil. Perhaps that smoke has been 'blue smoke' all along? Dealership performed compression test and all was well during previous evaluation. Can anyone advise? Thank you.

This is a tough one if the compression is okay.
What did the dealer recommend? Or did you just have them test compression and then leave to find a cheaper source of repair (not tell them the problem)?
Head gasket maybe?
Your compression ring might be fine but he oil scraper ring might not be on one or more cylinders. Not sure how to check those though...

 

[skidad-l]

Thanks for the reply. Initially, the dealer checked everything out thinking that it was white smoke. Head gasket was the concern, thus the compression test. They combed through the vehicle, did the above maint. then sent my wife on her way advising, "...just drive the rig..." (due to the low mileage) Since the smoke is intermittent and usually happens to my wife, it has been difficult to pinpoint or replicate. Sometimes it happens at first start other times after the car sits an hour or so. It is definitely smoke, not vapor. Now that it is burning oil, believe the smoke may have been 'blue' all along - just difficult to judge with tinted windows, etc. Suspect that previous owners may have done damage to rig due to not repairing water pump, overheating, etc. Trying to figure out where the burning oil problem fits in with this scenario. (We're not concerned with dearlership - they've been excellent with our other Toyota vehicles.) Just want to pin this down now. This is our replacement ski rig - canyon driving next ski season for the gang and hiking/camping off-season. (Kids grew out of Tacoma Ext Cab)

 

[TheBlueWave]

Good luck to you, this is a problem someone more knowledgable than me needs to chime in on. Burning oil is usually due to the piston ring's inability to "scrape" oil off the cylinder walls. Each piston has three rings. From top to bottom (separated by a mm or so) they are the compression ring, scraper ring, and oil ring (distributes oil around cylinder perimiter. If the scraper ring is bad, oil will sneak past the compression ring and enter the combustion chamber. There could be other causes, but I would bet that one or more scraper rings is shot. Quite an expensive repair if that's the case.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Thanks for the reply. Initially, the dealer checked everything out thinking that it was white smoke. Head gasket was the concern, thus the compression test. They combed through the vehicle, did the above maint. then sent my wife on her way advising, "...just drive the rig..." (due to the low mileage) Since the smoke is intermittent and usually happens to my wife, it has been difficult to pinpoint or replicate. Sometimes it happens at first start other times after the car sits an hour or so. It is definitely smoke, not vapor. Now that it is burning oil, believe the smoke may have been 'blue' all along - just difficult to judge with tinted windows, etc. Suspect that previous owners may have done damage to rig due to not repairing water pump, overheating, etc. Trying to figure out where the burning oil problem fits in with this scenario. (We're not concerned with dearlership - they've been excellent with our other Toyota vehicles.) Just want to pin this down now. This is our replacement ski rig - canyon driving next ski season for the gang and hiking/camping off-season. (Kids grew out of Tacoma Ext Cab)

Considering the low mileage and similar experiences on non-Toyota low mileage cars, I offer the following: Let me preface by saying I don't believe in 'snake-oil' as rule but there seems to be a time and place with good results.
1) Try some SeaFoam in the crankcase in accordance with the instructions just prior to the next oil change. Drive aggressively, varying RPM and revving it a little harder than normal for a couple hundred miles prior to draining the SeaFoam/engine oil mixture. The theory being two-fold: there are drain back holes cut in the pistons that may be clogged with sludge and gook. Secondarily there

 

[skidad-l]

Thank you for the reply and suggestions. Clarification - after the cleansing and new oil change, what weight oil should be used from that point on for future oil changes. Would we still continue to use one of the recommended oils per your post or go back to the 5W30 the dealer recommends? THanks again.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Thank you for the reply and suggestions. Clarification - after the cleansing and new oil change, what weight oil should be used from that point on for future oil changes. Would we still continue to use one of the recommended oils per your post or go back to the 5W30 the dealer recommends? THanks again.

I would suggest a 10w-40 in the summer and a 5w-30 in the cold weather IF you choose to use the Marvel Mystery oil additive (one full quart).

If you choose to skip the Marvel Mystery oil and use High Mileage formulation oil then I'd use whatever Toyota recommends for the 2000 model (5w-30 I think) all the time.
:cheers: