2000 Toyota 4Runner Limited - Engine Smoke

4

4Runner2000JC

New member
Brand new to the forum and looking for a little help. I'm not much of a mechanic, so please forgive me if I sound like I don't know what I'm talking about.

I've been seeing smoke coming from under my hood for the past few weeks. Only seems to do it first thing in the morning, at the end of my morning commute. Doesn't seem to happen any other time.

I think I've pinpointed where it's coming from (shown in the attached photo).

Anyone have any ideas? When I purchased the vehicle in March, I was told at the pre-purchase inspection that the valve cover gaskets were leaking, but I never noticed anything until now. Could that be the problem? Oil level is good. No lights coming on on the dash.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 

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LittleCaesar said:
Change the valve cover gaskets. Then I bet your smoke goes away permanently.
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^^This^^

Nice hand, btw!

Mine leaked like that for years before changing the gasket. I cleaned them up as much as possible and the smoking stopped, but it is still worth the time to swap the gaskets.
 
Yup what they said. Mine was doing the same thing when I cracked my valve cover with my torque wrench :ybrick: so be carful.
 
What's a reasonable cost for this repair? I know from looking at several other forums that this repair is far more labor cost than parts cost. The shop that did the pre-purchase inspection quoted $425. Does that sound about right?
 
I just had this done over the summer at a local shop and paid about $330. The replacement gasket started leaking and the valve cover cracked a couple months later. Luckily, they are honest guys and did the replacement for free as a warranty. they even found a used cover and replaced it for free.
 
orangesoda said:
I just had this done over the summer at a local shop and paid about $330. The replacement gasket started leaking and the valve cover cracked a couple months later. Luckily, they are honest guys and did the replacement for free as a warranty. they even found a used cover and replaced it for free.
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Any offerings on why it cracked? Incorrect torque or torque sequence?


Just curious because mine will need doing in the next year or two, and I would rather they not crack afterward... :)
 
Would an oil stop leak product do me any good? Or do those not typically work for valve gasket leaks? I already use Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage oil, which is supposed to have some sort of "seal conditioners" in it.
 
4Runner2000JC said:
Would an oil stop leak product do me any good? Or do those not typically work for valve gasket leaks? I already use Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage oil, which is supposed to have some sort of "seal conditioners" in it.
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Ah, no. Just fix it correctly the first time. :director:
 
It is a fairly easy job, if you are mechanically inclined. The seal is very cheap too. I completed mine last weekend.
 
animator said:
Any offerings on why it cracked? Incorrect torque or torque sequence?


Just curious because mine will need doing in the next year or two, and I would rather they not crack afterward... :)
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Over torquing those bolts will do it. They are only supposed to be done to 53 in/lbs. which is less than 5 ft/lbs.
 
4Runner2000JC said:
Would an oil stop leak product do me any good?s...
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No - I cringe hearing that kind of talk!

Ok before ya spend a few hundred bucks get your 10mm socket with various extensions out and starting tightening the vc bolts, lightly, if ya got a torque wrench keep it to 5in-pounds or less. You'll have trouble reaching the top ones without removing anything, worry Much more about the bottom ones especially on the right side but do both sides. Now that's done, clean it up as best you can and wait. It will take a few days/weeks maybe a couple months But it will end, the smoking that is. Mine was tightened over 4 yrs ago and still holding.... Luck!
 
4Runner2000JC said:
Would an oil stop leak product do me any good? Or do those not typically work for valve gasket leaks? I already use Valvoline MaxLife High Mileage oil, which is supposed to have some sort of "seal conditioners" in it.
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No, no, and emphatically NO....

Either learn to deal with the smoking (which is most likely oil leaking down and hitting your exhaust manifold, then burning off), or replace the gaskets. As stated, I understand it as being a pretty easy job, though a bit time consuming. Or, find an independent ma and pa shop that will do it on the cheap. I would bet that a small shop would charge around $250ish in total. I still think it would be better to purchase the inexpensive parts and do it on a Sunday in your or a friends garage.
 
I changed the valve cover gasket with with all new oem parts from my local Toyota dealer for right under 100 bucks :)
 
Change the gaskets and pressure wash the engine when done. They are leaking onto the hot exhaust manifolds causing the oil to burn and smoke.
No oil stop leak products do nothing but separate your money from your wallet.
 
Really appreciate all the help/advice. As someone who is not very mechanically inclined, I read these forums extensively before even attempting a project.

I think I'm going to try tightening the bolts, doing some cleanup on the engine, and then seeing if the smoke goes away. If the problem persists or comes back, I have a couple of acquaintances who I think can do the job reasonably cheap and do it well.

Thanks again for all the info.
 
Not sure.. I snugged them down a bit. then went to the shop after it kept leaking, had it repaired. It was a cheap gasket they replaced it with and started leaking again so they swapped it for another. 500 miles and some mountain passes later, it was leaking and the cover had a nice crack across it. I wonder if the just tightened it down the second time and didn't replace the gasket... they are honest guys, but maybe a little heavy handed the second time around?
 
Another hack job VC repair. Do it right the 1st time. All OEM parts: 2- VC gaskets, 2- Camshaft plugs, 6- Spark plug seals, 8- VC bolt bonded washers. Reseal the half moons with FIPG. Make sure to dab the FIFG in the right places. Correct torque on VC bolts with blue Loctite. There's several good write-ups on this site. Never worry about your VC gaskets again.
 
JRZEE2000TR4LTD said:
Another hack job VC repair. Do it right the 1st time. All OEM parts: 2- VC gaskets, 2- Camshaft plugs, 6- Spark plug seals, 8- VC bolt bonded washers. Reseal the half moons with FIPG. Make sure to dab the FIFG in the right places. Correct torque on VC bolts with blue Loctite. There's several good write-ups on this site. Never worry about your VC gaskets again.
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No loctite on them! Other than that you are sport on. If anything I would use a little Ultra Grey and you will be money.

Blue
 
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