3.4L white smoke on start up. Intake manifold gasket?

[subitoy]

I'm in San Bernardino. The engine is at local machine shop, local Toyota dealer sends their heads to resurface/rebuild. It's a one man shop and the owner used to work as engine builder for Banks Power, I saw some of his work and he is real master of his trade. In the way I feel very lucky to have someone like him working on my engine on the other side it could be pricey so I need little advice before I'll start throwing money at it and at the end I'll have rebuild engine with OEM pats all around and 5K in credit card bills. I really like my 1997 Limited, very clean truck, has 4WD and e-Locker that's useful in the winter. As far as used engine I just don't know how long it will last and they all have 3 month to max one year warranty and then I'll be in the same situation as now. As far as bottom end it's getting out of specs so a set of next size pistons and rings will have to be ordered and I might look into aftermarket parts to save some $$$. The builder of course recommends OEM but stated that had success with aftermarket kits and has variety of suppliers to choose from. I'll have to start to narrow down my options very soon, I need my truck back up and running!

 

[BrianSD_42]

before I'll start throwing money at it and at the end I'll have rebuild engine with OEM pats all around and 5K in credit card bills

Dude I understand where you are coming from with wanting to rebuild it but it doesnt seem worth it to me.

I spent $2700 on a rebuild but my bottom end was 100% fine at the time. & that was right at my price point.

You may want to consider picking up a wreck for $1500 and swapping it in. It is super easy to total a 4Runner, insuramce wise these days. Many of them have perfectly fine engines when scrapped. You want one with < $120k miles. Should be doable if you can wait a month.

Then pay a local shop $500 to put it in or hell offer ChildrenOfBoddem or Drifter33 to put it in for $500. He clearly knows how to do it.

That truck is not worth the $5000, that is CRAZY.

 

[subitoy]

JE has also engine from Japan for $1750 shipped. How's these engines?
Japan Engines

Just found this on Ebay, they give 7 year/70K mile warranty for re-manufactured for $2300 plus shipping. TOYOTA 5VZ 5VZFE 3.4L V6 ENGINE | eBay

The other option for me to find re-buildable heads for cheap and for $1600 I'll have my engine rebuilt by my local builder including non-oem short block parts and labor including bore and hone of the block. For few more hundred $$$ I can put some OEM or MLS HG's with all OEM timing belt parts and water pump. I'll have to put new oem parts even if I go with used swap.

 

[jakknz]

I'll second what has already been said - find a low miles used engine and have that installed.

If, however, he is quoting you 1600 for all the head work, hone, bore, and oversized pistons than that is hell of a deal. Still a hell of a deal for all that at 2k.

 

[subitoy]

Found 2 used engines locally for $1200 each, both have around 100k from '98 and '00. Any advise on how to pick a good one, what things to look for?

 

[BrianSD_42]

Link:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/104654-5vz-fe-removal.html

.

 

[JakeInGrayTacoma]

Whether you pull the heads or you have a shop do it, have them resurfaced and inspected for cracks. I would also recommend having the block inspected and resurfaced if necessary. Even if it's just a bad HG, resurfacing is mandatory IMO. A lot of people skimp and just throw new HGs and they leak again after another year or 2.

After I cracked my heads I started to notice that this isn't that uncommon on the 3.4 after ~200K and there are a few others on here that have had their heads crack too.. How many miles are on yours?

I had my HG done last year and its running sluggish upon starting in the morning. Also blows the white smoke out the tailpipe. Mechanic said HG went already and to get a reman/rebuilt engine. Today I had 2 hard starts after sitting for more than an hour (overnite, at customer's house today) finally started, then drove home. You recommend anywhere to get a reman engine here in SoCal? And a good mechanic to install it?

 

[Charlieb4m]

Incorrect information

Head gasket(s)/cracked head(s). White smoke out the tailpipe means you're burning up coolant so it's leaking into the combustion chamber. You'll be doing the intake manifold gasket in the process, but your symptoms are almost surely HG or bad head.

Coolant in a cylinder does not always mean you have a bad head gasket or cracked head. Coolant flows through the intake manifold to cool the heads. If your lower intake manifold gasket is leaking the coolant can get in the cylinder. Usually leaks in when engine is cooling and metal is contracting. I am a new member but have years of experience as a toyota mechanic. Hate to see people pay for head gaskets when they have classic intake leak symptoms.

 

[limitedvan8]

Well looks like I have a similar issue. White smoke on start up and now that I think of it hard starts when the truck sits for a while (only drive it on the weekends)

Excuse my possible lack of searching I'm currently on my phone; how can I confirm if it's the intake manifold gasket vs the HG?

Compression test? But I see that doesn't necessarily confirm the issue either?

I'm up in Vancouver so everything costs alot more to have done. Parts/labour etc so before I start taking it apart or take it to a shop I'd really like to be able to narrow down a possible issue.

I saw pulling the plugs to help narrow down which cylinder the possible leak could be at as well as looking at the plugs.

Thanks guys

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Compression test would be helpful, and has very little to do with the intake manifold gasket. If you have similar symptoms, high likelihood of a bad head gasket.

 

[Pauleyman]

Bringing this back from the dead. I have a 99 5vzfe and it has been burning coolant for more than a year but it is only evident at dead cold startup. Misfires and coughs for about 30 sec and then it's fine. I haven't conducted any tests yet but I will. I see several people posting about intake manifold leaks and I'd like to investigate that possibility first. I'm an accomplished shade tree and I can do cylinder heads if I have to but I'm trying not to unless I'm 100% sure that's the problem. It is high mileage at 310k.