I noticed when I bought my 4runner like a month later when I went to the back to start it up, I don't remember why I went back but anyways I know upon ever start up there is white smoke coming out instead of clear. Is there any concerns to have? I got the car at I think 44k miles and now I got 52k miles.
do you have white smoke coming out from tailpipe?
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White smoke can be an indication of a head gasket failure, as you would be burning coolant. If you are only seeing it for the first few minutes, it could just be steam from moisture in the exhaust system, but if it lasts longer than a few minutes, I would be concerned.
Has the truck ever overheated?
Is the coolant level steady, or are you topping off regularly?
It may be worth having a mechanic check it out.
Has the truck ever overheated?
Is the coolant level steady, or are you topping off regularly?
It may be worth having a mechanic check it out.
mcaninch35
New member
Agreed. Keep an eye on temps and coolant level and drive!
Runner-Wannabe
New member
IiRC, burning coolant has kind of a sweet smell to it
check your coolant overflow canister every morning when she's cold.
It should be at the same level.
If coolant level doesn't drop you HG is ok.
I have 2005 4runner with 150,000 miles. I can check my overflow canaster any time and at any temp and it is always the same safe level. I check mostly when cold. If it drops an inch I'd worry about HG. It has been holding exactly at the full line for 6 months or longer.
A sputter at startup is an HG indicator.
coolant out the exhaust (white smoke) is another indicator.
bubbling in your coolant from exhaust gases means HG is bad.
It should be at the same level.
If coolant level doesn't drop you HG is ok.
I have 2005 4runner with 150,000 miles. I can check my overflow canaster any time and at any temp and it is always the same safe level. I check mostly when cold. If it drops an inch I'd worry about HG. It has been holding exactly at the full line for 6 months or longer.
A sputter at startup is an HG indicator.
coolant out the exhaust (white smoke) is another indicator.
bubbling in your coolant from exhaust gases means HG is bad.
RichinRidgewood
New member
I had a 2006 Mercedes Benz C-Class for 14 years. As it got older if you started it and say drove it down the driveway and shut it off and came back later when you restarted it, it would blow out a cloud of white smoke for maybe 5-10 seconds.
It never used any oil or coolant. It had a 13,000 miles oil change interval. I think it had something to do with the catalyst.
I had a 1987 Ford pick-up with a 351. Every so often while driving on side streets it would just start bellowing white smoke. I would shut if off and restart it and the smoke was gone. I mean it would fog 3 lanes of traffic. It didn't use any more oil than would be expected. It didnt use any coolant. Again it was something with the catalyst.
It never used any oil or coolant. It had a 13,000 miles oil change interval. I think it had something to do with the catalyst.
I had a 1987 Ford pick-up with a 351. Every so often while driving on side streets it would just start bellowing white smoke. I would shut if off and restart it and the smoke was gone. I mean it would fog 3 lanes of traffic. It didn't use any more oil than would be expected. It didnt use any coolant. Again it was something with the catalyst.
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Claypidgeon
Junior Member
What Capt Solo said plus: 1) emulsified oil means coolant in getting into the oil and the engine may get damaged, 2) besides a head gasket either the head or the block can be cracked. Much more expensive than a head gasket. 3) starting off in the morning, if you are emitting a lot of white smoke after other cars from your neighborhood have quit, you better be concerned. Like others have said, its gotta come from somewhere and the overflow will indicate.
