Frustrated beyond belief...

[DC runner]

Outside Temp?

Water vapor can look white, and is totally normal when it is cold outside. If the outside temp is above 60, though, you really won't see that and any smoke is coolant being expelled and vaporized showing a bad gasket.

 

[CXS]

It is ONLY during start up, then it stops. Also, work on the heads was just finished the day before this picture was taken.

Okay, I understand that was the day after, is it the same now?

How long does it smoke after starting? 10 seconds? 10 minutes?

 

[toyo]

Order this and stop the wondering. I use this on my customers cars all the time. Works perfect.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007ZDRUI?pc_redir=1395898238&robot_redir=1

 

[jdogray]

Updated

Okay, I understand that was the day after, is it the same now?

How long does it smoke after starting? 10 seconds? 10 minutes?

The smoke lasts 1-5 minutes.

Update----, the overheating was caused by a pinhole in the radiator ---don't know when that happened, I haven't been driving the vehicle it's been in the garage. But got it fixed and THAT problem is solved.

I took the vehicle back to the garage that did all the work last month. New idea--- its the piston cooling jets sending too much oil out which causes the smoke during start up. Per the garage, this is a factory problem and only Toyota can fix it.

Does this sound viable? I've contacted my warranty people and inquired if I can get my money back. The garage did a lot of work, but they did NOT fix the problem I brought the vehicle there for in the first place.

Thanks for all the support and input -- it's kept me from feeling like this is a hopeless cause. I like my 4Runner...

 

[Stuck CAPS]

The smoke lasts 1-5 minutes.

Update----, the overheating was caused by a pinhole in the radiator ---don't know when that happened, I haven't been driving the vehicle it's been in the garage. But got it fixed and THAT problem is solved.

I took the vehicle back to the garage that did all the work last month. New idea--- its the piston cooling jets sending too much oil out which causes the smoke during start up. Per the garage, this is a factory problem and only Toyota can fix it.

Does this sound viable? I've contacted my warranty people and inquired if I can get my money back. The garage did a lot of work, but they did NOT fix the problem I brought the vehicle there for in the first place.

Thanks for all the support and input -- it's kept me from feeling like this is a hopeless cause. I like my 4Runner...

Do you know if its a mechanical or electrical issue (with the cooling jet itself or the ECM)? You could try disconnecting the battery for a bit to reset the ecm. Its a longshot but it's a free, easy possibility of repair. Try running OBD-II to pull a code to find which cylinder. You could then buy a new jet, pull the head off, and replace.

 

[drewm]

The smoke lasts 1-5 minutes.

Update----, the overheating was caused by a pinhole in the radiator ---don't know when that happened, I haven't been driving the vehicle it's been in the garage. But got it fixed and THAT problem is solved.

I took the vehicle back to the garage that did all the work last month. New idea--- its the piston cooling jets sending too much oil out which causes the smoke during start up. Per the garage, this is a factory problem and only Toyota can fix it.

Does this sound viable? I've contacted my warranty people and inquired if I can get my money back. The garage did a lot of work, but they did NOT fix the problem I brought the vehicle there for in the first place.

Thanks for all the support and input -- it's kept me from feeling like this is a hopeless cause. I like my 4Runner...

A pinhole radiator leak should be pretty obviously leaking fluid on the radiator or blowing out steam, are you sure? Generally that will also NOT cause a car to overheat unless you run low on coolant because of it.

Piston oil squirters will NEVER put out too much oil, that's a huge load of BS. Oil squirters are literally just a length of pipe with a tapered end. Also piston oil squirters are on the underside of the piston, and oil will not get into the combustion top side unless you have stuck or failing piston rings, which can happen when a car has infrequent oil changes.

Because of that diagnosis, I think you should find another garage, they literally are making crap up.

In this case, I'd hope that your piston rings are just crusty with deposits, which to fix you should run full synthetic oil from now on which should clean that up.

You probably want to track what fluids are consumed. Make note of your fluid levels right after turning off the car, and take notice at which ones are being used. In a normal working Toyota V8, only up to half a quart of oil should be consumed between oil changes, no other fluid. That's the only way to truly figure out what is getting burned out your tailpipe.

 

[jdogray]

I will do as you recommend. Also I have an appointment with Toyota scheduled in two weeks. They should be able to tell we what is going on. When I picked up my car, the guy told me there were TSBs issued about this problem. I'll ask Toyota. Thanks again! Also, the garage put in 5W oil, half synthetic, have regular. Should I switch to all synthetic next oil change?

 

[drewm]

I will do as you recommend. Also I have an appointment with Toyota scheduled in two weeks. They should be able to tell we what is going on. When I picked up my car, the guy told me there were TSBs issued about this problem. I'll ask Toyota. Thanks again! Also, the garage put in 5W oil, half synthetic, have regular. Should I switch to all synthetic next oil change?

Personally I find that the cost of synthetic oil is easily paid for by the slight mpg increase you will get, and is a ton better at keeping engines free of deposits and also cleaning out existing deposits. I'd recommend using it in all cars. It pays for itself.

Also I hope you're referring to 5-30W oil, which is what's in the manual.

Yea, ask Toyota. I'm pretty sure there have been very few if not any TSBs for this V8, it's really dead reliable when taken care of.