Move from NJ to FL screwed my truck?

[cyclops13]

Okay, so I recently got a new job and moved to FL from NJ few weeks back. While in NJ I was mainly relying on public transport for commute, here in FL I get to ride my truck 15miles one way to work and its a pretty nice drive.

Now I have noticed the following since a while now -

1. The truck has some hesitation when starting up in the morning, less than a minute. I think this has been happening when I was in NJ.
2. There is white smoke coming from the exhaust, again on cold starts and goes away in a few minutes. While in NJ it was very cold and all the cars used to smoke so I never thought it would be an issue.
3. Now since yesterday, in FL the smoke would stay for a few minutes till the engine is warmed up. Here its more apparent as the other cars dont smoke! The weather here is humid (the whole truck covered in dew in mornings) so I think it can be due to condensation.
4. There is a little rattle which I think is near the muffler on cold start up, it stays for less than a minute and goes away.
5. Now today, I was checking out the threads here and fearing the worse I checked the coolant level in the reservoir - it was empty! This part is scary.

Apart from the cold start-up issues, the truck drives pretty good and no issues. Since its my only vehicle and I use it to commute here in FL, I am very worried about it.

Can it be the head gasket? Anyone here in South Florida help me diagnose it? Any reliable shop in this area who can help me? I am located in Palm Beach County.

Thanks!

 

[jkoni426]

white smoke usually means you're burning coolant, do a compression check. how does the oil look? if it looks like chocolate milk, you've got coolant and oil mixing, meaning a bad head gasket.

 

[cyclops13]

white smoke usually means you're burning coolant, do a compression check. how does the oil look? if it looks like chocolate milk, you've got coolant and oil mixing, meaning a bad head gasket.

I just went out and checked the oil, its pretty good and pink. I changed it just before moving here. Maybe I am just being paranoid? Will monitor the coolant level for a few more days and probably do a seafoam treatment. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[JayRolla]

I just went out and checked the oil, its pretty good and pink. I changed it just before moving here. Maybe I am just being paranoid? Will monitor the coolant level for a few more days and probably do a seafoam treatment. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Oil should be black or dark brown. Not pink. Auto trans has a pinkish tint.

 

[jkoni426]

by oil I meant engine oil, unscrew the cap on the engine and take a look. but definitely do a compression check to see if you're losing compression somewhere.

 

[cyclops13]

Oil should be black or dark brown. Not pink. Auto trans has a pinkish tint.

by oil I meant engine oil, unscrew the cap on the engine and take a look. but definitely do a compression check to see if you're losing compression somewhere.

:doh: My bad, I was looking at the transmission dipstick in the haste.

I just checked the engine oil dipstick and the oil is brown and looks okay. I also opened the filler cap and done see any foam there.

Getting the compression test myself is a challenge, first - I am not very mechanically inclined (radiator replacement is the only thing I did myself) and second - the community where I am residing would not allow working on the truck in the parking.

Are there any other symptoms I should monitor closely? Or I should just stop driving the truck right away and take it to a shop?

Anyone from South Florida can recommend a shop?

 

[gamefreakgc]

Don't get ahead of yourself. I can't say how many times people jump to a head gasket issue, when it's not really that bad.

First things first, please top off your radiator and radiator reservoir. Mark or monitor the fluid level.

Our rigs are knows to spew a lot of condensation. Next time you start up your truck, hold your hand over the exhaust. If it gets all wet, don't worry about it. It it comes off dry and hot, then start to worry.

 

[cyclops13]

Don't get ahead of yourself. I can't say how many times people jump to a head gasket issue, when it's not really that bad.

First things first, please top off your radiator and radiator reservoir. Mark or monitor the fluid level.

Our rigs are knows to spew a lot of condensation. Next time you start up your truck, hold your hand over the exhaust. If it gets all wet, don't worry about it. It it comes off dry and hot, then start to worry.

Thanks for the advise and consolation man. I have topped off the coolant in the reservoir and will get an extra can just to keep it handy. I will try the hand test tomorrow morning when I start the truck and post it back.

ray:

 

[jgue467]

The 'white smoke' on cold starts that goes away after a few minutes is nothing but moisture built up in the exhaust system overnight. All vehicles do that in 40%+ humidity. I'd do as you say to run seafoam in its fuel and intake systems. Startron (enzyme based) is pretty good stuff in the fuel, intake and oil, that has helped mine with a minor cold start stumble - went away and stayed there. Luck! :cowboy:

 

[shootmymime]

when its cold and only when its cold. open up the radiator cap and fire up the truck. look for small bubbles possibly coming out of the coolant.

this might be a sign of a bad HG.

but it might be so small of a leak you wont see any. also the tstat wont be open flowing fluid yet and by the time it does open it sound like the gasket has swelled and sealed its self off.

 

[jeremyc74]

Anyone from South Florida can recommend a shop?

I wish I could, but the fact is most of them in PBC just suck in my experience.

As others have said, give it a little time. Fill the radiator back up and see what happens.

 

[Lunarphase]

I know a guy in Boca a that I've used a few times. He's always been honest with me. Small shop, 2 bays, 2 guys. Fare pricing. Work on most any cars, not truck or 4Runner specialists by any means. If you are down this way and want their info let me know.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I know one in Royal Palm Beach, Tyson's, who my friend used when the caliper on his Tahoe seized up while he was on vacation down there last year. They didn't bend him over a barrel and it was changed quickly.

Just keep an eye on the coolant. Most any shop can do a coolant pressure test to see if you have a headgasket leak.

No more snow for you. But ya have to pump your own gas.

 

[Brveagle]

I think you are stressing yourself out.

Top off the resevoir and keep an eye on it. White smoke in the mornings or on a cold start is just condensation.

 

[cyclops13]

The 'white smoke' on cold starts that goes away after a few minutes is nothing but moisture built up in the exhaust system overnight. All vehicles do that in 40%+ humidity. I'd do as you say to run seafoam in its fuel and intake systems. Startron (enzyme based) is pretty good stuff in the fuel, intake and oil, that has helped mine with a minor cold start stumble - went away and stayed there. Luck! :cowboy:

I really wish it is the case!

when its cold and only when its cold. open up the radiator cap and fire up the truck. look for small bubbles possibly coming out of the coolant.

this might be a sign of a bad HG.

but it might be so small of a leak you wont see any. also the tstat wont be open flowing fluid yet and by the time it does open it sound like the gasket has swelled and sealed its self off.

I tried this today morning and saw a lot of bubbles coming out! Is this the sure sign of HG being shot?

I wish I could, but the fact is most of them in PBC just suck in my experience.

As others have said, give it a little time. Fill the radiator back up and see what happens.

I see even you are in PBC, is there anyone you would know?

I know a guy in Boca a that I've used a few times. He's always been honest with me. Small shop, 2 bays, 2 guys. Fare pricing. Work on most any cars, not truck or 4Runner specialists by any means. If you are down this way and want their info let me know.

Boca is a bit of drive from here. But please send me his contact details in case I need it.

I know one in Royal Palm Beach, Tyson's, who my friend used when the caliper on his Tahoe seized up while he was on vacation down there last year. They didn't bend him over a barrel and it was changed quickly.

Just keep an eye on the coolant. Most any shop can do a coolant pressure test to see if you have a headgasket leak.

No more snow for you. But ya have to pump your own gas.

Please send me the contact info if you have for Tyson's. Royal palm beach is not close but I might need it.

I think you are stressing yourself out.

Top off the resevoir and keep an eye on it. White smoke in the mornings or on a cold start is just condensation.

I filled up the reservoir halfway between the E and F mark yesterday afternoon and today morning it was empty.

It does not seems like normal condensation to me, the smoke today was quite a lot and when I kept my hand right in front of that, it was not very wet.


Guys, request your help and advise. What is the best possible fix to this issue, I really want to keep my truck but at the same time I cant spend a fortune to get it fixed. What is the most cost effective way to get it fixed and what kinda cash would I need to spend?

I am new to this place, dont know many people around and this is my only vehicle.

I will try to upload the video of the radiator bubbles and smoke from the exhaust.

 

[Koko4]

If you continue to lose coolant, AND the coolant levels are going down, that's not a good sign. But since the smoke seems to go away after a few minutes, I'm not 100% sure it'd be a HG issue (right?).

You might have air in the cooling system. When the car is completely cold, take off the radiator cap. Fill the radiator full with coolant (if it isn't already), and turn the car on (with the cap still off). Let it idle for awhile. You might see bubbles in the radiator, and eventually you should see the system "burp" - basically the fluid level in the radiator will go down, and you will continue to top it off with coolant. I usually let my car idle about 30 minutes, while monitoring and filling the coolant.

(I've only done this on a Honda with an electric fan, so let me know if the process is any different for the 4Runners).

What I'm trying to say is that you could just have an air bubble in the system, which would be a much easier fix (and something you could do yourself).

My car smokes a bunch on cold-start, especially in a humid climate (I'm in GA).

 

[cyclops13]

If you continue to lose coolant, AND the coolant levels are going down, that's not a good sign. But since the smoke seems to go away after a few minutes, I'm not 100% sure it'd be a HG issue (right?).

You might have air in the cooling system. When the car is completely cold, take off the radiator cap. Fill the radiator full with coolant (if it isn't already), and turn the car on (with the cap still off). Let it idle for awhile. You might see bubbles in the radiator, and eventually you should see the system "burp" - basically the fluid level in the radiator will go down, and you will continue to top it off with coolant. I usually let my car idle about 30 minutes, while monitoring and filling the coolant.

(I've only done this on a Honda with an electric fan, so let me know if the process is any different for the 4Runners).

What I'm trying to say is that you could just have an air bubble in the system, which would be a much easier fix (and something you could do yourself).

My car smokes a bunch on cold-start, especially in a humid climate (I'm in GA).

Will try it again today evening as I hitched a ride with my coworker today and left the truck at home.

I changed the radiotor and flushed the coolant almost a year back, is it possible that the air bubbles are still there?

The video is finally uploaded through my crappy mobile network. Check it out.

T4R HG - YouTube

 

[4eigner]

Time to do a block test. Go to your local auto parts store (AutoZone should have them for sure) and ask to rent a block test kit. It's a cheap and easy surefire way to determine if you're getting exhaust gasses in your coolant. Even a kid can do it.

 

[4eigner]

Will try it again today evening as I hitched a ride with my coworker today and left the truck at home.

I changed the radiotor and flushed the coolant almost a year back, is it possible that the air bubbles are still there?

The video is finally uploaded through my crappy mobile network. Check it out.

T4R HG - YouTube

Based on that video, I'd say you have a blown head gasket. Get the block test kit for verification.

 

[nissanh]

Before you pull things apart, try blue-devil head gasket sealer. About $30 a bottle. It becomes solid only after meeting air.
Let the blue-devil to circulate the engine for good few minutes and shut the engine off (floow the directions printed on the bottle). Let it sit for few days to form the solid material in the cracks in the HG.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpXPOWMJ4lY