I got my 4 runner about 5 months ago out of new hamshire, i've have enjoyed it since i've had it but i've started to have weird problems. I found some sand in the engine airbox *not full but sand* i also always see steam from the rear exhaust i assumed *this is normal* however i got down there and stick my finger inside the exhaust pipe and it was wet. My engine oil also looks weird like the oil is clear and oily. it's not thick like oil usually is. I bought it from a dealership and i ask them if it had water damage they said no well how can i tell for sure if water is in the engine. I'm worried that it might cause problems. I've already replaced the stereo head unit and both calipers since i've had it just don't seem right for a toyota that i've only had 5 months. It's a 2004 SR5 4wd by the way. I'm half temped to sell it but im feeling like the dealership has screwed me. Any suggestions?
Possible Water in Engine Question
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CAN-03runner
New member
How are you looking at the oil? From the oil cap, dip stick, or oil change?
My fresh synthetic oil is pretty clear, not dark and thick even during oil chagne it is still pretty clear.
Oil gunk on cap could be result of only short trips, builds up humidity, and doesn't properly get evaporated out, could be what's coming out the tailpipe. Clean the inside of the oil fill cap and monitor.
Take a look at the coolant level. And see if the coolant is not mixed up with oil. Top up if required, and monitor.
Do an oil change, and monitor the level with dip stick. Take a longer drive so the engine gets to operating temp to evaporate the humidity.
The air filter might show some water marks if it was submerged and not changed. If it was, and they are trying to hide it, and went to the trouble of changing the air filter they probably would have wiped out the sand too.
My fresh synthetic oil is pretty clear, not dark and thick even during oil chagne it is still pretty clear.
Oil gunk on cap could be result of only short trips, builds up humidity, and doesn't properly get evaporated out, could be what's coming out the tailpipe. Clean the inside of the oil fill cap and monitor.
Take a look at the coolant level. And see if the coolant is not mixed up with oil. Top up if required, and monitor.
Do an oil change, and monitor the level with dip stick. Take a longer drive so the engine gets to operating temp to evaporate the humidity.
The air filter might show some water marks if it was submerged and not changed. If it was, and they are trying to hide it, and went to the trouble of changing the air filter they probably would have wiped out the sand too.
YotaDriver
New member
What dealership did you buy it from, and did it come with any service history? If not, have you gone to a Toyota dealership to have them run a VIN check to see what, if anything, has been done by their service departments over the life of the vehicle? How did the dealership come to have this vehicle, i.e. was it a trade in?
03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
Is it possible it was in hurrican Sandy?
having fun
New member
Do your next oil change yourself. When drained in pan, look to see if you have water floating in it, dump the oil in the filter in a pan, can, ect. see if water is floating in the oil also.
I'm honestly not sure of the oil being used. I usually run Pennzoil.
I have checked the dipstick, the cap look ok it did have some white greasy looking stuff on the inside of the cap but i cleaned it out. I have always noticed a lot of steam coming out of the tailpipe sine i got it. If i put my finger on the inside of the tailpipe it's wet..
I have watched the coolant and i have topped it off it has not moved at all in the resavoir so i assume nothing is being used. I have not really had any performance issues it seems to run ok, sometimes it idles low but i assume that happens at times.
As far as the carfax goes it has a clean carfax no accidents no nothing. Honestly carfax do mean shit in some cases, they could have had liability had flood damage and not reported it. My main concern is i want the thing to run good no water in engine and i am a little worried about the electronics could have be exposed to moisture. Like i said im not 100 percent sure it has had water damage but everything adding up has got my concerned. I guess i will find out more when i drain the oil. That might be the best thing i could do. See if their is sand or anything in the oil filter when i take it off along with if i notice water in the oil. I hope that's not the case but im honestly scared to keep it i feel something is going to get costly. I know it's a Toyota and every car i've owned past 6 years have been Toyota and they have never broke down besides my corolla out of my 99 starter solenoid going bad. My lexus is300 had a caliper lock up and the radio broke also but that is was it. Never nothing major
I have checked the dipstick, the cap look ok it did have some white greasy looking stuff on the inside of the cap but i cleaned it out. I have always noticed a lot of steam coming out of the tailpipe sine i got it. If i put my finger on the inside of the tailpipe it's wet..
I have watched the coolant and i have topped it off it has not moved at all in the resavoir so i assume nothing is being used. I have not really had any performance issues it seems to run ok, sometimes it idles low but i assume that happens at times.
As far as the carfax goes it has a clean carfax no accidents no nothing. Honestly carfax do mean shit in some cases, they could have had liability had flood damage and not reported it. My main concern is i want the thing to run good no water in engine and i am a little worried about the electronics could have be exposed to moisture. Like i said im not 100 percent sure it has had water damage but everything adding up has got my concerned. I guess i will find out more when i drain the oil. That might be the best thing i could do. See if their is sand or anything in the oil filter when i take it off along with if i notice water in the oil. I hope that's not the case but im honestly scared to keep it i feel something is going to get costly. I know it's a Toyota and every car i've owned past 6 years have been Toyota and they have never broke down besides my corolla out of my 99 starter solenoid going bad. My lexus is300 had a caliper lock up and the radio broke also but that is was it. Never nothing major
having fun
New member
Most vehicles when running and try driving when still cold will steam like vapors will come out of the tail pipe. More so when cold weather. Little water dues come out of the pipe will cold, called condisation, sweating, due to metal and tempature.
Still check all above sugestions. Vehicle new to you, should have all sections of fluid changed anyway. Never know when changed last.
Still check all above sugestions. Vehicle new to you, should have all sections of fluid changed anyway. Never know when changed last.
You've been getting cold nights and getting steam from warm exhaust isn't surprising. Does it do t all the time or just first thing and go away after getting hot? We can speculate forever but won't know anything until you at least change the oil and see what drains as mentioned.
I suspect you have synthetic in there and all is fine...
I suspect you have synthetic in there and all is fine...
earthrealm
Senior Member
pls am interested in the bolded part.. i use mobil 1 on my truck and the oil is pretty clear for the first 200 miles or so..it gradually gets darker n darker...i changed my last oil @ 4k miles approx..and it was pitch black when i drained it, though on the dip stick it was pretty dark, though not exactly pitch blac.k...so am suprised that ur oil remains clear btw oil change intervals...what kind of oil do u use , and whats ur change interval?
emelianenkov
New member
I'm the resident expert on drowning a 4th gen.
I had to replace my transmission, alternator and starter. Pulleys are next.
Pop off the door sill cover and pull up the carpeting. Mine was caked in mud after I plunged nose first into a lot of water, over my hood for a few seconds.
I ended up taking my seats and carpet out to let it dry. God NJ mud smells terrible, like Newark does
(beautiful forests though!!!)
I had to replace my transmission, alternator and starter. Pulleys are next.
Pop off the door sill cover and pull up the carpeting. Mine was caked in mud after I plunged nose first into a lot of water, over my hood for a few seconds.
I ended up taking my seats and carpet out to let it dry. God NJ mud smells terrible, like Newark does
(beautiful forests though!!!)
CAN-03runner
New member
Haha...you caught me...I usually use whatever oil is on sale. Usually Mobil, Penzoil, Castrol, I'm not saying that it is clear as water, but it isn't black like tar. The oil out of a 4.7 is said to not look very used eventhough it is. Now my 1st Gen with 3.0 comes out like espresso, it freaks me out.
For the change interval, I don't do much milage, I don't have a specific change interval more based on time and season. So it could just as much be 2000km or 5000km or more between changes. I change it when I feel like it has been too long, or with the seasonal changes. I like to start winters with fresh oil. Same for my diffs and tcase. I don't do anywhere near 30,000miles a year, but I change those at least once a year, whether I did 5000km or 30,000km. It's easy, it's fun to do, you can zap the drive shaft zerks at the same time, look for leaks, and you can easily blow the same amount on restaurant wine that lasts for 1hr as in a few bottles of oil that will last months. Even my on sale CanadianTire store brand diff gear oil also comes out pretty clean.
Sorry I can't provide a magic recipe. And I'm probably not using it up long enough. My wifes 3series is said to go 24000km before oil changes. Now that is crazy. But oil and maint included...so....I go with it. But my 3.0 V6 it does come out very dark.
CAN-03runner
New member
I'm the resident expert on drowning a 4th gen.
I had to replace my transmission, alternator and starter. Pulleys are next.
Pop off the door sill cover and pull up the carpeting. Mine was caked in mud after I plunged nose first into a lot of water, over my hood for a few seconds.
I ended up taking my seats and carpet out to let it dry. God NJ mud smells terrible, like Newark does
Awh memories from lingering odours. What did you do about the underneath carpet padding? That stuff never dries and stinks when wet.
emelianenkov
New member
That's why I took the carpet out. I laid it on the ground with the padding up in the sun for a few days while the interior of the truck was drying out as well. Then once it was dry I took a stiff bristle brush and got as much mud and sand off the floorboards and vacuumed it all out. Good as new
No more New Jersey stench