Random sputtering on egnition

[soj1057]

Random sputtering on ignition EDIT * I SPELLED IT RIGHT IN THE POST OK?


So for the past week or two, when the Runner has been sitting and its cold…. It sputters for a few seconds on ignition, it goes away if I rev the idle a little… it doesnt happen every time, it seems like only when its cold and been sitting. when I got to work today I checked my coolant and the reservoir is almost empty. I just filled it at the beginning of summer…. I have not noticed anything from my exhaust other than slight steam when it’s cold enough to see your breath out. No sweet antifreeze smell etc. The oil cap looks clean as a whistle, so does the dipstick…. No bubble over or discolor in the radiator when idling etc…
I looked all over for leaks in the coolant lines and can’t find any leaks.. no puddles etc.

So my question is, where do I start? Should I just replace the hoses first?

 

[92-SR5]

Does it leak at all? Mine has the smallest leak right where the drain plug should be on the radiator. It is nothing major (why I haven't fixed it), but it is enough to have me add coolant every month or so.

 

[soj1057]

Does it leak at all? Mine has the smallest leak right where the drain plug should be on the radiator. It is nothing major (why I haven't fixed it), but it is enough to have me add coolant every month or so.

I can’t seem to find where the coolant is going. I feel like if it was leaking into my cylinders Id have more indications / problems. On occasion I’ve noticed dried antifreeze on top of the radiator, it doesn’t ever look like an overflow or burst tube etc., it kind of looks like what you are describing, slow drops that dry etc. I guess my concern lies more with the sputtering, as that’s a fairly new development but only happens as it gets colder. I may just have a cold blooded runner, which would be fine with me. My initial fear was my head gasket. It still kind of is.

 

[92-SR5]

Maybe it is the cold start injector?

 

[soj1057]

Maybe it is the cold start injector?

That may be it.... I still need to figure out the disappearing coolant. I may have two co-occurring issues.

 

[92-SR5]

My buddy's runner has a cold start injector issue, sputters as well and kinda hard to start. Once its started and you hit the throttle real quick everything is normal.