Hi fellas,
I think this topic has been beaten to death in this forum but after reading so many of them, they didn't quite have the same symptoms as i have so i'm posting here in hopes i can get some clarity from you more experienced and savy owners.
I have a 2004, V6 2WD with 105K miles.
Last week, since i was due for an oil change, i went to check the oil level on my 4runner and noticed the coolant reservoir tank was empty. (I had just gotten a coolant flush last july so i suspected a leak) So I went ahead and topped it off.
Not to my surprise, the next day in the morning there was a small puddle of coolant on the floor. I can't be certain where exactly the leak is coming from but i saw that the drips fell from the bottom of the radiator onto the front tow hitch and onto the floor. i spent the next few days researching for a good radiator online and what not. I got all the parts yesterday and was kinda excited to work on it next week.
This is where my problem starts however.
I usually warm the engine for a couple of mins before i drive off. So today i went to a Costco 5mins away from home and after i came back, i noticed water was still dripping from the exhaust. I read online that water from exhaust is normal as long as the engine is cold but in my case my engine was not cold at all. Fearing a headgasket leak i jumped online to see if my symptoms matched but it didn't for all of them.
For instance;
1) it never overheated
2) I use full synthetic mobil 1 10w30 and it shows no chocolate milk texture
3) i opened the radiator cap on a cold engine and started the engine and saw no bubbles.
4) no significant loss in power nor mpg. My Mpg is at 17.8 as of today (lots of city driving)
5) no sound of water gushing from beneath the dashboard.
6) no engine check light on.
These are symptoms i have as of now;
1) water drip when engine hot
2) light white smoke when stepping on throtle (not heavy like smoke from a cigarette) (no smoke when idle)
3) exhaust rattles very lightly when engine on idle.
4) and of course the leaky radiator.
I think i know what's wrong with my car but maybe, just maybe there's someone who had similar signs as me that did not turn out to be a blown gasket?
Sorry for taking time from your saturday but i didnt know who else to talk to.
Thanks in advance for your opinions and inputs.
Phil
I think this topic has been beaten to death in this forum but after reading so many of them, they didn't quite have the same symptoms as i have so i'm posting here in hopes i can get some clarity from you more experienced and savy owners.
I have a 2004, V6 2WD with 105K miles.
Last week, since i was due for an oil change, i went to check the oil level on my 4runner and noticed the coolant reservoir tank was empty. (I had just gotten a coolant flush last july so i suspected a leak) So I went ahead and topped it off.
Not to my surprise, the next day in the morning there was a small puddle of coolant on the floor. I can't be certain where exactly the leak is coming from but i saw that the drips fell from the bottom of the radiator onto the front tow hitch and onto the floor. i spent the next few days researching for a good radiator online and what not. I got all the parts yesterday and was kinda excited to work on it next week.
This is where my problem starts however.
I usually warm the engine for a couple of mins before i drive off. So today i went to a Costco 5mins away from home and after i came back, i noticed water was still dripping from the exhaust. I read online that water from exhaust is normal as long as the engine is cold but in my case my engine was not cold at all. Fearing a headgasket leak i jumped online to see if my symptoms matched but it didn't for all of them.
For instance;
1) it never overheated
2) I use full synthetic mobil 1 10w30 and it shows no chocolate milk texture
3) i opened the radiator cap on a cold engine and started the engine and saw no bubbles.
4) no significant loss in power nor mpg. My Mpg is at 17.8 as of today (lots of city driving)
5) no sound of water gushing from beneath the dashboard.
6) no engine check light on.
These are symptoms i have as of now;
1) water drip when engine hot
2) light white smoke when stepping on throtle (not heavy like smoke from a cigarette) (no smoke when idle)
3) exhaust rattles very lightly when engine on idle.
4) and of course the leaky radiator.
I think i know what's wrong with my car but maybe, just maybe there's someone who had similar signs as me that did not turn out to be a blown gasket?
Sorry for taking time from your saturday but i didnt know who else to talk to.
Thanks in advance for your opinions and inputs.
Phil
