White smoke for a few minutes

[OCMike]

I have had my '95 4runner for just over a month and it runs fine for its age. Well, this morning I drove it about 45 miles to do some shopping. After about 30 minutes, I came back out and started it up. White smoke started billowing out the tailpipe. Scared me to death! I checked the gauges and everything looked fine. Temp gauge looked good. Oil pressure looked good. I popped the hood while it was running and checked the oil. It looked good. The engine sounded fine. I revved the engine a few times and more smoke came out. It looked just like it did after I used sea foam in the vacuum line a few weeks back.

Anyways, everything looked fine so I decided to drive home and keep an eye on the gauges. I stopped a few miles down the freeway and grabbed some lunch. Came out and started it up. No smoke at all. Not even after I made it home. Everything looks fine. Do you think I some carbon build up may have loosened up and burnt off? That's what I'm hoping. I'm taking it back to the place I bought it and they're going to take a look. I'm a few days past my 1 month warranty, but they said they'd take care of me. "Fingers crossed"

 

[OCMike]

Well, I guess it was nothing. Might have been some buildup that decided to break loose and burn up. Scared me for a minute.

On the bright side, they may have found the cause of my mysteriously disappearing power steering fluid. Somehow a hose got cut. They fixed that and replaced some other part that they pulled off another 4runner they were selling. Hopefully that fixes it.

I also discovered that the front right sway bar link is broken. It looks like something I might be able to do myself.

 

[OCMike]

After looking at the picture i took and comparing to the replacement part, maybe I didn't break it. I just may be missing the washers nuts and bushings? Can those be purchased separately?

 

[fourwd1]

It does look like the nut and all fell off, I can see the threads.
Most parts chains have a section where they have generic repair parts, you may be able to get 2 bushings there. The nut is most likely M12-1.25.

 

[OCMike]

It does look like the nut and all fell off, I can see the threads.
Most parts chains have a section where they have generic repair parts, you may be able to get 2 bushings there. The nut is most likely M12-1.25.

Thanks for the help. Quick question before I decide to repair this. Do I really need to? Is this the part that everyone seems to remove from the front? Sorry for the newbie question. I just want to be sure before I go out and spend maybe $5 whole dollars on replacement parts.

 

[fourwd1]

The anti-sway bar reduces body roll, making the vehicle more stable on-road.
People frequently disconnect the links for off roading because the bar also limits the suspension.

 

[OCMike]

Cool. Thanks again. I ended up just buying a replacement link. I'll keep the old one as a backup.

 

[bigbsvo]

It sounds like your head gasket or gaskets are failing, as far as the white smoke is concerned.

In that picture of the sway bar link you need to look at that shock and tell me what you see, I see oil leaking from it, it would be in your best intrest to replace them.

 

[bigbsvo]

Guess it could be your steering fluid as well. Maybe run that thing to the car wash and clean it up, real good, then keep your eye on it just incase.

I'd be more worried about the white smoke if it were mine. These engines are well known for their head gasket problems.

 

[OCMike]

Guess it could be your steering fluid as well. Maybe run that thing to the car wash and clean it up, real good, then keep your eye on it just incase.

I'd be more worried about the white smoke if it were mine. These engines are well known for their head gasket problems.

I haven't seen anymore smoke since yesterday. I'm hoping it was just some buildup that broke loose since I ran Sea Foam through the brake booster a few weeks back. Also, it didn't have that sweet smell to it. I wish I would have thought to shoot a video. There's no visible oil anywhere in the engine either. And the oil and antifreeze look perfect. I'll run it through the spray wash tomorrow and keep an eye on it. I'm thinking it was the power steering fluid leaking down there since it's only on that side and the mechanic that looked throughout the front of the truck located a cut hose that comes from the power steering pump. The truck runs noticeably smoother since that hose was fixed also.

 

[heyojaybo]

hi, my truck has been blowing some white smoke to........ and i am worried!!
only had the truck for 3-4weeks and was told the engine was rebuilt not that long ago......
the head "should" still be fine, so what else could cause the white smoke?

 

[shredmaster]

white smoke...

Hey guys, sounds like I found the right thread. I also have the same the same white smoke problem. But, my 4runner, with 240k miles, does not burn/leak any oil/coolant (ruling out the headgasket??). I recently drove it out from California (where it was purchased) to Montana, where I live now. Some days there is no smoke, some days there is a lot. There is a direct correlation between the cold temperature/snow and how much smoke comes out.

1. When I walk out and it's covered in snow, there is a lot of smoke, leading me to think there is maybe some snow/moisture getting sucked in through the air intake, causing the smoke?

2. Even if there is no snow, and there's a cold snap (negative temps for the last couple days), the smoking is still there. Could the low temp be causing a problem with the vehicles computer, messing up the air/gas mixture? I see other cars smoking when it's frigid, but none others smoke as much as mine (big clouds), not even other 4runners. On really cold days, I notice problems with my electronics (interior/dash lights, stereo etc.).

When the temp gets back up above 10-15 degrees F, there doesn't seem to much of a problem, with the electronics. And if there's no snow/ice in or around the intake, there'll be no smoke.

About 2k miles ago in California, I had all the fluids changed, along with the clutch and timing belt, but any residual fluids should have burned off by now?!

Any guidance would be appreciated (aftermarket mods for the cold weather?) I'm a part time student, with no job, that's mechanically inclined.. I have plenty of free time, I'd like to consider all the simple fixes before I take it to a mechanic!

 

[heyojaybo]

still having problems

hey guys i still white smoke for the first 5 min of driving.
also i am having trouble starting my truck first thing in the morn(when its cold).

any one have any ideas for me please?

 

[fishrod]

hey guys i still white smoke for the first 5 min of driving.
also i am having trouble starting my truck first thing in the morn(when its cold).

any one have any ideas for me please?

Mine blew smoke for the first 5 mins for about 12 months of owning it. Then the head gasket went. Replaced the head gasket and it still blows smoke. Must be some moisture/water in the exhaust system Im guessing.

 

[carl johansson]

hey guys i still white smoke for the first 5 min of driving.
also i am having trouble starting my truck first thing in the morn(when its cold).

any one have any ideas for me please?

I can't tell you how many times people try to talk themselves out of a BHG> Fix it now - or wait till it does serious damage - then you can fix it all together! You can buy a dye to put in cooling system to detect combustion gasses, or have the oil analysed, or all sorts of other fancy stuff - and you know what all of that hightech analysis will tell you? BHG, just like myself and others here have already tried to tell you. after which you will continue to try and convince yourself it is something else,

it's up to you, but your engine is trying to tell you something!

Carl "don't ask me how I know" Johansson