Smoking 1994 4Runner

[SIDEARMS]

My 1994 4x4 4Runner throws out a white puff of smoke at the tail pipe everytime I start it and sometimes when I'm driving. Just recently, it has no acceleration power what so ever and it can hardly go up a hill.

Is my engine total?

Also, I'm leaking alot of steering fluid but, no puddles anywhere.

Is there a connection between the two or is it just time to buy a new car?

[Budanam]

Originally Posted by SIDEARMS

My 1994 4x4 4Runner throws out a white puff of smoke at the tail pipe everytime I start it and sometimes when I'm driving. Just recently, it has no acceleration power what so ever and it can hardly go up a hill.

Is my engine total?

Also, I'm leaking alot of steering fluid but, no puddles anywhere.

Is there a connection between the two or is it just time to buy a new car?

Whens the last time you had a tune up? Your power problems and smoking exuast might be from a bad oxygen sensor,EGR, or clogged injectors. If your computer isn't getting the proper information from the sensors it can be running too lean or too rich? Just something to check out before throwing in the towel. I wouldn't think that the steering fluid leak has anything to do with the power problems or the smoke.

[SIDEARMS]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion.

[SIDEARMS]

Anyone else with a 2nd opinion? Thanks.

[Glina]

White puff means nothing at this time of year. It is normal. But the lack of power isn't good. Is check engine lamp on? If it's on, have you cheked the codes? Did you check the oil - level and colour? Lot's of to find out. Write something more.

[SIDEARMS]

Originally Posted by Glina

White puff means nothing at this time of year. It is normal. But the lack of power isn't good. Is check engine lamp on? If it's on, have you cheked the codes? Did you check the oil - level and colour? Lot's of to find out. Write something more.

Actually, it's more of a grey smoke, that doesn't disappear right away. The oil is very high and looks thin, not thick. There is also, a very strong burnning smell. I must have cooliant in the engine.

[Glina]

Check the oil colour and oil cap. When coolant gets into the oil, the oil changes into emulsion and gets white. What about engine codes?

[reyyam99]

you probably got the smoke problem fixed by now, but my 94 4runner had the same problem. It ended up being the head gaskets. 94 4runners had a recall on it, find out if it is your problem as well. Any toyota dealership will be able to tell you if they can replace it. This car model has lots of problems with it. Toyota does not want to disclose it.

[pnoiSR20]

Originally Posted by reyyam99

you probably got the smoke problem fixed by now, but my 94 4runner had the same problem. It ended up being the head gaskets. 94 4runners had a recall on it, find out if it is your problem as well. Any toyota dealership will be able to tell you if they can replace it. This car model has lots of problems with it. Toyota does not want to disclose it.

True that also happened with my 94 4Runner. My Mom was driving one day and she blew the cylinder heads off b/c of the gasket. My dad had to get the cylinder heads milled.

[xthirdimpact]

Im thinkin its a cracked head or at the very least its a head gasket.

What to look out for:

1) white/gray smoke from tailpipe

2) loss of compression leads to lack of power, hesitation, bucking...and if you keep pushing it, you WILL blow the engine, put a rod thru the block, etc.

3) high-pressure in the radiator, even when its cold

4) oil will thin out, then as coolant leaks into it you'll get bubbly, chocolate milk-lookin stuff

5)a "cotton candy" smell form the exhaust is a tell-tale sign too

thats just my experience....thank you Ford! (psssh,..piece o crap!)

[dtjone]

I have a 93 4runner that is having similar problems. Smokes on the first couple of tries to start it, after that it runs very rough at idle, when I put it in gear it loses all power and coughs and sputters. Seems to be running very rich.
I had one guy tell me that it might be the Mass Air Flow sensor. I don't know alot about this problem, and I'm not an experienced mechanic. I don't know if this helps or not. You might want to check into it though.
Also I would appreciate any help as to possible solutions for my problem.
Does the 93 have historic head gasket probs?
(by the way I have the 3VZE engine)

Originally Posted by xthirdimpact

Im thinkin its a cracked head or at the very least its a head gasket.

What to look out for:

1) white/gray smoke from tailpipe

2) loss of compression leads to lack of power, hesitation, bucking...and if you keep pushing it, you WILL blow the engine, put a rod thru the block, etc.

3) high-pressure in the radiator, even when its cold

4) oil will thin out, then as coolant leaks into it you'll get bubbly, chocolate milk-lookin stuff

5)a "cotton candy" smell form the exhaust is a tell-tale sign too

thats just my experience....thank you Ford! (psssh,..piece o crap!)

[fourwd1]

Yes, the 3.0 (aka 3.slo) is known for HG problems.
If you think the HG is bad check both the oil and coolant (is coolant low? is oil milky?), have the coolant system pressure tested, the engine compression tested.
Burning coolant makes white smoke, not grey or black (grey = oil, black = running rich).

There's lots of sensors that can go bad and cause performance issues similar to what you describe (MAF, O2, EGR, etc)

[dtjone]

Ok, I checked the coolant and oil both are clean. I had a compression check done on the cylinders recently so I am pretty sure that they are ok. I am guessing that would rule out the HG probs.
So my question is,
What is the best way to test the Mass Air Flow Sensor. Can that be done electronically,
If so should I take it to a shop or try to get the equip to test it myself
thanks for your input

Originally Posted by fourwd1

Yes, the 3.0 (aka 3.slo) is known for HG problems.
If you think the HG is bad check both the oil and coolant (is coolant low? is oil milky?), have the coolant system pressure tested, the engine compression tested.
Burning coolant makes white smoke, not grey or black (grey = oil, black = running rich).

There's lots of sensors that can go bad and cause performance issues similar to what you describe (MAF, O2, EGR, etc)

[supremecourt07]

Hey I have a 1991 4Runner V6 and I had constant low steering oil but no visible leaks. I'd get intermittent white smoke blowing out the exhaust from time to time, too. Totally baffling problem. But I found the solution. There's a vacuum sensor (switch) on the housing of the steering pump that bumps up the RPMs when you are steering hard at low RPM. If the rubber membrane inside that sensor gets ruptured then steering oil will get sucked up from the steering system into the intake manifold and will burn off the oil. That's the white smoke. I'm not saying that was your problem, but I went down to the Toyota dealer and told them about my problem and they sold me the sensor (About $100) and I switched it out. Now there's no more leak and no more white smoke. They said at Toyota that it was a common problem with about 1990-1994 4Runners.

[Mxkev707]

The P/S leak is a little vacume module the two vacume lines connect to at the P/S pump which raises idle when wheel is turned all way to steering stop they allow fluid to travel into the intake manifold when they fail so you are burning it