3.4L Engine Problems

[CA-RJ]

My wife started up the 4Runner this morning and upon first starting it make a "clanking" noise and then fired. It was running rough, so I had her shut it off. I popped the hood but didn't see anything obvious so I had her start it again. No noise on start up, but it still runs rough. There is also a white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. It gets heavier if you rev up the engine. It smells like raw fuel. There is no check engine light on, although I haven't let the engine run for more than a minute. The truck hasn't been started since last Saturday and didn't notice anything then (though I'm not sure she would have noticed).

Any ideas what could be wrong? I'm not very knowledgeable in the engine area but reading on the net I see that white smoke from the exhaust could be a head gasket. I hope not.

 

[RU55ELL]

Any ideas what could be wrong? I'm not very knowledgeable in the engine area but reading on the net I see that white smoke from the exhaust could be a head gasket. I hope not.

That sure is what it sounds like to me.

 

[CA-RJ]

Is that something that can happen all at once or does it gradually happen?

 

[Mr. Leary]

Is that something that can happen all at once or does it gradually happen?

There are factors involved in the build up to losing a head gasket, but basically yes. One day it just goes, and you will see smoke and have some engine operation issues.

It sounds like a head gasket to me as well...

 

[CA-RJ]

It has new Denso Iridium spark plugs and fresh Toyota red coolant.

It looks like I need to take the 4runner and have the engine looked at. I'm not sure if this is a contributing factor, but I did just run a can of Seafoam through the engine.

What really sucks is my wife is due with our son so I can't really take care of this now. Guess the truck will be sitting for awhile.

 

[Co-opski]

Did you add the Seafoam to the gas or the oil or did you feed it through the vacuum lines?

 

[toy_tek]

Any coolant in the oil/dipstick?

 

[CA-RJ]

Did you add the Seafoam to the gas or the oil or did you feed it through the vacuum lines?

All 3.

 

[CA-RJ]

Any coolant in the oil/dipstick?

How can I tell? The oil is fresh with only a couple of hundred miles on it. It looked clean when I checked the dip stick.

 

[toy_tek]

When the coolant mixes with oil it will turn milky, or chocolate milky. Typically telltale of a headgasket issue. Pressurized coolant system will seep into cylinder and/or oil when the hg is compromised.

 

[Co-opski]

All 3.

Do you think that some Seafoam could have still been in the vacuum lines and did not burn through the system yet? Or do you think that the first loud clank you heard was a mini hydrolock going on with the residual Seafoam from the vacuum lines dripping down in the cylinder? Check the oil and check the coolant for any discoloration.

 

[DaveInDenver]

When the coolant mixes with oil it will turn milky, or chocolate milky. Typically telltale of a headgasket issue. Pressurized coolant system will seep into cylinder and/or oil when the hg is compromised.

It's one possible sign. As could be an oily surface on the coolant when you take off the radiator cap. I had a dipstick blow out when a HG went on a Honda, this is the cylinder pressurizing the crankcase. You might also notice a loss of oil or coolant but no obvious leaks. Lots of ways to diagnose a bad HG, but the failsafe is a compression check.

 

[EricBirk]

Do you think that some Seafoam could have still been in the vacuum lines and did not burn through the system yet? Or do you think that the first loud clank you heard was a mini hydrolock going on with the residual Seafoam from the vacuum lines dripping down in the cylinder? Check the oil and check the coolant for any discoloration.

Thats exactly what I was thinking.

 

[toy_tek]

I'd start with cheap/easy first: ruling out a spark plug/wire/coil problem. Pull the plugs and see what you find on the electrodes.

 

[CA-RJ]

If I were to drive around, the water temp should go up right?