|
|
94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Sep 23, 2014, 2:05 PM
Post #1 of 29
(8767 views)
|
94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Hey everyone I am new here to the forums but I desperately need some advice, I use my truck for the livelihood of my family my household and myself.
Thanks!
I went to Auto School and worked in a full service shop for years, anyways I am rusty and I could have used years and years more shop experience.
So I have this 1994 Toyota Pickup, DX V6 4WD ext cab 
A few months ago (About 4) it began to overheat. I replaced the radiator and thermostat. I flushed the system and refilled it 50/50. Checked out the water pump, looked good.
Then something weird happened. 1 or 2 months later...
I took a 2-3 mile drive through the city, not to busy, when I got to my destination, no issues.
When I return five minutes later, my truck has had an accident all over the parking lot. I could hear a slight hissing noise and there was steam and coolant leaking from my engine/firewall area, in the middle but slightly towards the passenger side. It stopped after a few minutes. I would say it only leaked about a half of a standard coolant container, maybe less.
I started my truck and investigated for leaks with my accomplice. Nothing, truck was already at temp as well. So I carefully drove home and we watched for leaks, temp changes etc. Nothing happened.
Cooled down, filled it up, bled system.
Checked online for similar issues etc, nothing I could find.
Put it in back of mind.
Last night...
I am driving home after about a 6 mile drive with a quick stop. I pull over to get gas. Notice smoke coming from engine compartment. Open hood thinking it's my PS Pump as it is leaky, recently, so much so, that I stopped filling it. Seems to be coming from rear of engine and passenger side. Figuring momentum, g forces, gravity, etc. brought some of the PS fluid to that area I shrugged it off for the most part. Checked oil, right on full since I filled it a month ago. Further reason for no further alarm.
Depart the gas station. Mile or so down the road, temperature begins to climb, I think, thermostat about to open? Hmm, odd, should open flawlessly as it's practically new. Temp climbs to 2 thirds, drops to 1/2 (normal operate temp), continues to surge for five miles, never surpassing 3/4 and always returning to 1/2 within a minute or two.
Get home, cry a little, having just purchased surprise tires right before a big trip  notice truck is peeing coolant again from the same mystery location as before.
Today...
Pop rad cap, fill it up, burp upper rad hose. Overflow tank at normal cool temp level. Start truck, continue filling while simultaneously checking for leaks. No leaks. fill up, burp. Use about 1/2 standard coolant container again, same as the other time this happened. Truck reaches normal operate temp and radiator is full. Notice wisps of white smoke coming from rear of engine, leaning towards passenger side.
Coolant right? Except it smells like dirty oil. I leave engine on for 1 minute attempting to locate source... I hate how everything is crammed in there now a days, newer models are even worse, so needless to say I could have been blind and I may have come out better than I did. Shut truck off and restart internet scouring.
Now I am here. Sorry for the read.
My heater works. Coolant looks prime, no sediment, rust, discoloration, etc. Oil is free of bubbles, discoloration, rust, sediment, etc. One thing that happened AFTER the first coolant leak, about 1 month ago was my cabin fan went out.
Thank you
(This post was edited by Angusanarchy on Sep 23, 2014, 2:09 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 23, 2014, 3:51 PM
Post #2 of 29
(8740 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
This is pretty simple to diagnose. it's apparent that you have a leak, could be the heater core or hoses or freeze plugs in the area. Your first step is to fill the system and then pressure test the cooling system to locate the leak.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 23, 2014, 5:52 PM
Post #3 of 29
(8736 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Definitely not one engine you want to overheat or have run hot. They had enough problems with head gaskets.
Don't keep driving it until you find and fix the leak. If you keep driving it, you'll be sorry. Follow HT's advice. There are a bunch of heater hoses and the water bypass outlet back there leaks can come from. 3VZE is a PITA to work on.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Sep 23, 2014, 5:53 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 23, 2014, 7:22 PM
Post #4 of 29
(8724 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Pressure test and look harder for leak. Some can spray thru a pin hole leak only with pressure and show wet away from the source at something hot and or greasy fooling an odor diagnosis. Use mirrors and or whatever even paper if a fine line of coolant spray is fooling you for the source leak.
I think a 94 should be fan and fan clutch and not deviate temp at all once warmed up and known full and now bet it has some air in system again. As it cools could draw air back thru leak instead of from recovery tank?
T
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Sep 24, 2014, 1:00 AM
Post #5 of 29
(8718 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Thanks for the replies! I couldn't find anything about a bypass online, quite disappointing. I will see what I can find with mirrors and lights. I am going to rent a pressure tester tomorrow.
Thanks again will post update.
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 24, 2014, 1:51 AM
Post #6 of 29
(8714 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Get the pressure tester and look. Forget looking for your leak on line you need to look for it anything that holds coolant, hose, gasket, plastic or metal involved not just hoses. It smokes so you know (pretty much) that it is spraying at or dripping on something hot,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 24, 2014, 4:33 AM
Post #7 of 29
(8709 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
This is the water bypass outlet housing and hoses on the back of the engine near the firewall. The upper intake plenum is removed for clarity.
There is also a pipe that runs underneath the lower intake manifold that could rot out and leak. Coolant is probably spraying on the exhaust crossover and causing the steam cloud.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Sep 24, 2014, 4:35 AM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Sep 24, 2014, 2:09 PM
Post #8 of 29
(8697 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Store in my area was out of the testers. Weather change killing peoples cars? haha.
Thanks for those pictures those help me out.
I will get digging once I get the tester.
Thanks again!
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Sep 30, 2014, 10:08 AM
Post #9 of 29
(8651 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Got the tester. Two leaks. One small leak at the upper water outlet on the front of the engine (May possibly be the 'climate control outlet'), which looks like it could house a thermostat.
Purchasing new water outlet gasket. Housing may be to rusty and need replacing.
Two pinhole leaks in the heater core hose with many bends.
Purchasing new hose.
I am going to attempt a fix with the intake manifold on first haha.
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Sep 30, 2014, 10:12 AM
Post #10 of 29
(8648 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
I had a further question about the pic with all the sensors. Who can tell me what each one of those is? I think the previous owner removed one.
Also wondering if one of them is just a plug/freeze plug or a secondary pressure release.
If the previous owner removed one of the sensors, would a pressure release there be possible?
I ask because the previous owner is notorious for installing backup pressure release valves and the pinhole leaks I found do not account for the large leak I described happening twice at temp. I understand that the damaged areas can expand and cause further leakage... but I don't see that as the cause.
Thanks
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 1, 2014, 5:17 PM
Post #11 of 29
(8623 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
That picture I posted above is the same engine, but Toyota used a combination of sensors for different years and options.
On yours you should have a temperature sender for the gauge. It is one wire that is yellow/green. ECT (engine coolant temperature) sensor for computer with green/blue and brown/black stripe wires. Cold start injector time switch with brown/white or brown/yellow wires. It may or may not have a second water temp switch. I don't see it in the wiring diagram though.
Why would someone put a pressure release else where on the system? The pressure release is built into the radiator cap. I really don't think someone would go through all the trouble of removing a sensor to install some type of release IMO.
Maybe you could take a pic of your water outlet and the sensor arrangement and let us have a gander of what your looking at.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 1, 2014, 5:19 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Oct 2, 2014, 10:52 AM
Post #12 of 29
(8610 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Your guess as to why someone would put a pressure release back there is as good as mine.
Self educated rednecks will do what they please; that's my guess. 
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 2, 2014, 3:48 PM
Post #13 of 29
(8604 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
If it does have some sort of pressure release valve, you need to find out what pressure it is designed to blow off at. If it was me and I saw that, it would be coming off. Then you have to wonder why someone would stick that on there in the first place. Were trying to bandaid something or were they just being ignorant and thought they were working on a water heater.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 2, 2014, 3:49 PM)
|
|
| |
|
| | |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 3, 2014, 4:46 AM
Post #15 of 29
(8588 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
"Rev it up Bubba! The water isn't hot enough!"
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 3, 2014, 3:38 PM
Post #16 of 29
(8580 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
That's kind of a slick idea. I don't have a better way to come up with hot water on the road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 3, 2014, 8:11 PM
Post #18 of 29
(8569 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Nah, I prefer baths
My motor home has all the latest amenities
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Oct 3, 2014, 8:14 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Oct 4, 2014, 8:23 PM
Post #19 of 29
(8549 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
HAHAHA all these comments are great.
Interesting shower.
Anyways...
I was almost able to replace the leaking coolant hose, with the intake manifold on. I am a little annoyed, trying to get the hose clamp back on is hasslesome with the manifold still on as I expected. Will get it on there in the morning. O'reillys gave me the wrong gasket AGAIN, so the outlet has to wait.
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Oct 7, 2014, 3:47 PM
Post #20 of 29
(8525 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
I am 90% ready to test the vehicle.
I have just run into a really brutally annoying problem
It seems as though the water outlet gasket I need is non-existant.
The water outlet, coming from the front upper engine area, to the upper radiator hose, needs a new molded almost rectangular gasket. I have been to all the auto stores in my area, with the outlet manifold.
NO LUCK. No luck for 4runner parts, no luck with years 1989-1995.
Is that even called the water outlet?
We looked through complete gasket kits with an actually very knowledgeable (nice change for my area) employee at oreillys.
Nothing even close.
Where do I find the VIN on a v6 3.0 1990s engine that fits in my truck?
That's the only way I will find the proper gasket.
Thanks!
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 7, 2014, 7:08 PM
Post #21 of 29
(8516 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
There is no gasket, even when they came from the factory. You have to use silicone sealant. Get the grey Permatex. You don't need to use a lot because when you tighten the outlet down you don't want globs of silicone squishing out and breaking off inside. Let the sealant cure before you fill it up with coolant.
That is not a gap for a gasket. That is for sealant to fill in.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 7, 2014, 7:12 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Oct 9, 2014, 9:41 AM
Post #22 of 29
(8504 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Oh geez. Thanks a bunch, saved a trip to a dealership.
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Oct 11, 2014, 1:39 PM
Post #23 of 29
(8478 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Thanks again for all the info.
Truck is back together, no leaks.
Sprayed the area where the white smoke was coming from with Brakleen.
No further smoke, I think it was from my leaking power steering pump.
Filled and bled my cooling system, bubbles for five minutes or so after the thermostat opened.
BUT, now my check engine light is on, for the first time since I have owned the truck (2 years now).
I drove about five miles on a test drive, engine light on.
On my return five miles, the check light was intermittent.
Clues?
Many disappoint.
|
|
| |
|
|
Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 11, 2014, 2:08 PM
Post #24 of 29
(8472 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
Under the hood there is a diagnostic test port. Take a jumper wire and jump TE1 to E1 in the box. Then turn the ignition on. The check engine light will flash trouble codes stored. Let us know what the numbers are.
The diagram for the test port is under the lid.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
|
|
| |
|
|
Angusanarchy
User
Oct 11, 2014, 3:13 PM
Post #25 of 29
(8467 views)
|
|
Re: 94' Toyota Pickup V6 DX - temp surges/white smoke at engine-firewall
|
|
|
That's a great trick to know.
Thanks again.
I got 2-2
1,2 ... 1,2
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Tierod end change caused some kind of leak
Howdy
1
