Author Topic: 22R and White smoke. (Read 7899 times)

E120ER · « **on:** Mar 22, 2018, 07:06:45 PM »

My question is in regards to the intake manifold gasket on a 1981 22R California edition engine. The engine has 165K miles on it and runs strong, no lag in power or hesitations of any kind. The coolant is always full and no leaks have been detected on either the block, timing cover or head gasket. The oil is clean and free of any coolant. The cylinder compression was tested and they were all reading at 160psi, +/- 2psi. The other morning, I noticed a cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust during the engine warm up and initial drive. My initial though was that the head gasket was going bad. Though with the above observations mentioned I was wondering how possible is it for the intake manifold gasket to fail resulting in coolant to enter the combustion chamber? I pulled the plugs and only cylinder, number two show signs of being clean, i.e. steam cleaning from the coolant. Is this possible or should I concede that my head gasket is blown? I'm sorry I can not post a picture of the plugs yet since I have just joined.

EASYRYDERDANGER · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 22, 2018, 09:19:34 PM »

So you think you are burning coolant from an internal leak, you are confident you have zero external leaks. Therefore, you can monitor your coolant level and see if it drops. If the level does not drop and/or the frequency of "white smoke" is not consistent this concern may have to get worse before you accurately diagnose it. But to answer your main question on an intake manifold leak, sure, I'd suppose it's possible for the gasket material between intake ports and the coolant ports to fail. I don't 100% know the construction of the 22r lower intake but I would doubt the casting would crack. Either of the two sound like a long shot, but these rigs are old and anything is possible. That's my 2 cents, Canadian currency value of course.

Gnarly4X · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 23, 2018, 02:59:02 AM »

Quote from: EASYRYDERDANGER on Mar 22, 2018, 09:19:34 PM

So you think you are burning coolant from an internal leak...

I agree. Head gasket failure would be my guess.

Gnarls.

Lewis Hein · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 23, 2018, 06:04:09 AM »

In my time, I've seen exactly 1 failed head gasket, not on a 22R, so take the following with a grain of salt.

The gasket was letting coolant into the oil and into the cylinders, so I got the classic chocolate milkshake oil. Plus, the vehicle would have to crank and crank to start, and then would run on only 1 or two cylinders until the moisture got blown out of the other two.

I would say, replace that head gasket with a toyota MLS one and see if the problem goes away. If so, you have solved it; if not (and if you did the HG replacement right) you have peace of mind about your HG for a good, long, while.

Just my two cents. Hope it's useful.

Edit: The Toyota gasket may not be MLS after all (Thanks, EASYRYDERDANGER), but it's still widely reputed to be made of some kind of better stuff than the aftermarket ones.

emsvitil · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 23, 2018, 02:52:55 PM »

A head gasket leak will usually be both ways.

Air will be forced into the cooling system.

E120ER · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 12:04:28 PM »

The engine starts on the first crank and runs strong. The oil has not changed color nor a noticeable drop in coolant level yet. The only reason for leaning towards a failure in the intake manifold gasket is that the engine only has 165k miles on it and runs well. Also it's much easier to change the intake manifold gasket. I'm at a loss, but I do know coolant is entering three combustion chamber because the number two plug is steam cleaned. I do appreciate them help.

OVRAROK · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 12:08:10 PM »

Valve stem seal

, have you done a leak down test?

EASYRYDERDANGER · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 12:30:10 PM »

warm up the engine, turn off engine, pull all 4 spark plugs, put cooling system pressure tester on and pressurize for 4hrs or more while checking and making sure it stay pressurized every hr or so. Then look through spark plug hole with boroscope to see if coolant is in cylinder

E120ER · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 01:21:09 PM »

I have not done a leak down test yet, that's next on the list. A valve stem seal could be bad also, I have not written that off yet either. I'm going to buy a radiator coolant pressure kit from Harbor Freight to try that test mentioned from the poster above. When I get a few more posts I will upload images of the smoke from the exhaust I get during the initial start up and the conditions of the spark plugs.

Gnarly4X · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 02:40:08 PM »

Quote from: EASYRYDERDANGER on Mar 24, 2018, 12:30:10 PM

warm up the engine, turn off engine, pull all 4 spark plugs, put cooling system pressure tester on and pressurize for 4hrs or more while checking and making sure it stay pressurized every hr or so. Then look through spark plug hole with boroscope to see if coolant is in cylinder

Or.. just pull the head. Heads and head gaskets fail at 165K miles.

Gnarly4X · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 02:40:55 PM »

Quote from: liveoak on Mar 24, 2018, 01:33:42 PM

probably doesn't apply in your case since you have a steam cleaned plug but full synthetic oil will burn white also

What?

?

Gnarls.

E120ER · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 02:52:17 PM »

I'm running Castrol 10W-40. Unfortunately I'm unable to post a picture, because I'm not able to reduce a image below the max of 140kb.

OVRAROK · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 03:06:47 PM »

Quote from: E120ER on Mar 24, 2018, 02:52:17 PM

I'm running Castrol 10W-40. Unfortunately I'm unable to post a picture, because I'm not able to reduce a image below the max of 140kb.

Try posting on tapatalk, works great for me

emsvitil · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 03:08:37 PM »

Quote from: Gnarly4X on Mar 24, 2018, 02:40:08 PM

Or.. just pull the head. Heads and head gaskets fail at 165K miles.

What

You mean my head gasket has failed and I didn't know about it

EASYRYDERDANGER · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 06:35:05 PM »

Quote from: Gnarly4X on Mar 24, 2018, 02:40:08 PM

Or.. just pull the head. Heads and head gaskets fail at 165K miles.

I gave him the true way to diagnose it, but sure, fire the parts cannon. Im sure there is a mileage interval for head gasket from the factory, lol

E120ER · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 24, 2018, 10:15:47 PM »

Bottom line is that I'm disappointed that potentially the head or intake gasket has failed. Granted the truck is thirty six years old with only 165k miles on it.

Gnarly4X · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 05:44:26 AM »

Quote from: liveoak on Mar 24, 2018, 02:48:45 PM

synthetic oil has a white/gray smoke when burned in the combustion chamber, conventional oil burns blue. that's been my experience. point is, white smoke doesn't always mean coolant

Interesting.... I guess the old saying.. "You learn something new every day" applies here.

Until now I have NEVER heard or read that synthetic motor, when burned in an engine, makes white smoke out the exhaust. I've used full synthetic motor oil for over 30 years (from mid 80's) in 14 Toyotas, 6 Chevys, Honda, Datsun, VW, and Mercedes... and NEVER saw any white smoke because I was using full synthetic motor oil?

I've watched a zillion hours of all kinds of auto racing and motor sports... when I saw white smoke from the exhaust from a blown engine using full synthetic motor oil I thought it was from the coolant?

Gnarls.

Gnarly4X · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 06:11:56 AM »

Quote from: E120ER on Mar 24, 2018, 01:21:09 PM

... A valve stem seal could be bad also, I have not written that off yet either.

How does a leaking valve guide seal make white smoke?

Gnarls.

Gnarly4X · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 06:13:43 AM »

Quote from: E120ER on Mar 24, 2018, 01:21:09 PM

... When I get a few more posts I will upload images of the smoke from the exhaust I get during the initial start up and the conditions of the spark plugs.

Can you use https://imgur.com/ ?

Gnarls.

Gnarly4X · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 06:16:51 AM »

Quote from: E120ER on Mar 24, 2018, 01:21:09 PM

... I'm going to buy a radiator coolant pressure kit from Harbor Freight ...

You might consider going to a local Autozone or parts store and getting a loaner or rental coolant system pressure tester.

Gnarls.

EASYRYDERDANGER · « **Reply #20 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 06:43:53 AM »

And the best part is once you are done with it for your truck it has a million other uses. You can look up your nose, up your butt, down your throat, in your ear, I all your friends/family orifices. Great fun! Under bathroom stall doors. Pretend to be in a swat movie. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Waterproof-HD-2M-7mm-Endoscope-Lens-Mini-USB-Inspection-Camera-with-6-LED-Lights-Borescope-for-Android-Smartphone-PC-Laptop/924102324?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=9869&adid=22222222228083850308&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=196367365898&wl4=pla-314984353131&wl5=9033270&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=115780161&wl11=online&wl12=924102324&wl13=&veh=sem

Gnarly4X · « **Reply #21 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 07:20:39 AM »

If the "white smoke' is really smoke from burning synthetic oil and not water vapor and coolant it should be really easy to tell the difference.

Gnarls.

E120ER · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 09:03:42 AM »

Toyota factory gaskets and other parts are on the way to my house. Looks like I have quite a project ahead of me in the coming weeks. My other two Toyotas are over 17l0k miles and have no signs of slowing down. I'm guessing are caused this gasket to fail.

E120ER · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 01:00:21 PM »

Any thoughts on water bypass gasket on the bottom of the intake going bad and leaking into the intake? This was mentioned by another poster?

Snowtoy · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 25, 2018, 03:25:24 PM »

Easy enough to tell if you are burning coolant, it well smell sweet.

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