2000 tundra white smoke on startup

Hi, I have seen the other posts on this and I am not sure they have helped. Sometimes on startup my truck shoots white smoke out when I bought it i was in a pinch and did t realize all that was wrong with it. I knew the power steering was loud and sometimes with these it causes white smoke. So I changed the power steering vacuum switch thing and put in a new pump. It’s noisier than ever and makes more noise as I driving making me think a hard line is broken or the rack is bad but that’s a story for another time. Anyway, it does have white smoke on start up. It’s never sweet smelling and the coolant level hasn’t changed at all. It also always popped the incorrect purge flow cel. I traced it to the vacuum lines being routed incorrectly because the po was not the brightest. I haven’t done a compression or leak down test. However it does have some sort of exhaust leak at the block and manifold at the center two ports which I have heard is pretty common. Is it possible those let in a lot of condensation? Probably a long shot but hoping this truck isn’t a complete turd. Thanks for the help in advance

 

When I had white smoke on my Camry I changed the PCV value

 

It's possible that it's condensation, but if it does it every single time you fire it up then most likely it's something else. Good tip above to check all your PCV valves.

 

Usually, white smoke is from moisture and black smoke is from oil.
Have someone else start the truck while you watch. If the smoke stays white as it drifts away it’s not moisture, if it disappears within a few yards it’s confirmed as moisture.

 

Thank you! I forgot to mention I got a new Pcv valve and seal, although the seal is pretty loose on the valve and the hose coming off of it has had better days for sure. I may replace the seal again and test the pcv. I was only away of one

 

@gosolo its staying white. What would be my next step?

 

For what it is worth...The only time I had white smoke out the exhaust was experienced climbing a long hill (20 miles) at highway speeds and it was diagnosed as excess unburned gas being expelled...most likely a fuel injectior problem. Only happened once, so not quite the same as your experience.

 

1st Gen is no turd....you can take that to the bank


Was considering head gasket but you said the smoke didn't smell sweet and no coolant lost. Used SeaFoam recently and how do your engine temps look ?

 

If PCV valve has a seal, I'm guessing you have the 3.4L V6. I believe the V8 PCV valve screws in like a bolt unless the earlier models were different.

V6 part numbers for OEM parts with new hose if you do indeed have the V6.

12204-62010 PCV Valve

90480-18001 PCV Valve Grommet

12261-62041 Hose Ventilation N (hose from PCV to intake)

What brand grommet and PCV did you use?

 

My PCV valve does not screw in. And I have one, to my knowledge.

 

No, no seafoam lately and temps are always normal. I guess leakdown test is coming. And from what I’ve read, 03 or 04 they started doing screw in style pcvs

 

Could very well be just condensation. Burning coolant will be thick white smoke and will smell like coolant. Since your coolant level never changes it’s unlikely, as long as your radiator cap is working properly.

 

I’ve ready that leaky injectors are a common culprit for this type of problem. Am I able to remove the injectors and rails as a piece and watch if they leak? Is there a trick to this? If that’s not it, it’s valve stem seal time I think

 

Question guys… in the old days I would remove the plugs and inspect them to see if there was a plug(s) where the head was clean or rusty from the coolant. I’d use this method to determine if I had a head gasket leak or worst yet a cracked head.

Typically a good running engine’s spark plug insulator would be a light tan around the electrode. The electrode might have a little carbon and that would be it.

What do you think?

 

I am still trying to track down my own smoking issue as well. It is not a function of time sitting so I am questioning the original suggestion of valve stem seals. Actually, the less time it sits the more it seems to smoke, but only after it is driven. I am starting to suspecting leaky fuel injectors, and I am hoping so as most advice I have read says don't bother trying to replace valve stem seals as it could make things worse. A lot of people go straight to head gasket/coolant burning, but I think in 9/10 cases it would be way more obvious that was the issue.