blue and white smoke

[Gottolovem]

I did it again, I found a 300 dollar 85 4wd wagon on craigslist with bad clutch. Got it home and went to work, buypassed the fuel tank with a gas can and the car fired right up, came to temp.Cooling fan cycles fine no overheating runs great. However she smokes white smoke a little at idle, a lot at speed and a big cloud of blue black when i stab the peddal. the car has 270.000 thousand miles. I was planning on a quick flip and to save another tercel from the crusher. I will check the compression this weekend unless it snows. I let it run for around an hour and the smoke didn't clear up, there is no water in the oil. I guess my question would be is it cost effective to rebild an engine for a car worth a around a grand or did i buy a parts car. Any tips or tricks on clearing up the smoke without a rebuild. I suppose a compression check will tell all.

[dlb]

unless it's in really good condition, the time involved in the repairs will not be worth what you'll get for it. if you just want to fix it for the love of t4s everywhere though, go for it. shouldn't cost too much in parts.

white smoke definitely indicates head gasket. do that compression test, another way to check is to just pull the plugs and turn the key. if coolant shoots out--you guessed it, head gasket. look for chocolate milkshake in the oil, and oil in the coolant too. another method is to remove the rad cap and start the car. watch for bubbles of exhaust coming up through the coolant. that's another sign.

blue/black indicates burning oil and running rich, respectively. when you do the compression test, do it a second time after dribbling a tablespoon of oil down each spark plug hole. if the compression comes up, the rings are worn and causing the burning oil. if the compression doesn't come up, either the exhaust valves or the valve seats are the source of the burning oil and need to be replaced. if it's the rings, you could try that engine additive, restore. it coats the cylinder walls and helps keep oil from entering the combustion chamber. i used it once with no noticeable difference but petros has had good experience with it. the black smoke should be easy to take care of. probably just some carb tuning but you might try filling the combustion chambers with seafoam. it does a good job of cleaning carbon buildup out. fill them each chamber through the spark plug holes, let it sit for a day or two, then crank the engine with no plugs in to get the stuff out. just don't point the spark plug holes toward your house or anything else important. despite the nice name, seafoam is toxic stuff.

[Gottolovem]

The car is in great shape i now own 3 t4 wagons i may just sell one of the others and keep this one if i can resolve the smoke issue. My daily driver has a new motor but the rest is falling apart. Perhaps i will swap out the motor. I will try your tips asap. Thanks for the tips on how to isolate what the could be wrong.

[Petros]

doing a re-ring on the engine is not costly, but it is a lot of work. If you are keeping it it would be worth it. Presuming it is not a head gasket (which is not to bad a job), you might try a seafoam treatment, and than put some oil addative like STP or I have had good luck with Restore. that should reduce smoke and lower oil consumption so it can still be a good daily driver.

It it turns out to be a head gasket issue (losing coolant into the combustion chamber), replace the head gasket per my instructions over in the repair guides section.

[Gottolovem]

Did the compression check today 50/60/60/80 front to back all went to around 100 after I put a little oil in chambers. Its a shame the car is 100% complete and everything still works.To good to make a parts car.The factory sunroof has no rust like my other sr5 what i should do is swap the motor from my daily driver to this new one but i am so attached to my first t4 i would feel like I'm killing her. Maby i can get lucky at pick&pull on a good motor there was one there last month with 167 thousand. I have reservations about doing internal engine work.

[dlb]

yeah, those compression #s are grim. 180 psi is max, 120 psi is about the lowest you want to go. i would personally swap in a known good engine, like the one in your other t4. like petros said, you could definitely rebuild the bad engine but for all the work involved i would just do the whole swap.

[Petros]

rings shot, as are the valves. best option is to rebuild, it would be worth it, I would not scacrifice a good running car just for the engine, you have to pull two engines, and than install one back. Might as well pull one engine and rebuild it. There is nothing to be afraid of overhaulling an engine. I think replaceing a clutch is a bigger job, infact pulling the engine is way more work and lots of sliding under the car, bending over the engine compartment. it is worth rebuilding; pull the head and take it to a machine shop, with the head off pulling the short block is easy (I did do with two guys and a wood beam with a lifting strap, no hoist is needed). Onece engine is out put it on a sturdy work bench and pull the pan and than pull the connceting rod caps, if the crank journals are in fair shape, all you need to do is replace the bearings and replace front and rear seals. Check the cylinder bores for max wear, if within spec just hone cylinders and install new rings, and rod bearings if necessary. I have done this in one weekend, most of the work is pulling the engine.

[Gottolovem]

I do have a factory service manual for a 83 t4 it will walk me through the prosess i guess. I have exhausted all other avenues tried to find a used japanese import but they tell me that they don't import that engine anymore. What should i expect to spend on miscellaneous stuff for the job and should i buy oem parts from toyota or is napa ok for bearings and such.

[Petros]

I buy NAPA or rockauto.com. most of the aftermarket parts are okay to use, most come from japan and likely the same supplier Totota used when they still carried spare parts for our cars. Only preferance i would do is buy either a factory headgasket, or a Fel-Pro, do not waste money with anything else.

Buy 4 new exhaust valves, well worth it since they get heat damaged and do not hold up even when the face is reground. the intake valves can be reground no problem.

Use the head gasket mods and procedure I wrote up for the repair guides section.

You can overhaul the engine for about $300-400 if the bores are not too far worn. If you have to overbore the cylinders and buy oversided pistons and rings, about $600. Less if you shop carefully from Rockauto and only replace what is necessary only.

[Gottolovem]

Still looking for a long block anyone ever hear of rising sun engines in chico ca. There a japanese engine importer. They said there no longer importing 3ac engines to old none left to import. However they can get one from a large pool of wrecking yards. They bench test all engines (start and bring to temp compression check bleed down test) listen to engine, look for leaks and inspect for damage etc. 495.00 tested 6 month unlimited mile warranty. Or 795.00 for rebuilt from bottom up. Has anyone ever delt with these guys. They seem to be honest enough said he would get the engine test it and call me with the results no money up front. He also said the engine likley will not pass there testing standards. I'm sure they would rather rebuild it for 795.00 but at 495.00 i can still flip this car and make a few bucks keep the engine with bad rings and rebuild it next summer i have no garage and winter is here.

[Petros]

$495 for a warrented engine is not a bad buy, does that include shipping? Or do you have to pick it up?

If they are compatent than $795 is not a bad price for rebuilt engine, but that would only be worthwile if you were keeping the car. Personally, I would rebuild it myself, than I know what I got and I can do some easy tweaks to improve durability like as I outline in the headgasket thread in the repair guides section.

[Gottolovem]

I have to pick it up 2.5 hrs each way. I think i will rebuild the engine with bad rings and keep it as an extra. That way i can still flip this t4 and maby make enough cash to build the extre engine.