??? SMOKE...What to Look For While Replacing Timing Belt & Valve Cover Gaskets???

110k mi 2001 Tacoma 3.4 [manual]

Hi,
I am trying to determine if I need to look for anything regarding a smoke incident while I am in the process of various replacements below.

Progress has been very slow on my projects of replacing timing belt, drive belts, water pump, cam & crank seals and valve cover gaskets. Videos and instructions have been great and seemingly easy. But, I've encountered many hurdles. Even cleaning the baked sludges have been taking a long time. This is my first time with such a big project.

Anyway, I completed the DISASSEMBLY stage of tbelt, water pump, valve cover. I've install only 2 oil seals and 4 spark plug tube seals thus far.

So, back to the smoke. Forgive me as the details are very much a blur to me. It all started when I reved up the truck to climb up the car ramp on the driveway. For the first time, there was some noticeable smoke. I don't remember if it came from the back or the front. I was concentrating too much to stick the landing on the ramp. I am just beginning to do some research on this forum. Someone asked a poster in another thread about the smell and color of the smoke. There was definately a strong smell. I would guess it was leaning more to oil than fuel if I had to choose. Maybe it was more like burning rubber/plastic/brakes. But, like I said, it was a blur to me. I was just focused on starting the projects.

-----------FYI [disclaimer: I've been a bad boy. I have neglected to do the upkeep on the car]
-very few oil changes. The previous was a long time ago. Will do it after these projects when I can warm up the engine

-There's a valve cover oil leak on the passenger side, and a little in the rear by the cam plug on the driver side. However, more oil leak on the driver side around the pan, transmission, and some other areas that I don't know the name yet. There didn't seem to be oil leaking from the cam or crank oil seals.

-#3 spark coil plug boot is noticebly brown. #4 boot bottom [skirt?] is slightly brown. I will look at the plugs tomorrow

-I think [will check tomorrow] oil was on the low side

-----------Few questions:

1. So, is there something I should look at while I have not started the reassembly yet?

2. Anything important indicated by the brown plug boots? Connectors inside the boots look good

3. How can I deal with the tear on the #4 boot bottom? I wouldn't want to buy a complete set. On a very low budget.

THANKS

 

Manual or automatic?

 

The color of your plugs will tell you a lot. Multiple videos and pics of what they should look like. The brown color of the end of the coil is just from heat and dry conditions. Nothing abnormal. I'd change the torn one though. I've had good luck with the top of the line ones from Napa. But OEM is better. $97 for Napa coil pack and I think dealer is around $130.

Go to YouTube and watch a video of a guy documenting the cam cover gaskets removal and installation. Can save you some headache for sure.

 

its a manual transmission.

Regarding the bottom boot skirt, it is easily and completely removal. It is a separate rubber tube that overlaps the bottom of the actual boot and the part that goes over the ceramic part of a spark plug. Towards the end of the actual boot is where the metal connector to the plug. Budget being the factor, I'd hate to buy a complete set of wires. Thanks

 

You were prolly smelling the clutch burning a little. You said you had to rev it up. I wouldn't be to concerned about it. You might be able to find a used spark plug boot from a local TW member in your area.
Were do you live?

 

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Would the clutch burning produce noticeable smoke as well?

The plugs looked normal. However, the right cyclinder head and cover are darker than the left driver side ones. What might be possible indicators? Pics included. The left one is harder to see because I remembered at last moment to take a pic at night before I needed to put the cover on as the FIPG was close to curing. Going by quick observation and memory, there more more dark stains against the walls in the right head

I'll make a request from local TW members for the rubber boot skirts. But if anyone has used ones from their wire set, I would appreciate and pay for the shipping. They can probably fit inside a regular white envelop [or at most, a yellow one]. I live in San Jose, California, 95119. Thanks

 

Yes on the smoke. The differant colored valve covers can be attributed to the PCV valve being in only one valve cover. Not a problem.

 

Speaking of the PCV valve, there's dry oil stain around the area. I did buy replacement

Thanks for your help