Smoking While on a Incline

Ok, so I have searched TW and had no luck finding any information on this topic. However, I have heard from some guys in the Alabama Thread that is can be a 3rd gen thing. I am trying to determine if this is a problem I need to get fix under warranty.

Problem: White smoke is pouring out of my exhaust after attempting a couple hill climbs. The smoke does not start immediately, but rather after a couple attempts of trying to climb the hill. I start to lose power after the smoking has been happening for a couple mins. Additionally, there seems to be a knock/click sound right before the smoking starts. This is what has me the most concerned. If I back out and level out the smoking stops. All fluid levels look to be fine.

Situation: This only seems to happen on inclines above 35 degrees and after a couple attempts.



Video from the second time: Clicking/smoking starts at 2:04

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSmLH0svmJQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=-AR1SCH0-IQ

Pictures of the first time:

 

***UPDATES***

Sunday I met @tweakit88 out at the Slab in Montovallo to see if there is anything we could come up with. First step was to find a hill about 40-45 degrees and see if I could make it smoke and ping. This did not take very long at all, went up the hill unlocked to let the engine work and within 3mins I was smoking like a SOB! Like always the ping happened and the smoke was right with it.

@tweakit88 popped the hood and listen to see where it was coming from. Sounds like it was coming from the back of the engine.

I backed down and the truck was idling rough still smoking but no ping. So I turned it off and we got the tools out. First thing we do is pull the rear spark plug on the passengers side and it is covered in oil!!

Put it all back together, so I guess the next step is to take it into Toyota.

@tweakit88 decides he is going to try the same hill and see if his truck does the same thing. Low and behold it does, pinging and smoking like a SOB.


https://youtu.be/_ibGrVact24

https://youtu.be/cptUi6pVI4Q

 

Woah thats weird.

I've also seen it when people get so far over they burn oil but you don't look like you're over that far.

 

Do you mean angled? Both times the truck was level left to right, just up in the front.

 

It looks like a oil drain back problem. The early Toyotas had a similar issue (I mean early 79 to 81 ) there was an orifice in the head that was not large enough to allow oil drain back. So when revving the motor to do a Hillclimb it would pump oil to the top of the motor, naturally on hill climb it would go to the back of the motor and accumulate between the head and valve cover and start smoking just like that. It's definitely an oil issue going somewhere oil should not go.

 

Something definitely isn't right dude. I've had many yotas and nothing of the sort has happened on an incline like that

 

Keep trying until it sounds expensive.

 

Subbed for Toyota response.

Hoping it isn't "you're exceeding appropriate use of the vehicle, and we're going to note this abuse in your service history."

 

Any oil pressure lights on?

The 3.5L has a problem with inclines.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/low-oil-pressure-warning.396027

 

Oil, or coolant?

 

Initially while still on the incline, the smoke was white-ish, as you can see in the media above.

However, a few hundred feet down the trails as the smoke lessened, it had changed to a dark blue tint.

 

There was no Oil Pressure lights either time. I have had these if left flexed out before.

 

You need to covert it to a dry-sump oil system

 

White smoke is usually indicative of a coolant issue but I dont know here.

 

Does it smell like burning oil or burning coolant?

 

who changed your oil last? possible high oil level contributing to this?

 

I could not smell anything, I was kinda in the heat of the moment.

@Sandytaco14 @stronghammer @TacoAlaMode @h.zack801 Did you guys smell anything?

 

It was done at the dealership, last free one.