1999 Tacoma 3.4 has some "issues"

Hey guys,
I'm new to the forum and just purchased a 1999 Tacoma. I realize my thread title is a bit vague and apologize for that but I don't have a lot to go on.

A little back story for you:

Just bought the truck and the guy told me it had a knock. As it turns out, I don't believe it's really a knock but just lack of maintenance although there is some intermintent clicking and clacking. I just drove it 200 miles and it actually held its own on the highway. BUT....it does run really rough at idle and does a bit of smoking too. The smoke appears to be a combination of unburnt fuel and oil. I believe the oil smoke is from a plugged PCV or something and causing it to be recirculated into the intake (juding by the hose I pulled off that leads into the intake since it was loaded with oil). As I was driving it the CEL was on and blinking but when I floored it, it would stay on then eventually go out. Needless to say, it's very puzzling and I'm not really giving anyone anything to go on. But I do have some questions.

Could a serious lack of tune up cause my problems?
Could the VVT be a source of my "noises" that come and go?
Would a faulty PCV cause some of these issues?

The truck has 160K on it so I have faith that I can resurect it (I only paid 4k for the truck and it's an automatic V6 extended cab 4x4 TRD so I think I did pretty good, rust free, good interior etc)

My plans today are to Seafoam intake and crankcase(if I didn't know better, I would think that Seafoam is a TW sponsor...LOL) change the plugs, new PCV. Is there any other quirk that these Tacoma 3.4 have that I need to look into? I've searched a lot of threads but since everyone phrases their symptoms differently, I didn't locate too much.

Again, I know my symptoms are vauge and I don't have any codes for you yet, I'm just beginning to diagnose. But I'll keep everyone updated on my progress.

Thanks

 

Too late....already foamed it.

Just followed the directions and advice from folks here on TW. Didn't seem to cause any apparent problems. At least nothing worse than where I started from.
(keep in mind, I bought the truck with the expectation of a motor swap due to an apparent knock?)

After faoming it, I cleaned the MAF sensor, changed the plugs and found one to have the gap completely closed. Looks like the previous owner got in a hurry changing the plugs. Needless to say it runs like a sumbich now and no CEL yet. Problem is that it still smokes and has some substantial valvetrain noise and a bit of a lope at a stoplight. I'm guessing it's running rich based on the smoke and lack of any oil deposits on the plugs (other than the blackend one that hadn't fired its entire life!)

SO....that's the story.

Runs like a mofo, rich smoke, no CEL, impressive valvetrain noise lopes at idle.

1.Drive it like I stole it?

2.Motor swap with another 3.4?

3. Rebuild the top end?

Thoughts?

Oh....and to answer your question, no. I didn't do a compression test. When I found the bad plug I got all giddy and wanted to put the new ones in and fire it up since I knew I'd see a difference. Wanted to though, but I temptation won. I'll do one and see what the results are, might depress me.

 

So I've been doing some reading about what I would call valve train noise.

Many of you out there refer to it as the "toyota tick". I'm not certain that I would call it a tick but I also wouldn't call it a knock either, it's somewhere in between and when I accelerate the engine, it silences. I stethescoped it last night and the sound is definately NOT coming from the lower end but is isolated to the drivers side of the motor on the 2nd cylinder.

I've read a ton of theories and am looking to you guys at TW for a little more direction.

Some say:
Bad timing belt
Injector noise
Knock sensor
Valve train noise (however no one really suggests an adjustment..???)
Some doohickey on the intake that you can isolate with 2 orings...WTF?

I'm guessing that with 160K miles and what appears to be neglected maintenance that it's simply wear in the top end of the engine. When I pulled the oil filter after foaming the crankcase, I did see some metal come from the filter so something is wearing for sure.

Sure...I can start throwing parts at it until it stops but when you combine the clack/tick with the rich smoke that I'm getting (to the untrained eye it could be mistaken as oil smoke but the plugs were spotless. The ceramic was still white on 5 out of 6 and the 6th one wasn't even firing so it had some build up on it) I don't want to throw good money after bad into it as it will begin to cut into my motor swap buget if I indeed need one.

So my latest question is:
What is anyone's experience with a "clack" and rich smoke? Is there a chance that the 2 are related?

Thanks guys

BTW....Compression test will be done today. I'll post results

 

I replaced the plugs with the NGK that Chris4x4(?) suggested. Advance Auto didn't have the exact ones but by cross referencing the part number, they gave me a match. NGK 2087 or something. I can't remember.

I agree, metal in oil is on par with pouring water down my intake.

Once I get out of work, I'll do the comp test and see if there's anything obviously wrong. Any idea of what pressures I'm looking for? Or is it like when I rebuilt my outboard and as long as the compression is within a pound or 2 of each other, it should be fine (indicating even wear). If I have time I'll at least pull the cover off the side the noise is coming from. It needs new gaskets at the very least since they are leaking.

I can only assume that the timing belt hasn't been changed judging by apparent lack of maintenance.

I'm really hoping that by the time it's all said and done, I can resurect this baby and keep my expenses down. So far I'm staying out of my new motor budget. I have a hunch I'll have to tap into it to rebuild my CV axles and bearings.....sigh......

One other point worth mentioning is that when I pulled the intake hose off, there was a lot of oil in it and the air box and the filter appeared new. My first hunch was that the previous owner had a K&N in it and over oiled the filter causing a MAF fault. Had that happen on my Hemi and it reaked havoc until I cleaned the intake. Tried that with the TuRD but didn't see much improvement. The optimist in me wants to think it needs more time to recouperate but I think I know better.

 

The results are in:

#1 180 #2 138
#3 183 #4 165
#5 190 #6 95

Cylinder 6 also happens to be the cylinder that had the electrode smashed and wasn't firing. When I pulled the plug, it was covered in oil. The rest of the plugs look great.

So....looks like I need to dig a little deeper and isolate the issue.

I'm not real sure how to rule out a ring issue. I'm hoping that there will be an obvious sign when I get in there like a bad head gasket or something. Then I'll feel confident reconditioning the heads and being done. Still need to do a mechanical oil pressure test to determine whether it's worth the investment or not.

 

Yeah, it could use some attention.

I'm new to the Tacoma (had an 81 4x4 PU and a 74 FJ40) and don't really know what the reputation is for the 3.4 as far as maintaining good cylinder wear and being able to determine if it was indeed a cylinder, would it be considered rare or common for these engines? Does that make sense?

 

Well either I have totally stumped everyone with my issues, or everyone has lost interest in my post.

Would if help if I asked for advice on tires, lift kit or posted naked pics of my girlfriend? LOL........

 

No help mechanically but have you had the frame checked by the dealer for rust perforation ? You may want to before sinking too much time and $ into it. Toyota bought back 2 of my 99 tacos for frame rust.

 

its weird that no one else has replied to this... bump!

 

Sorry but that sounds like timing belt had jumped the tooth. You need to do timing belt and possibility prepare for bent valve (s) on #6

 

You sure?, I dont think any Toyota engines are. (I could be wrong tough)

 

I Learn something new everyday. Do you know what Toyota engines are non-interference and which ones are not?

Thats a good news, for OP. Changing Timing belt is probably all he needs.