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White smoke and coolant everywhere !!

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Sugar1921, Jan 13, 2025.

  1. Jan 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
    #1
    Sugar1921

    Sugar1921 [OP] New Member

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    I have a 2003 6 cylinder tacoma. I was on my way to work and noticed white smoke coming out of the hood of my truck. I parked on the side of the road and noticed coolant everywhere. I don’t know that much about trucks. Can anyone help out?
    I tried uploading a video but it’s not letting me
     
  2. Jan 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM
    #2
    PennSilverTaco

    PennSilverTaco Encyclopedia of useless information...

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    Charlie
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    Sounds like a radiator hose ruptured...

    :worthless:

    Was the temperature gauge in the red? Also, you can't upload videos directly to TW, just an FYI...
     
  3. Jan 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM
    #3
    Sugar1921

    Sugar1921 [OP] New Member

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    No the temperature gauge was not in the red.
     
    PennSilverTaco likes this.
  4. Jan 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
    #4
    PennSilverTaco

    PennSilverTaco Encyclopedia of useless information...

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    Well it sounds like you stopped before that happened, but having experienced a similar scenario in another vehicle (NOT my truck) where I saw steam coming from under the hood and a busted hose when I opened the hood, I would say that if a hose didn't break there is definitely a leak somewhere. Take pictures under the hood and post...
     
  5. Jan 13, 2025 at 6:06 PM
    #5
    02hilux

    02hilux What do you mean there’s no road, I’m here

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    Very vague. Could be anything at this point that has to do with coolant.
     
  6. Jan 13, 2025 at 6:13 PM
    #6
    Dalandser

    Dalandser ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

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    White smoke under the hood with no “bang” = good.

    White smoke under hood with bang = bad.

    White smoke out of tail pipe = bad.

    Sounds like a broken coolant hose. There are two big radiator hoses. Then some heater core hoses above the engine against the fire wall, a couple small ones going to and from the throttle body, a couple small ones on the driver side going to and from the oil cooler next to the oil filter, and a hard line between the heads in the valley under the intake manifold. I could have missed some. Tow the truck to a shop or home.
     
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2025
    Moonrman likes this.
  7. Jan 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
    #7
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    I'd start by opening the hood and looking around. A blown hose should be pretty easy to spot.

    If a hose, high odds your 22 yo hoses could all stand replacement along with the coolant change out you're doing. A tstat and radiator cap might be a good idea too.

    Then clean up the engine bay. Dried coolant all over everything isn't fun to work in. Not to mention really nasty looking.
     
    Steves104x4 likes this.
  8. Jan 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
    #8
    Bahamayellow

    Bahamayellow Well-Known Member

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    Mine the top tank of the original radiator went. Couldnt see where it was coming from until a pressure tester was on it.
     
  9. Jan 18, 2025 at 5:29 AM
    #9
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    skeezix and Moonrman like this.
  10. Jan 18, 2025 at 5:36 AM
    #10
    fxntime

    fxntime Well-Known Member

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    Temp gauges don't read overheats when there isn't any coolant in the system. Wish you the best that you caught it quick enough for there to be no engine damage past what popped.
     
  11. Feb 5, 2025 at 3:23 AM
    #11
    2001TacoMaster

    2001TacoMaster Member

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    This happened to me just 2 weeks ago. When I attempted to put water in radiator to limp home, the water just leaked right back out. Turns out the radiator had catastrophic failure. I ordered a new Denso radiator, 2 hoses and a cap from RockAuto for ~$150 and easily replaced old parts after watching youtube video. Truck ran great on 2000 mile road trip.
     
    Squirt likes this.

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