Exhaust smoke/smell

Hi,
So just a little problem I hope. For the last few months I've notice a exhausted smell/ felt hot with water from the pipe. I have a 2008 Tacoma V6 with 105K miles. Well I live in warm weather and lately it has been getting cold. I noticed today while driving down the street to the store that my truck was giving a lot of white or clear exhaust (might be white cause it is cold?). I was concerned so I looked what it might be and scared me about head gasket. I also just got a smog check in may and it passed since then only drove 5K miles.

I checked my coolant level and it was 3/4 full and I'm do for an oil change. I was so concerned that i drove my truck for about 15 minutes to see if it was cause the engine was cold. After driving for 15 minutes I couldn't see white or clear smoke any more nor was there water coming from the exhaust pipe. My truck doesn't have a rough idle or a rough start. But my truck does give a exhaust smell and I did taste the water coming from the pipe and didn't really taste like anything. Im worried that if there is a problem it will get worse. Does anyone know if this is normal and I'm just being paranoid? or that this is a beginning of a real problem? Is there anything I can do to fix the strong exhaust smell from start up?

I was doing research online to ease my stress about it which made it worse. So here I am Asking if this is normal or cause something is wrong with my truck?

 

Most likely what you see is simply condensation caused by the combination of hot exhaust and cold temperatures. The fact that it stops after the truck warms up would seem to confirm that.

 

Alright ill keep a close eye on it. What about the strong exhaust smell?

 

When it is cold fill the radiator and the coolant jug to the proper line and mark it with a marker (if its not exactly at the line). Then after a day of driving and the engine is nice and warm the coolant level should have changed some. Mark that with a marker. If your concerned about coolant loss, every so often check your line when hot and cold. Does the exhaust ALWAYS have the smoke/mist your talking about? Does a puddle of water form under the tailpipe if you leave it idle for like 15 minutes? Does it do that in both hot and cold weather?

Get under it, I always suggest when it is dark outside, with a flashlight and check every inch for any leaking. I suggest at night because it makes you concentrate specifically where your flashlight beam is focused. Thats just a personal preference.

If the carbon filter has been removed from the intake, you WILL have a 'sulphur' type smell (from the outside) if you run it hard and have the windows down or floor it from 0-60.

If you are loosing coolant and you find no visible leaks, possible issue is head gasket, but on a 2008, its highly unlikely. If you possibly suspect the head gasket, do an analysis, $28

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php

It's a cheap way to check for coolant in your oil. (If you change your own oil) Next time you change your oil after you remove the drain plug and the oil starts pouring out wait a few seconds then put a CLEAN glass jar under it and collect a few ounces of oil in the jar, then let the rest go into your drain pan.

Put the sample in the container and ship it to the lab. I'll post pic of results I just got from the lab. I had my head gaskets changed and I know they are leaking, dealership ran tests... test came back as no problem! Sent sample to the lab.... see results

In any case, keep an eye on it

 

Alright thank you so much for the help.

I just filled the coolant and marked it. After I drive tomorrow I'll test it out and see if it has changed at all. I notice that the exhaust mist has been in cold and warm weather but more noticeable now that it is cold. I'll take it in tomorrow and do a test to see what they say. But do you think that exhaust mist is normal and the smell?

 

There should be some mist, its only a problem if it is excessive and all the time. What EXACTLY does the exhaust odor smell like? Does it smell like petroleum? Kinda Sweet? Burnt plastic? ... other?

 

its got over 100,000 miles on it, if it smells heavily, like REALLY heavily of gas, possibly a fuel injector is leaking a tad. So when the truck sits for a long time, (like over night or when your at work or school) a little gas leaks in the cylinder, then when you start it, the exhaust will have a heavy gasoline smell. This is normal. Just try putting some injector cleaner in the gas tank next time you fill up.

if it smells REALLY 'sweet', like your burning a chocolate bar on a hot pan or something, that is coolant burning off, that's bad!

if it smells like a burning oil or a tire on fire or like the army man you melted with your magnifying glass when you were a kid, that's bad!

Unless these problems just showed up, like last week you had none of these symptoms and all the sudden today you did, from what you are describing I think your fine, completely normal. If it were me, I would do what I do with any issue I have that I am concerned about. Just monitor it, make sure I note any changes in driving quality, noises, smells, feeling, vibrations, things you see, leaks, etc. and if you see any dramatic swings concentrate on that. When in doubt, post your results and concerns here, SOMEONE will always have been through the same thing If your really paranoid you can buy one of many types OBD devices that will show you what is going on with your truck in real time.

Honestly, I think your ok bro, just keep an eye on it if you think you ARE having a problem.

 

Thanks guys I appreciate it. I think I am fine just paranoid.
The smell just smells like exhaust don't know how to explain it. Kinda like starting a vehicle in the garage and you smell it. Just a little strong. Or almost like a diesel. I don't think it smells sweet though.

 

I have the smell sometimes also. Not really sure whats going on

 

Your smell, is not the one this guy is describing.

 

The water vapor is normal for all vehicles with a catalytic converter. That is what it does.

Converts:

• Hydrocarbons (in the form of unburned gasoline)
• Carbon Monoxide (formed by the combustion of gasoline)
• Nitrogen Oxides (created when the heat in the engine forces nitrogen in the air to combine with oxygen)

The catalytic converter helps to convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. It converts the hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water. It also converts the nitrogen oxides back into nitrogen and oxygen.