I think it's possible my transmission fluid was drained and oil overfilled.... 1000 miles ago

Same. Never been to Thailand.

 

The oil pan is pretty obvious on this truck. Seriously doubt someone drained the trans instead.

But ya never know I guess.

 

not on a new-er vehicle... unless you have some serious issues.... when it turns BLACK, its clutch material... and the trans is likely toast at that point...

 

Old Fords with vacuum modulator controlled transmissions would blow white smoke from the exhaust when the diaphragm failed, transmission fluid would be sucked in to the engine and burned. Worthless automotive trivia for the day.

 

Automotive trivia is never worthless

 

It’s amazing someone drives around $32k with issues and writes it off as “probably normal” before bothering with a simple fluid check before possibly blowing an engine or trans.

.. and no, it shouldn’t be warrantied if you grenade an engine or trans because driver just drives and doesn’t know how to drive it to a shop.

 

See this is what I think also. Is this even an actual problem? I mean who would drive a truck 1000 miles suspecting something like that?

 

My vote is overly concerned about nothing. OP, was it worse when it was colder? My guess having gotten this in June you are not accustomed to how much steam comes from the exhaust on a cold start and cold weather.

 

already tried to explain this to him earlier in my post. but I dont think he understands. and expects mercedes ride, in a tacoma...

 

Nothing on any vehicle these days is cheap.
With all the bells and whistles on todays vehicles when the warranty runs out people will be paying $$$.

Blowing smoke on startup is not a tranny issue.

 

I'll tell you i was a bit surprised how these trucks rode when i did a test ride at a dealer after coming from a gen1 tundra. I had several toyota compact 4x4 pickups in the past that rode better. Dealer assured me they will ride better once fully broken in. To some extent its true. My 2020 sr5 was really ox cart stiff when i first got it...after 4500 miles it is getting better, but its no tundra like i had.

 

I wish my SR had a talking dipstick.

 

I'm coming from a 2013 mazda cx-5 AWD 2.0 auto, and my previous truck experience was my fathers 2000 GMC 3500 duelly (gas), anything was an improvement for me.. did notice the TRD OR was a bit bouncy in the front end before I added my sliders, and winch bumper. the weight helped.. but the newer suspension with stiffer springs helped a LOT.

 

Refill the trans drain the excess oil from the engine drive more worry less.

 

Well, if that damned search function wasn’t so difficult to use you would know. Luckily, I have a PhD in using the search function....my Saturday morning gift to you is a peek into the scary under belly of the third gen sub forum.

I present to you, a small sample of your fellow third gen owners (and two 2nd gen owners who are third gen owners at heart) who couldn’t tell the oil pan from the tranny:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/accidentally-drained-trans-fluid.622770/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/help-accidentally-drained-trans-fluid.652235/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drained-tranny-fluid-versus-oil.443381/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/drained-atf-instead-of-oil.560883/

...and if you ever do accidentally drain the tranny, for God’s sake don’t do this:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/halp.33318/

...and keep in mind, this isn’t all of them.

 

Grasshopper, the universe is talking to you.

 

The accused transmission drainer was a dealership mechanic. These are noob’s.

 

My money is squarely on that the previous owner was a TW member. There is probably ATF in the coolant and wiper fluid as well.

 

So I had my friend take a look last night, he's not a mechanic but he's pretty damn knowledgeable. He didn't really see anything out of ordinary, other than coolant being a bit low. Confirmed no smell in the smoke. Visible exhaust wasn't that bad yesterday, so I might've just been surprised by how much exhaust you see in these trucks in the cold.

I'm having surgery Monday and my friend agreed to drive me down in my truck to give it an on the road test just to make sure. Leaning towards paying the local toyota only mechanic to run a diagnostic next week once I've healed up a bit, and maybe just getting the transmission fluid and oil both changed out just for peace of mind.

Had two jeeps before my truck that were mechanical moneypits, so in all honesty, to call myself a bit of a car hypochondriac is putting it mildly. Hoping for the best, probably won't have a real update until mid next week.