So I started the 4Runner the other day and there was this disturbing puff of blue smoke that rolled its way from the tail pipe. 178K miles and the first sign of an issue. It went away after 30 seconds - and has not returned since, and does not appear to be burning while I am at power- and I haven't notices a power loss either.

At any rate I know I am in for some repairs here in the future so I wanted to 'massage' then engine a little while I had it apart, as this is the perfect time. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

I am wanting to do a little research to see who has done what to their 2nd gen 3.0L engines and where they had it done, ect. I an not really in a place to do an engine conversion/swap - so good mods to this one will be just fine with me. I live in Franklin Tn, but shipping parts is not an issue.

I have been doing some searches in the archives...but it cannot hurt to ask!!

Thanks in advance for comments and advice!

Aaron Swihart

Unless you got a lot of money, headers, freer exhaust, and maybe a mild cam are about all you can really do. And your gas milage won't get any better. These engines are never going to produce hp cheaply. The 3.4 swap is really quite simple, it bolts right up, compared to getting hp out of the 3.0. Plus there is the supercharger option with the 3.4
Forgot, you could also flow the heads. Maybe a better ignition, but i don't know if there is a cheap one.

<small>[ April 26, 2003, 03:03 PM: Message edited by: Babypig ]</small>

DOA Racing Engines just moved to North Carolina and they (Tim Jenkins) can do anything you want to your motor to make more power. It won't be cheap though, as Babypig <img border="0" alt="[Pig]" title="" src="graemlins/oink.gif" /> mentioned you might be better off just putting a 3.4L in.

All a puff of blue smoke is at start up is generally valve stem seals. Especially if thats the only time you getting it. Actually it's just the exhaust valve seals. The oil sits up there when you shut it down and seeps into the cylinder. At start up you burn that oil all at once and get the blue smoke.
My 5.0 did it, and my 22re did it until I changed the seals. I'm not sure how much of a PITA the 3.0 is to change. Maybe someone else will chime in.
Good luck,
mike