My '85 4Runner with 22re and 5spd doesn't seem to like being driven over 3k rpms. Above this point, pretty much in any gear, I see A LOT of smoke out of the exhaust. Below 3k rpms, there is hardly any sign of smoke. Once I hit 3k, its like hitting some switch and the smoke only gets worse the higher I take the revs (at night, I can hardly see the car behind me when I'm taking it above 3k rpms). Compression checked out good, oil clean, radiator fluid clean, good gas mileage, just passed emissions without any problem........does anyone have any ideas? I'm out of them.

Is there a difference between full and part throttle (smoke wise)?

Seems to be worse the more throttle I give it. If I ease up past 3k rpms, it smokes, but not as bad as if I'm gunning it up past 3k rpms.

Just a hunch here...but I'd say your 22RE is wore SLAP out. The smoking problem you're describing is what happens when piston rings become worn to the point they lose almost all their tension. Do a compression check on it when it's hot. A leak down test would also tell for sure. But I'm pretty sure your sh*t is wore out. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Compression tests and leak down are both good. I've done it with the motor hot too. Motor runs great, idles smooth, has good power, etc.

What color is the smoke? Black? Blue? White? Or is it Brown?

4 totally different sources.

I know I sound dumb, but I'm not sure what color smoke yet. This has been a project the past few months and just recently got it on the road. I'm getting ready to take it out and have a buddy tail me and see/smell. I have been putting this off too long....and really can't begin to fix without knowing what its doing for sure. I'll post in a bit once I get back.

Alright.....

Above 3k rpms, and when heavy on the throttle (especially above 3k rpms) it smokes BLUE. Not too thick, but definitely smokes blue. However, it also smokes BROWN, kinda on the upswing and downswing of motor revs. e.g.- with truck stationary, reving motor smoothly to 4k rpms and back down to idle...it will turn brown while reving up and idling down, but if I hold it steady at say 3k rpms, its blue.

There is NO oil in the coolant and coolant level is constant. There is NO coolant in the oil - at least not on the dipstick. However, the oil was about 3/4 quart low on oil after about 300 miles, so I know its burning oil.

Any ideas on the brown smoke?

My original thoughts were that at higher RPMs, the head distorts allowing some coolant to seep in and burn, but since I can't detect any such problem, I dunno. The exhaust does smell slightly so sweet, but I want to avoid jumping on the YOU'VE GOT A BAD HEAD GASKET bandwagon just yet, because in all honesty, all my trucks exhaust's seem to smell sweet to me.

So, any thoughts? I guess I'll add a can of Engine Restore and start using oil for higher mileage vehicles to try to prolong the inevitable, as this is truely a play toy.......

Any blowby in the intake side?

Sounding more and more like rings if there is.

If not, valve guides.

You also have a fouled CAT.

Blowby is minimal. The PCV valve has a skim of oil in it, but not heavy or gunky.

With the CAT, are you saying the brown smoke is a sign of this? What's weird is that it just passed emissions with flying colors....no fudging the numbers either.

When running compression check, I did find some oil on top of the piston, primarily #2, so burning oil doesn't suprise me. Is there a way I can tell whether its a ring vs. valve? Leakdown test showed slight increase in pressure, like it should, but didn't indicate any problem there. Will the leakdown only show rings?

I appreciate the help.........