What is causing this sudden engine smoke!
Asked by GuruSQ75T Jan 08, 2021 at 05:55 PM about the 2011 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab 4WD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
After sitting for a week unused my (older Napa) battery died, so I trickle
charged it for about 3 hours. When I started it, it was sluggish to turn over,
but did on the first try. After 2 minutes warming up I smelled smoke, electrical
or transmission smoke, I think. I saw smoke coming slowly from under the
hood and quickly shut it down. Popped the hood and saw nothing, felt no
heat.
It's Friday night, too late to call anyone. Any ideas what it could be?
6 Answers
Possibly for a vehicle that old, I would say dirty oil or you warn valves. Change the oil, maybe even use some Seafoam in it and see what happens.
Thanks, Randy, but I did a recent synthetic oil change about 3 months ago. I don't drive much. It has 120,000 miles. This doesn't smell like oil. It smells electrical. I guess the battery is involved somehow.
On second thought- I knew I'd smelled that smell before! It's radiator coolant. But that wouldn't happen unless the engine was warm enough to cause the smell. And I had JUST started it up for 1-2 mins. The battery thing is likely a coincidence, not related.
Oil leak onto the exhaust? Electrical short?
well, that's quite helpful of you guruSQ75 to mark only one comment helpful. that makes a lott of sense. We all like points.
Most likely the smoke and smell was engine oil that had seeped onto the exhaust manifold from sitting. My 2000 Grand Prix does that. The exhaust system gets very hot very quickly upon start up. Replace that Napa battery too. It shouldn't go dead after a week of sitting. I drove my 08 Grand Marquis for the first time since new years today and it started right up. I have a 3 and a half year old Motorcraft battery in it. Hope that helps! Jim
