2000 Toyota Sienna Grey smoke comes out at the exhaust pipe

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Not with out the chemical test as this test is what will tell you with no doubt it is a head gasket blown or possible cracked head. You won't know till it is apart. Did they do a pressure test on the radiator to see if it will hold the 16 psi of pressure it should be able to hold? If not they should do that first then do the chemical test if the pressure does hold. It may cost a little now but it will tell you that you are not waisting money to pull head off. I am a mechanic not a parts replacer so I believe in testing and taking out all guess work as I don't like upset costomer because I was wrong.

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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 9:39 AM

BEW

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Today I went to the other shop. The shop did a pressure test and chemical test for me. The pressure test hold 14 psi which the mechanic said it's normal. For the chemical test, it's fine as well. The mechanic said my car has 103225 miles which it's rather high so the engine burns the oil when I drive for a long trip. He suggests that next time when I gonna change engine oil I should use the thicker oil that is 10W30. By the way, after I arrived home today I check the coolant again and I've found that it reaches up to orange line again (please see the pic above). Last 2 days I took the pics in the morning that I hadn't driven anywhere yet. That morning the coolant was under the orange line. What do you think?

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Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 AT 9:14 PM

RACEFAN966

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That is normal, it will be lower when the car is cold because it will expand and go to the recovery tank when it get warmed up and then pull it back into the radiator as it cools. Well at least you know what is up that would have sucked to spend all that money on a head and find out that it needed a total overhaul. So I would do as the mechanic recomended and use a little heavier oil and see how it does. It will eventually need a new engine or rebuild but I would drive it till it is needed. Have a great day.

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Thursday, June 25th, 2009 AT 8:51 AM

BEW

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Thank you very much for all of your answers. Any problems occur later I will contact you then. Thanks again.

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Thursday, June 25th, 2009 AT 10:30 AM

RACEFAN966

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5,029 POSTS

You are welcome that is why I am here doing this is to try to help as I know money is tight, and not everyone speaks car. I don't like to hear those many stories of people getting ripped off because that makes it harder on us mechanics that are trying to do the job right. If you have anymore questions feel free to just ask I will do my best to give an acurate answer. Thanks for you support as it is all of you that keep us here and going.