I've searched all over for this issue and havent found any definitive answers, so here goes.

Today while removing the air box hose to change the plugs and wires on my wifes 02 4Runner 3.4 I found the tank that is connected to the air hose full of oil.
I have had an issue with the thing smoking for a few seconds after sitting after a long drive and being restarted after cooling down and always figured it was valve seals, but now im wondering if it wasnt this oil getting into the plenum. The air filter and box never has any oil in it, so I was surprised to find the tank connected to the air hose to be completely full of oil.

I was in a hurry and didnt think to check the PCV valve. Would that be my problem or am I dealing with a bigger issue?

Any input appreciated. Sorry if its been covered.

 

PCV would be where I would start

 

Definitely PCV. You're having a serious blow-by issue. A bad PCV would be a huge contributor to this.

 

Changed the PCV and grommet. The old one still functioned correctly. Still having the same issue. Not sure what to check next.

 

Maybe there was too much oil?

 

pcv changed, same problem ?
...head gasket leak OR rings are shot OR valve burnt/sticky

do an all cylinders pressure leakdown test to verify

exhaust is leaking into crankcase and causing oil mist to
blow past pcv into air intake. engine is gonna melt down on you soon

at least it isn't coolant...your symptoms will just be more and more
smokey exhaust until fixed. if you leave it alone you will eventually
be driving a mosquito fogger

 

God I hope not.

I have a pressure tester, never really used it though.
Can someone tell me the proper way to do a test?

 

Check to see if there is blue smoke coming from the exhaust in the morning. If there is, then it is the valve guides and you are getting some blow by. High mileage oil can help here, but is no silver bullet.

For a stop gap measure, use a catch can between the PCV and where it feeds into the upper manifold behind the throttle body. Also check the vacuum hose from behind the driver's side valve cover to see if there is oil present as well.

I would first perform a compression test to see what cylinder(s) are bad. Then if you have the tester, perform a leakdown test (a couple of good examples can be found on Youtube).

 

Mine did the same thing. Ran fine but there was a little oil coming into the air cleaner box. If I maid a long trip, especially towing something, and it cooled down over night it smoked like crazy for about 10 seconds. Changed PCV with same result. I did a sea foam treatment and that helped a lot.

 

Bump. Still having issues. Oil still filling the air tube box and smoke now every morning.

 

Did you perform a compression and/or leakdown test yet?

 

Not yet. Still waiting for a friend that knows what he is doing to make time to help me.

 

I did check the air pressure coming from the oil fill and dipstick tube while running. . There was no noticeable pressure. The antifreeze is full and does not have pressure behind it when cold and running.

 

Once you perform the compression test, post the numbers.

While you are waiting, pull the plugs to check their condition. If it is not the seals (which is my guess), then the plugs could give some indication of a problem with rings, etc.

 

Plugs were new 2 weeks ago. None looked bad. Even and uniform. No oil.

 

That is good news. When you get those compression numbers, post them.

 

oil dipstick ? this ^^^ is a non-test. it would take massive pressure to
push your oil up and feel anything here, and first of all, your oil would
be blasting out of the tube like Jed Clampetts backyard

before that, your pcv valve would have been blown off

 

Just something my old mechanic neighbor told me to check. Still haven't had time to do the compression test.