It’s easy to assume that because your car is working then there’s nothing to worry about. But if you notice any coloured smoke coming out of the exhaust then it could be a hint that a mechanical problem could be waiting in the wings.
The colour of the smoke that comes out of your car’s can mean different things, and is an indication of what might be wrong. Read on for details that might be worth looking out for.
Vapour looks like white smoke but is usually a lot less thick. Generally it’s nothing to worry about, and tends to mean that the engine hasn’t warmed up yet – or that it’s cold outside! Most cars show that the engine is warmed up by a temperature gauge near the speedometer and, if everything’s ok, it should be around the halfway mark. To ensure everything is fine, wait until the engine is warm enough and then check your exhaust again. If it’s still producing smoke, it might be worth checking out.
Black or grey smoke
Any smoke that comes out of your exhaust means that you need to get a garage to check over your car, as it can be unhealthy for your engine or the environment – or both. Black or grey smoke usually means that the engine isn’t running as healthily as it should be, but the associated problems shouldn’t be too time-consuming or expensive to fix.
It can be a range of problems, but the most common ones include a malfunction in the fuel injection system, a clogged air filter, the engine timing being out of sync or a blocked manifold. Once fixed, your car should be back to full health – providing there are no other underlying problems. For diesel cars all of the above apply, but it could also be a sign that the engine is running a bit too hot and overheating, or your diesel particular filter is automatically burning off soot, which is normal once in a while.
Blue smoke
Blue smoke from a car exhaust is generally a bad sign, and the cause of it will need to be repaired as soon as possible. It’s either a problem to do with the oil, or internal engine components. In petrol cars, it might suggest that oil is leaking into the engine block where the fuel is mixed with air, while in diesel cars it may simply suggest that there is too much oil in the engine.In the worst cases, the cylinder heads, pistons or valves might all be worn down. Regardless, you’ll want to get your car looked at by a reputable garage if it’s emitting blue smoke.
White smoke
White smoke also needs to be checked immediately, because it can be a sign that your engine is on its last legs. For diesel cars it can mean that the engine timing isn’t right, that there’s a fault in your fuel injection system, or that the engine is overheating. And if you drive a petrol car and see white smoke, it’s really not good news. It could be that either the cylinder block or head are cracked, or that the head gasket is leaking. If the head gasket is not fixed immediately, it can spell the death of that engine. In some cases the cost to fix this problem is more than the car is worth.
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Danger Level: Elevated. If the smoke from the exhaust pipe is either grey or bluish-tinged, it generally means that your engine is burning oil inside the combustion chamber. Burning oil could be due to a number of causes, from leaky valve seals to bad piston rings.
• White smoke from the exhaust: This could be steam caused by condensation in the exhaust pipe or a more serious issue caused by an engine coolant leak. Excessive amounts of white smoke could indicate head gasket failure. • Blue smoke from the exhaust: Oil is being burned.
White smoke from your exhaust means coolant is exposed to your engine's combustion process. In most cases, this is the result of a blown head gasket, but a cracked engine block or cylinder head could also be the cause.
If the smoke from the exhaust pipe is either grey or bluish-tinged, it generally means that your engine is burning oil inside the combustion chamber. Burning oil could be due to a number of causes, from leaky valve seals to bad piston rings.
White or Gray Smoke from Exhaust – Just like if you see white smoke from under the hood, persistent white smoke usually indicates a coolant leak. If there's only a little bit, it's probably condensation. Blue Smoke from Exhaust – If you see blue or dark gray smoke, that's an indication of burning oil.
If the head gasket leaks, coolant might seep into the combustion changers which are right next to the coolant channels. The liquid will be burned along with gasoline. This creates a white or gray smoke that comes from the tailpipe constantly. This is a clear sign that you have a head gasket problem.
White smoke usually means coolant is getting into the combustion chambers of your vehicle. This generally happens because of a cracked or leaking head gasket, which allows coolant to seep into your cylinders. In extreme cases, you will need to replace your head gasket.
Blue smoke is caused by oil getting mixed into the combustion cycle. You can pull your spark plugs to see if one is coated in oil and would give you a general sense of where the leak is coming from, but replacing the spark plug would not fix the issue.
Blue exhaust smoke. Bluey/dark grey smoke is a clear sign that your engine is burning oil. The liquid can leak into the combustion chamber where it is burned along with fuel. You'll probably notice your car misfiring when you turn the keys in your ignition, or find your vehicle shakes more than usual when idle.
K-Seal can fix water loss and white smoke from your car exhaust. Thick white smoke pouring from the exhaust is usually due to a crack in the cylinder head, engine block or head gasket. This is caused by constant temperature fluctuations and a consistently overheating engine due to low coolant levels.
Check the brake fluid level in the brake master cylinder. The seal in the master cylinder can leak brake fluid into the brake booster. The vacuum hose to the brake booster can then suck the brake fluid from the brake booster into the engine where it burns and causes a white smoke out of the exhaust.
Additionally, the colour of fumes coming out of an exhaust pipe can be used as an indicator of engine health. Black smoke may mean too much fuel is being burnt, blue smoke indicates oil is being burnt, white smoke means coolant is being burnt and grey smoke can indicate a variety of issues.
To confirm a blown head gasket, you could check for white smoke coming from the exhaust, it will also smell sweet if you are using coolant in the radiator and not water. Check for oil in the coolant, check for coolant in the oil, look for a decrease in power, or a rough running condition usually on startup.
White or Gray Smoke from Exhaust – Just like if you see white smoke from under the hood, persistent white smoke usually indicates a coolant leak. If there's only a little bit, it's probably condensation. Blue Smoke from Exhaust – If you see blue or dark gray smoke, that's an indication of burning oil.
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