Most people get anxious whenever they catch smoke coming out the back of their cars. The truth is that not all exhaust smoke is bad. By closely looking at the hue of the fumes, you can determine what is going on with your car. Some popular emission colors include: gray, blue, black, or white.
Gray Smoke - Gray exhaust smoke is probably the hardest to identify. If the smoke looks like a solid gray cloud, it may mean that you have a transmission fluid leak or engine oil leak. It is very important for you to take your car to a professional automotive technician to assess your systems.
Blue Smoke - Blue exhaust smoke suggests that your engine oil is being burnt. The next step you should take is inspecting your oil levels. It would help if you also walked around your car to ensure there aren't any visible leaks. Oil leaks are often caused by damaged seals, broken piston rings, or old cylinders.
Black Smoke - Dark or black exhaust smoke means that your automobile burns an excessive amount of fuel. This problem is more common in diesel engines than gasoline engines. The black gases often trace back to a dirty air filter or fuel injector issue.
White Smoke - White exhaust byproducts usually look thin whispy, and it seems that way because it is typically natural condensation. However, if it is thicker, you may be dealing with a leak. Dense white vapors can imply that your engine head gasket or engine block is due to a coolant leak. You should immediately take your car to a trusted auto repair shop for proper inspection.
If your tailpipe smoke emits a lot of smoke, our certified team can inspect your exhaust system for any problems. We can give you the peace of mind you need. For all your automotive needs, we invite you to Quality Tune-Up Car Care Center.