Do you know what color your car's exhaust smoke is? If you don't, it's important to keep an eye out for these colors and other signs of trouble.
What does black exhaust smoke mean?
If you see black exhaust smoke coming from your car or truck, pay attention to the vehicle's behavior. Black smoke can indicate problems with the engine, but there are several possible causes. One of the most common examples is bad fuel injection, which occurs when fuel is sprayed too early in the combustion cycle. For example, if you were to start a car using diesel instead of gasoline, you would see black smoke come out of the tailpipe. Another potential issue is carbon accumulation on your piston rings. The piston rings are what seal your engine's cylinders so that gas doesn't leak out and air doesn't leak in as it does in a carburetor-equipped vehicle. But if these rings get coated with carbon deposits from poor fuel quality or excessive idling time, they can get stuck in an open position and cause exhaust to leak into the crankcase. This creates a build-up of pressure inside the cylinder and prevents it from being filled with enough gas to burn efficiently—and if too much gas gets mixed together with oil inside the combustion chamber, this will create a condition known as "pre-ignition," which is responsible for producing black smoke coming out of your car's tailpipe. Finally, black exhaust can also be caused by problems with your engine gasket or damaged seals on your valves and piston rings; when oil gets into combustion chambers in this way it can not only lead to backfiring but also set off additional fires as well!
What does blue exhaust smoke mean?
Blue exhaust smoke can indicate a number of problems, but in general, thick, blue exhaust smoke typically indicates that oil is being burned. This could be an indication of the engine being run too hot or a problem with the oil filter. The engine might be at risk of seizure if this problem isn't addressed immediately.
What does white exhaust smoke mean?
A white plume of exhaust smoke coming from a tailpipe is never a good sign. It can mean that coolant is leaking into the cylinder and burning along with the natural gas, petrol, or diesel that powers your engine. This condition, which typically happens when coolant seeps past a cracked cylinder head gasket, can cause serious damage to your car if left untreated.
If you need exhaust system repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle to Euro Car Tech in Arlington, TX!