Vehicle exhaust can be tricky because what might seem as if it’s normal actually isn’t. Central Auto Care can help you determine whether the exhaust you see exiting your automobile’s tailpipe is something about which you should be concerned or not a problem at all. Here’s a handy guide to start. If you have excessive vehicle exhaust that is any of the colors below, it’s time to bring your automobile into our shop so we can find the problem and fix it.
I See Black Smoke, But I Drive a Diesel
Even if you drive an automobile powered by a diesel engine, you should not see a ton of black exhaust smoke. This is a sign that the automobile is burning fuel in excess – more fuel than necessary. This can be caused by a leak somewhere in the engine or a failing part or system. A vehicle that burns so much fuel that you can see black exhaust is dangerous, so stay safe and don’t continue to drive it.
I See Blue Smoke Coming Out of the Tailpipe
If the color of your vehicle’s exhaust is blue or bluish, you’ve got a problem with oil burning in the engine. This is not only bad news because you have an oil leak somewhere that might be costly to fix; it’s also bad news in that the oil leak could damage your engine seriously. You don’t want to see bluish vehicle exhaust ever, but if you drive a very old car, you might have this problem at some point.
I See White Smoke Coming Out of the Tailpipe
This is a sign of a cracked head gasket and, you guessed it, you don’t ever want to have that problem. A cracked head gasket will spray antifreeze all over the engine and as the antifreeze burns away, you get white smoke. If the crack is really bad, you may also see smoke coming out of the engine. Your automobile will also overheat because the coolant isn’t circulating through the engine.
I Don’t See Smoke at All
Jump for joy if you don’t see anything at all coming out of your exhaust pipe. It used to be normal to see vehicle exhaust, but in newer automobiles, you shouldn’t see a thing. You’ll see steam during our frigid winters just like you see your breath, but, normally, you won’t see any exhaust at all. This is why vehicle exhaust is dangerous and even deadly. You can’t see or smell it.
Call Central Auto Care in Okotoks, AB, 403-995-4676 if you see excess exhaust coming out of your automobile’s tailpipe. We’ll get to the bottom of the issue.