Downey Auto Service - Explaining the Different Colors of Exhaust Smoke
If you drive a gas-powered engine, then your vehicle is going to emit some smoke from time to time. That’s part of owning a gas-powered vehicle. Smoke can come from your tailpipe for a variety of reasons and it’s usually nothing to worry about. Most of the time, it’s a light-colored white and not too noticeable. But if you see a more defined color, then you need to pay closer attention.
It’s usually a sign of trouble, if the smoke from your tailpipe is a different color than white. So, what should you be looking for? Exhaust can be black, blue, dark gray, or bright white. Each of these colors means something different. But if you notice any of them, you should get your entire exhaust system inspected by a professional Downey mechanic.
What the Different Colors of Exhaust Smoke Mean
White Smoke – you probably don’t have anything to worry about if the smoke is a light-colored white. In fact, it’s normal to see white smoke on colder days. However, if the smoke is thick and appears to be a much richer white, or even a little gray, your head gasket could be blown. That’s not a cheap repair, but it is better than the other possibility: a cracked engine block. Either way, if you see thick white smoke, don’t wait to get it inspected.
Blue Smoke – blue smoke is another sign of trouble. It might look cool but smoke with a blue or bluish gray tint is not good. When you see blue smoke, you have an oil leak. The engine is burning the excess oil causing the blue smoke. Oil leaks are tough to pinpoint because they can happen in a lot of places, including worn valves or seals. The engine can’t prevent the oil from entering the cylinders so mixes with the gas. That’s what creates the blue exhaust smoke. You definitely need to have your vehicle inspected to find the leak and get it fixed if you see blue smoke.
Black Smoke – black or dark gray smoke indicates your vehicle is burning too much gas. There are several possible causes, including worn fuel injectors, a clogged air filter, or a blocked intake manifold. When your engine gets more fuel than it needs, the excess portion gets burned causing the black smoke. If you have black smoke coming from your exhaust, please come and see us so we can solve this problem.
Expert Exhaust Service in Downey
Have you notice smoke from your car’s tailpipe? Most of the time, exhaust smoke is normal, and all gas-powered cars emit smoke. But be sure to pay attention if the smoke from your tailpipe is the wrong color. If it is, you need to get it checked out.
Exhaust smoke should not be rich white, blue, dark gray, or black. So, if it is one of these colors, then please schedule a diagnostic appointment with us as soon as you can. The longer you put it off, the worse the condition will get.
If you’re looking for the right service and repairs for your vehicle in Downey, then please call us at 562-359-4232 to schedule your next service. You can also schedule an appointment with us online by clicking here. We are your trusted Downey, CA auto repair shop for all services and repairs on all makes and models, including:
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