THE colour of your car’s exhaust smoke can mean different things but it’s always worth checking out to prevent a potential problem.
If black, white or grey smoke comes out of tailpipe, it could mean anything from an oil-leak repair to a coolant check, or even something more serious.
Instagram/@miguelhautogroupCheck for these colours to prevent a big problem from happening[/caption]
Most of the time your car’s exhaust should be barely noticeable, quietly pumping out spent gasses from the combustion process at the back end of your vehicle.
But if it starts swapping shades, it could be a sign of a problem.
To avoid an expensive repair bill on the horizon, check what each colour smoke means.
White smoke is usually an indication of coolant leakage into combustion chambers.
When it’s light and thin, it is typically a water vapour.
You might notice it the first time you start a car, especially on a cold day.
The phenomenon can be explained because condensation naturally collects in the exhaust system.
It is common in vehicles during colder winter days.
But if the smoke is thick and borders grey colour, then it could mean there’s a leaking head gasket.
In this case, the coolant would end up being heated in the combustion chambers and blown out the tailpipe.
The leaked coolant during hot summer days could leave you stranded on the side of the road as your engine overheats.
Blue smoke means there is likely an oil leak and your engine is burning oil.
The blue smoke will probably be accompanied by a burning smell.
If you notice these signs, it is time to have a qualified technician check things out.
There are a number of potential causes, with the more severe being worn valve seals, piston rings or turbochargers.
But it also could be that the car had too much oil put into the system and the excess is burning off.
Lastly, black smoke isn’t normal for most cars and may cause you to worry.
The black-coloured fog from your tailpipe appears when the vehicle is burning too much fuel.
It could be caused by a clogged air filter in petrol cars.
A clogged air filter won’t hurt your gas mileage thanks to today’s automotive technology, says Consumer Reports.
If the filter is fine, then it is worth checking out the fuel injectors and the fuel pressure regulator.
But this is a job that’s better suited for a professional.