While it can be alarming, seeing exhaust smoke emitting from your tailpipe can be concerning. However, you should know that the color of the smoke can give you significant insight into the health of your vehicle. Being knowledgeable can prevent you from dealing with costly repairs in the future. Below is a quick guide on exhaust colors and what they may indicate.
Gray
Gray exhaust smoke can be challenging to conclude because numerous factors can produce it. Solid gray exhaust smoke can suggest that there's transmission fluid burning. It is essential to have your vehicle diagnosed by a professional to prevent transmission failure.
Blue
Blue exhaust is usually typical in the morning when you first start your engine. Blue smoke usually indicates that oil is burning. There could be an oil leak inside the combustion chamber, which causes blue smoke to discharge from the tailpipe. The first thing you should do is inspect your oil. If the oil is above the top line, you may need to drain it. If the oil isn't overfilled, you may have a broken piston ring or leaky head gasket.
White
Everything is normal if you notice a light haze or thin white exhaust on a cool and crisp morning. However, thick white exhaust smoke is evidence of a problem. Dense white smoke can mean the head gasket is damaged or the engine block is broken. These are two mechanical issues that you should address immediately.
Black
If your vehicle is burning too much fuel, the exhaust smoke will be black. Black smoke is more common in diesel engines. The dark smoke can mean the air filter is clogged or the fuel injectors are malfunctioning.
If you speculate that your exhaust is an abnormal color and want a professional evaluation, we welcome you to bring your car to City Garage. Give us a call or visit any of our 14 convenient locations today.