Vehicle Exhaust Colors and What They Mean

You can tell a lot about the state of your vehicle by observing the color of the visible grey smoke from exhaust. Usually, when we spot odd smoke coming from the back of our car, we tend to panic and immediately pull over. However, exhaust smoke comes in a variety of colors, and not all of them are necessarily indicating that something is wrong with your car. 

To set the record straight, we wrote this quick and easy guide that will help you know the difference between harmless and potentially dangerous exhaust smoke colors.

What Does Blue Smoke from the Exhaust Mean

If you notice smoke that has a bluish or gray color, you’re probably dealing with an oil leak. The oil ends up in the combustion chamber where it mixes with the fuel and creates blue-colored smoke. If you have modified the power output of your engine recently, chances are that the additional stress caused by this damaged the piston rings, resulting in a potentially dangerous oil leak. 

Other possible causes include worn cylinder walls and valve seals. The easiest way to determine this is to observe when does your vehicle emits blue smoke. If it’s during acceleration, the issue is most likely tied to malfunctioning piston rings. However, if the blue smoke appears when you decelerate, you’ll need to check the valve guide seals. 

What Does Grey Smoke from the Exhaust Mean

Thick, gray smoke coming from the exhaust is not a good sign. If you notice it while driving, make sure to have a professional check your vehicle as soon as possible. A persistent and excessive stream of grey smoke can indicate a variety of potential issues, including an internal leaking head gasket, a cracked cylinder head, or a damaged engine block. 

In the case of a leaking head gasket, the coolant ends up in the combustion chamber, thus burning and evaporating. Without coolant, your engine will overheat in a matter of no time, especially if you’re driving in the summer. A damaged cylinder head and engine block are also very serious malfunctions that need to be resolved as soon as possible else you might risk total engine failure.

What Does Black Exhaust Smoke Mean

Visible emissions that have a black color are also not considered normal. A clogged air filter, a blocked manifold, or a fuel injection system that’s not working properly are the usual suspects in the case of black exhaust smoke. You’ll also notice a reduction in fuel economy as black smoke indicates your vehicle is burning more fuel than it should.

What Does White Exhaust Smoke Mean

Finally, we have white smoke coming from the tailpipe. White smoke is usually nothing to worry about if it’s present when you start your car during cold winter days. It’s just vapor created from combustion. However, if it’s persistent even when your car is fully warmed up, and you’ve been driving for a while, the white smoke might be a sign of something more serious. In this case, we recommend visiting the closest mechanic. 

If you notice a persistent stream of odd smoke coming from your tailpipe, continuing driving could result in a very expensive repair bill. Instead, give us a call and we can tow your vehicle safely to the nearest mechanic’s shop. Stay up to date and identify car issues before they become major problems by visiting our blog and checking out some of the informative articles we post there.

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Melbourne Towing Guys

12 Esperance Rd

Mount Waverley VIC 3149

(03) 7037 7636

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