The colors of vehicle exhaust could mean a problem with your automobile’s engine. New Castle Auto Repair can inspect the engine if you see excess exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe. This is usually a sign that you have a severe fluid leak in the engine. This leak needs to be repaired right away to avoid dangerous driving conditions or severe engine damage. Let’s talk more about this below.
Clear
Generally speaking, your vehicle’s exhaust should be clear. You should not see it flowing out of the tailpipe unless it is cold outside. If you cannot see the exhaust, this is a sign that there isn’t any unusual activity going on in the engine. This being said, if you can’t see the exhaust but you can smell it in the passenger cabin, your exhaust system may be leaking or clogged. Bring your vehicle to our shop right away if this is the case.
Black
If you do see black exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe, your engine is burning away excess fuel. This can be a sign that the fuel injectors are leaking or that you have a more severe fuel leak somewhere else in the engine. It’s important that you avoid driving your automobile if it is releasing black exhaust. A fuel leak can start an engine fire or cause sparks or flames to come out of the exhaust pipe. This can make driving your automobile dangerous.
Blue
If you see blue exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe, the engine is burning away the motor oil. This can create a serious condition in your engine that can damage it severely. The oil is leaking into the cylinder block and being burned by the engine’s combustion. This means that you do not have oil circulating through the engine. This can cause your engine to seize up and fail within 30 minutes. Have your vehicle towed to our shop if it is releasing blue exhaust.
White
Finally, you also should not see white exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe. This is a sign that the engine is burning coolant. You may have a cracked head gasket that is causing the pressurized coolant to spray all over the engine. Aside from the white exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe, you may also see white steam wafting from underneath the hood. In addition, your engine will most likely overheat.
Call New Castle Auto Repair in New Castle, PA, today if you can see your vehicle’s exhaust. We will find the fluid leak and fix it.