Did you know that one gauge of your vehicle’s health is its exhaust? This is why failing an emissions test can point to problems of which you were otherwise unaware. Your vehicle should never release excess exhaust out of the tailpipe. If it does, Trojan Auto Care advises that there is something seriously wrong with the engine. The color of the exhaust that is flowing out of your tailpipe will point to specific problems. Specifically, the color points to the fuel that is hemorrhaging in the engine.
Black
For example, black exhaust smoke pouring out of your tailpipe is an indication that the engine is burning too much fuel. In other words, you have a fuel leak somewhere and this excess fuel is making its way into the combustion chamber. Alongside the black exhaust, you might also see flames or sparks coming out of your tailpipe in severe cases. Anytime your engine is burning excess fuel, it can be dangerous to drive your car, truck, or utility vehicle.
Blue
It’s also a bad idea to drive your automobile if it is releasing excessive amounts of blue or gray exhaust. This is an indication that the engine is hemorrhaging motor oil. Naturally, if the motor oil is leaking severely, it is not circulating through the engine to protect it and keep it cool. Consequently, continuing to drive your automobile can damage the engine severely. In fact, if there is no oil in the engine because it is being burned away, your engine could die completely.
White
White exhaust points to a problem with the cooling system. When coolant burns, it releases white exhaust out of the tailpipe and white smoke from underneath your hood. Coolant will be burned by the engine if it is spraying out of a cracked head gasket. It can also flow out of the cooling system if you have a severe leak, such as a corroded radiator bottom. Driving your automobile when it is burning coolant will cause the engine to overheat and damage it.
Clear
If you cannot see any exhaust flowing out of your tailpipe, this is an indication that everything is okay. As you know, you generally do not see exhaust coming out of the tailpipe. The only thing you might see is steam when the weather is cold outside. Another indication that everything is okay with your vehicle’s exhaust is if your vehicle passes an emissions test as we said above.
Trojan Auto Care in Troy, OH, can help you if your vehicle is releasing too much exhaust. Call us today to set up an appointment.
