Nobody wants their car to break down. To keep your vehicle running well, you need to provide it with regular service. Have the oil changed a few times per year, rotate the tires, and check and replace the brakes as needed. A good auto care service will take care of all these maintenance tasks for you. However, you may still want to know more about the processes they follow, when service is needed, and what other types of services may help your car last longer. We've build this website for people like you — responsible car owners who just want to learn more. Enjoy!
After starting your car or even while driving down the road, you may have noticed that some smoke has started to roll out from under your vehicle's hood. While you most likely know that smoke is never a good thing, you may wonder what the problem could be with your engine that is causing it. If so, below are a couple of things that the color of the smoke can tell you about the source causing the problem.
1. Bluish-black Smoke Indicates a Possible Oil Leak
If you notice that the smoke is mostly black but seems to have a bluish tint to it, this color usually indicates that you may have a possible oil leak somewhere within your car's engine. Normally, the oil does is kept in a closed system that does not allow its entry into the combustion chamber.
However, if the oil starts to leak into the engine, it is ignited along with the gasoline. When this happens, the exhaust takes on a bluish-black hue. You may also see this color of smoke coming from your car's exhaust.
Within the engine, there may be a broken oil line or the block next to the reservoir may be cracked. Either way, this issue needs to be fixed before the oil gums up the interior parts of the engine, such as the pistons and heads.
2. White Smoke Can Mean Engine Contamination by Coolant
Another possible color you may see when smoke starts coming out from under the hood is white. If you see white smoke, this is usually indicative of coolant contamination inside of the engine block. This issue is usually caused by a worn head gasket or cracked headers.
When coolant enters into the engine, it can cause rapid corrosion of its interior. However, this deterioration may never occur, since the cause may cause your car to lose power and completely break down. It may also seize up the engine, requiring that it be completely replaced.
If you see white smoke, check the consistency of your oil. If it looks frothy like a milkshake, there is a coolant leak inside of the engine, and you need to have your car examined as soon as possible before irreparable damage is caused.
Whatever the color, if smoke is coming out from under your car's hood, it means that there could be a serious issue with your engine that should not be ignored. Stop driving your car, and take it to an auto repair service so that they can diagnose the problem. They will be able to determine what the next course of action should be so they can fix any issues that they find.
Share7 January 2020
