You rarely think about vehicle exhaust because you rarely see it. This is the way it should be. Even if you drive an automobile that has a diesel engine, you should never see excess exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe. Benton Road Auto Repair advises that any time your automobile releases excess exhaust, this is a sign that you have something very serious going on in the engine. In fact, if you keep driving your automobile, you could damage the engine beyond repair. Let’s talk about the different colors of vehicle exhaust below and what they mean.
Black Vehicle Exhaust
When your vehicle releases a ton of black exhaust, this is a sign that there is a fuel leak in the engine and the engine is burning away the excess fuel that is flooding it. In fact, in serious cases, you may even see sparks or flames mixed in with the exhaust. Obviously, a fuel leak can be very serious because you run the risk of starting an engine fire if you keep driving your automobile. It’s important to stop driving your vehicle if you see a ton of black exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe.
Blue Vehicle Exhaust
The same is true if you see blue or bluish-gray vehicle exhaust. Burning oil is the automotive fluid that causes this exhaust color. Generally, this is a sign that your engine gasket has cracked. A cracked engine gasket can cause serious damage to the cylinder block including flooding it with oil. As the oil burns away inside of the cylinders, it creates the blue exhaust you see flowing out of the tailpipe. The oil leaking out of the engine gasket can also cause serious damage because your engine will no longer have oil circulating through it to protect it and keep it cool.
White Vehicle Exhaust
Finally, white vehicle exhaust is an indication that your engine is burning the engine coolant that is circulating through it. This can be caused by a cracked head gasket. When the head gasket cracks, the coolant spurts out from underneath it. As the coolant meets the hot engine parts, it burns away. When this is the case, you may also see white smoke coming out from underneath your hood. Unfortunately, as with the motor oil, the more the coolant leaks out of the cooling system the more your engine will overheat. Stop driving your automobile right away.
Benton Road Auto Repair in Bossier City, LA, would be happy to inspect your engine to find out why it is releasing excess exhaust through the tailpipe. Call us today for an appointment.
