Yes, you should be worried if your car, truck, or utility vehicle is releasing a ton of exhaust out of the tailpipe. Village Autoworks advises that this is a sign of a serious fluid leak in the engine. The exhaust is being created by the burning fluid. We are going to talk about the different colors of vehicle exhaust below and what they mean. No matter the color, it is not a good idea to drive your automobile if the tailpipe has suddenly become a smokestack. Driving the vehicle can be dangerous and cause further damage to the engine.
Black Exhaust
Black exhaust is a sign that the engine is burning off excess fuel. Naturally, driving your automobile when it is leaking fuel can be very dangerous. Unfortunately, operating the vehicle could cause an engine fire. In the case of serious fuel leaks, there have been reports of sparks or flames coming out of the tailpipe with the black exhaust.
Blue Exhaust
Blue exhaust is a sign that the engine is burning off excess oil. The problem could be that you have a cracked head gasket and oil is leaking into the cylinders. The cylinders are where engine combustion happens, and the oil will be burned with the air and fuel. This will create blue or gray exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe. Continuing to drive your automobile can seriously damage the engine. The oil leak will reduce the oil circulating through it.
White Exhaust
White exhaust is a sign that the engine is burning off excess coolant. You may also see steam floating out from underneath the hood. Naturally, if you have a serious coolant leak, your engine will overheat every time you drive your automobile. The white exhaust is a sign that you have a cracked head gasket and coolant is hemorrhaging into the engine.
Clear Exhaust
If you don’t see anything coming out of your tailpipe, this is normal. Of course, you will see steam coming out of the tailpipe when the weather is cold outside. Other than that, you shouldn’t see your vehicle’s exhaust. This is what can make it dangerous. If you have a clogged exhaust system, you may have exhaust coming into the passenger cabin without knowing it. If you smell anything strange at all, bring your vehicle to our shop right away.
Village Autoworks in Woodbury or Roseville, MN, is here to help, so give us a call today.