A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

Every time I get off the highway, some white smoke comes from the motor and smells like burning oil. It's not a lot of smoke but still a noticeable amount. My car has very low mileage for the age. I recently had my oil changed but it still continues to do so. No warning lights have come on my dash and all gauges are fine. But it still concerns me. What are the possibilities of the problem and what is the estimate to get it fixed price wise?

My car has 67554 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :

Hi there. It sounds like you may have an oil leak(s). The smoke and smell you are experiencing is the oil being burned off by the engine and exhaust heat. The source of the leak may be slightly difficult to pinpoint if it has been going on for a while and may require the experience of a qualified technician. Some of the possibilities are valve cover gaskets, cam seals, crank seals, rear main seal, and so on.

YourMechanic has several technicians that can assist you with an oil leak inspection, and service your valve cover, cam seal, or crank seal as necessary. Upon looking at the vehicle we can provide an accurate estimate and direction of repair.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Oil Spillage and Leakage – If oil spills on the engine, it can burn and send up smoke without there being any overheating. The smoke will be blue or gray. Leaking Coolant – If you see white smoke under the hood, it`s most likely burning coolant that has come into contact with the hot components beneath your hood.

If Your Car Smells Like Acrid Smoke Or Burning Oil

If you notice the smell not long after an oil change, the leak might be caused by a loose drain plug or filter that wasn`t properly attached—or an oil cap that wasn`t screwed on tightly enough.

When this happens, this can be the result of many things such as faulty fuel injectors, a failing mass air flow sensor or a faulty fuel pressure regulator allowing too much fuel to be supplied to the combustion chamber to be burnt.

White Exhaust Smoke

White smoke billowing out of your exhaust means that coolant is likely leaking into the cylinders. This usually happens when there has been a breach in the head gasket, which makes the coolant create this white steam.

White smoke usually means coolant is getting into the combustion chambers of your vehicle. This generally happens because of a cracked or leaking head gasket, which allows coolant to seep into your cylinders. In extreme cases, you will need to replace your head gasket.

If your engine smells of burning or smoke, there are two possible reasons for this: it`s overheating or there`s a problem with the oil. Generally if it`s overheating, you`ll know about it because a warning light should appear on the dashboard.

One of the most common reasons for a smoke smell is an old air conditioning system. Replacing the air filters in your car is good practice in general, especially if you`re smelling an unpleasant odor. You can also replace your car`s ashtray, if it has one.

White smoke from your exhaust almost always indicates a blown head gasket, and just like there is coolant mixed with your engine oil, there will also be engine oil mixed with your coolant.

Smoke often leaves car engines as a result of overheating. This can be caused by faulty wire casings, heated residues on the engine block and overheated liquids including oil, transmission fluid and brake fluid. There may also be a fault in your coolant system, or your engine may not have enough lubricant.

Faulty fuel injector: Another possible cause of excessive white smoke from the exhaust pipe is a bad fuel injector. The injector can leak or become stuck open and deliver too much liquid fuel into the combustion chamber. The excess fuel causes thick white smoke to be produced and released from the exhaust pipe.

White Smoke

It usually means that coolant is being burned in the engine, which means that something is drastically wrong. The most common cause of this is a blown head gasket, which can quickly lead to an overheating engine.

The symptoms of too much car oil

If it is overfilled, the following may occur: Dense white smoke – If you drive your car and see plenty of thick, white exhaust smoke, excess oil may be burning within the engine block, although fluids such as antifreeze may also be the culprit.

One possible reason for white smoke coming from your car`s exhaust is that the engine is burning oil. This can happen if the oil level in the engine is low or if the oil seal is leaking.

white smoke Definitions and Synonyms

noun. DEFINITIONS1. 1. a sign that something has been agreed; from the process of a choosing a new Pope when white smoke coming from a chimney on the Vatican roof shows that one has been chosen. We have finally seen white smoke in the leadership election.

SHOULD MY EXHAUST SMOKE BE WHITE? In general, thin white exhaust smoke (similar to water vapor) could be nothing to worry about. Depending on the outside temperature, condensation will build up inside of your car`s exhaust system and the heat heading through the pipes will create steam.

Sign #2: You Can See (And Smell) Engine Exhaust

So if you see anything that looks like smoke, it could be a sign that the oil is old (if it`s not a sign of a major mechanical fault like a cracked head gasket). Ditto for if you can smell any hint of burning oil in your exhaust.

White smoke most likely would indicate that water or coolant is getting into the combustion chamber or exhaust port. This can occur if coolant is leaking into the head. It could also be as simple as water entering the exhaust or carburetor after the engine was pressure-washed.

Generally speaking, burnt oil will have a thick, acrid odor. Its unpleasantness will stand out during your drive, and more often than not, you won`t be able to overlook its presence. When this happens, you should safely pull over to examine your engine and check for the cause of the foul smell.

If the smoke is from engine oil dripping onto a hot exhaust manifold, you could end up with an engine fire. Smoke is serious so the bottom line is unless you know exactly why it`s smoking there is no other prudent course but to just not drive the vehicle until it`s repaired.

The radiator prevents overheating by cooling the fluid that flows around the engine block to dissipates the engine`s heat. When you see smoke coming from the radiator, it is an indicator that the radiator has not been able to do this job and the car is overheating as a result.

Yes, it can, in more than one way: A direct leak at the cap from a bad pressure seal. A failure of the cap to build the right pressure, causing some steam off of the coolant. A failure of the secondary (low pressure) seal at the cap, causing coolant to “siphon” out of the reservoir.

Oil Leaks. Using synthetic oil in the wrong engine can cause gaskets and seals to leak. Oil leaks accumulating under the car and white smoke coming from the exhaust could be signs that you`ve used the wrong oil.

A Faulty Fuel Injector

This means too much fuel in the engine that needs to burn off and be expelled. This is seen as gray or white smoke from the exhaust. This is quite a common problem and, thankfully, is an easy fix.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

ANSWER : Hi there. It sounds like you may have an oil leak(s). The smoke and smell you are experiencing is the oil being burned off by the engine and exhaust heat. The source of the leak may be slightly difficult to pinpoint if it has been going on for a while and may require the experience of a qualified technician. Some of the possibilities are valve cover gaskets, cam seals, crank seals, rear main seal, and so on.

Read Full Q/A … : A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

Just found out that my vehicle has been leaking oil for at least 2 yrs. Would smelling that burning oil smell cause health issues?

ANSWER : Hi Larry. As the co-founder or a non-profit that focuses on education, awareness and screening for respiratory diseases targeting the automotive community, I am happy to answer a few questions for you to clear up some facts. First, there are multiple materials, chemicals, and substances on a vehicle that are emitted from the mechanical actions of the vehicle that MIGHT reduce respiratory function and lead to a diagnosis of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or other respiratory diseases. However, it is nearly impossible to prove the precise source that can cause respiratory problems. Whether due to excessive exposure to these substances, social choices (smoking), workplace environment, indoor air quality in the home, even certain genetic conditions, it is possible for lung function to decrease over time. At Right2Breathe.org, we always recommend that anyone that is experiencing any breathing issues, visits their primary care physician and have them complete a spirometry exam (a non-evasive breathing test). This will allow them to measure your lung’s function and begin the official diagnosis process. Thank you very much for asking this important question. Feel free to contact us if you have further questions.

Read Full Q/A … : A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

Oil was leaking, put in over 4 qts of oil and oil leak stopper. White smoke coming tailpipe,engine shakes, car dies. Oil leaking.

ANSWER : Oil additives are not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer for any reason. Additives that purport to resolve oil leaks are useless, a waste of your money, and may result in engine damage. Every vehicle manufacturer strongly recommends against use of these materials. There is only one recommended and approved repair strategy when it comes to oil leaks: fix the leak.

You can only add the manufacturer specified amount of oil to an engine. If you add too much oil, or too little oil, that will cause engine damage. You should check the engine oil dipstick to determine if there is presently too much oil in the engine. If there is too much, the excess will have to be removed to prevent engine damage.

The leak that you are referring to can be repaired if you request an oil leak diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns as you decide what to do, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you get the best possible results.

Read Full Q/A … : A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

I have white milk coming out of my exhaust pipe but I don’t see it mixing in my oil pan when I check my oil

ANSWER : In most cases, the white smoke is an indicator of coolant finding a way into the combustion chamber. This could happen through a damaged head gasket or a crack in the cylinder head or engine block. Most of the time, this would also be followed by milky oil or overheating problems. However, it could also be a problem with the EGR system, or an extremely rich fuel trim. The best thing to do is have a professional mobile mechanic complete a smoke coming from exhaust inspection, so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend a repair.

Read Full Q/A … : A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

Burning engine oil and have gray smoke coming from below the engine and the tailpipe.

ANSWER : Hi there. If you are getting gray smoke from under the vehicle and in the engine compartment, then there is an external oil leak. The oil is leaking onto the exhaust pipe and then burning off. This is why you are not seeing any oil on the ground. As for the engine smoking some oil, then the valve guide seals on the cylinder heads are possibly leaking causing oil to enter the combustion chamber through the intake valves.. Another way that the engine could be getting oil into the combustion is having a positive crankcase ventilation valve (PCV valve) being stuck causing oil to enter the intake system. To check this, check the intake tubing and see if there is any oil present. If there is oil present, then I recommend replacing the PCV valve to prevent any oil from going into the combustion chamber. The external oil leaks could be, a leaking front engine seal, a leaking rear main seal, a loose oil filter, oil cooler lines could be split or loose, or a valve cover gasket could be leaking. If you need further assistance with your engine using a lot of engine oil, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Read Full Q/A … : A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

I have oil smoking out of my oil dip stick and oil filler on my valve cover. Lots of smoke coming out of my PCV valve

ANSWER : Hey there. Worn piston rings create more crankcase fumes (i.e. the smoke you see coming out of breather tubes and orifices). This is called "blow-by". As long as the PCV valve stays clear, and the engine can handle the fume/clean air & fuel mix, then you should be fine.

This is a normal stage of wear as long as tailpipe blue smoke doesn’t become excessive or offensive. The rough running at a stop light may be an early indication of too much blow-by, although those 6 cylinders engines had trouble with rough idle/low speed because of the big differences in the distance between the carb and each cylinder (Cyl 1 & 6 distant, cyl 3 & 4 very close). Keep it tuned, and watch for slow degradation in low-speed running. If you notice this problem worsen or would like to have this checked, then have a qualified professional from YourMechanic come to your car’s location to inspect the smoking problem and follow through with repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

Smoke coming out of car and oil level is low

ANSWER : Hello. These are symptoms that you definitely don’t want to hear. You are correct, don’t start the engine, or drive the vehicle until you are able to get this fixed. Determine where the oil was pouring out (oil drain plug fell out, new oil filter was loose, and let oil under pressure escape, etc.) and correct the fault. Get the correct amount of oil back in the engine. Certainly, engine damage may have been done. I would recommend having an oil is low inspection completed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic. They will be able to diagnose the car in person and proceed with the appropriate fix.

Read Full Q/A … : A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.

Low oil pressure light comes on when idle. Check engine light is on as well. Both came on after getting an oil change 3 days ago.

ANSWER : It is possible that they put in the wrong viscosity oil. In rare instances, a defective filter will also cause low pressure. If there is too much oil, it will aerate and cause low pressure. Be sure the oil level is really not above "max". The P2187 code will appear if the oil fill cap is not tight but it will also appear due to a myriad of causes because that code only "generally" identifies a lean running condition. Consequently, numerous parts would have to be tested including the O2 sensor, gas cap seal, manifold air leaks, any vacuum leak anywhere including PCV and EVAP systems, exhaust leaks, and fuel system faults such as failing fuel pump, clogged filter and more. Since the car has relatively low mileage, you would not expect a failed oil pump, although the pressure sensor (or switch) could be bad. However, the occurrence of the oil pressure warning light is quite coincidental to the oil change, thus I would suggest bringing the car back and asking them to redo with a new filter and double check the viscosity of the new oil that they use. If the problem persists after that, you will have to test actual operating oil pressure (at idle for instance) as well as the oil pressure switch. Finally, if the oil pressure warning light comes on continuously, unless the warning circuit itself is malfunctioning, that means the oil pressure is too low to operate the engine without damaging it. Anytime the light comes on for more than literally an instant, you should shut down the car and thus an issue like this obviously has to be repaired.

If you’d like, a YourMechanic certified mechanic can come to your home or place of business to inspect the vehicle and perform an oil pressure light is on inspection to diagnose the vehicle and suggest potential repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : A little bit of white smoke comes from the motor when I get off the highway and come to a complete stop. It smells like burning oil.