Hi, thanks for writing in. It all depends where the smoke is coming from. If it is from the exhaust then your engine be running rich and starting to foul out the spark plugs. Have the computer tested to see if any codes are present that could indicate what is causing the smoke. If you see smoke from the engine compartment then you may be running the engine hot due to low airflow over the radiator. Have the cooling fan checked to make sure it is running. If it is running and the vehicle has the AC running and the blower is on or near high then you may be using more energy than the alternator can keep up with. This can cause the radiator fan to not turn as fast as it should and let the temperature to rise if idled for long periods. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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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.
White smoke from the exhaust: This could be steam caused by condensation in the exhaust pipe or a more serious issue caused by an engine coolant leak. Excessive amounts of white smoke could indicate head gasket failure.
Wispy White “Smoke” When You Start Your Car
Starting your car will warm that condensation, turning it into steam. As the exhaust system warms up, the condensation will disappear, and the white steam along with it.
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.
It`s normal to see a small puff of white smoke coming from your tailpipe when starting your car after it sits overnight — it`s only water vapor. You may also see steam rising from under the hood on a rainy day as water burns off the radiator or exhaust.
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.
Black exhaust smoke
“When your exhaust pipe gives off black smoke, one of the things to get worried about are bad or worn out spark plugs. It means fuel burning in the combustion chamber is not being done 100 percent or burnt fully. It also means that air is not being well mixed with fuel to burn effectively.
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.
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.
Low coolant can sometimes cause a head gasket on your engine block to blow. If this happens, you may notice smoke emitting from the engine or tailpipe, a loss of power, engine knocking sounds, or decreased efficiency.
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.
That said, a severely overheating engine can cause the cylinder walls or the pistons themselves to warp, bend and deform. This will cause the perfect seal between the piston and the rest of the engine to lose integrity. Oil could be forced past the piston rings and into the engine, where it will burn the oil.
Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn`t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions.
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.
White Smoke Coming From Exhaust: Explained
White smoke from your exhaust means coolant is exposed to your engine`s combustion process. In most cases, this is the result of a blown head gasket, but a cracked engine block or cylinder head could also be the cause.
White Smoke
In extreme cases, you will need to replace your head gasket. At the first sign of white smoke you can try head gasket repair treatment to seal the leak before you do serious damage to your engine.
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.
If your vehicle`s engine overheats, it could be due to failing spark plugs. Overheating can happen for a number of reasons that can cause your engine to be too hot. This can harm your engine parts and lead to expensive repairs down the line.
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.
Blue Exhaust Smoke
If you are noticing blue smoke from the exhaust, it means your engine is burning oil due to an oil leak. This symptom could be the result of a leaking valve seal or a problem with a piston ring.
Blue smoke from the exhaust: Bluish smoke can indicate your car is burning oil during the combustion cycle. Burning oil smell: A thick burning oil smell could mean oil is seeping onto hot engine parts. Frequent low oil light warnings: Regular low oil warnings can indicate excessive oil consumption or a car burning oil.
If you notice that your engine overheats, the coolant temperature sensor could be the problem. At times, the coolant temperature switch may fail such that it starts transmitting hot signals permanently. This causes the computer to erroneously counterbalance the signal, thereby causing the engine to misfire or overheat.
Engine Could Overheat
When you don`t have enough coolant in your car, it could lead to your engine overheating. The coolant has a very important role in cooling your engine down, and when it doesn`t or can`t cool your engine down, it could seize.
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.