What do different coloured exhaust smoke mean?
Normally, your exhaust should be quietly pumping out gases from the rear of your vehicle. If you find that the exhaust pipe is emitting smoke, then it could indicate an issue with your car or van. Our guide covers the different colours of smoke from your exhaust and what they could mean.
What to look out for with a smoky car exhaust
Exhausts can tell you a lot about the health of your vehicle's engine system. The exhaust is responsible for removing all the burnt gases and particulate matter out of the engine safely. Knowing what's coming out of the exhaust pipe can help you identify what's going on inside your vehicle.
White smoke
If your exhaust is emitting white smoke, this can signal a few things. This could be caused by steam being created by the exhaust pipe or there is a more serious issue, such as an engine coolant leak. An excessive amount of white smoke coming from your exhaust could indicate a blown head gasket. Therefore, it's worth using our major repairs service, where our expert staff can replace the head gasket, alongside other damage that may affect your vehicle's engine.
Blue smoke
Blue smoke that's generated from your exhaust is caused by some oil being burned in the engine system. The shade of blue smoke can vary in terms of how severe the issue is. The lighter the blue smoke, the less oil that's likely to be burned in the vehicle. Dark blue smoke could indicate worn or damaged piston rings, which you may need to visit your local Setyres car service centre to get your vehicle serviced.
Grey smoke
Exhaust smoke that has a grey colour is very similar to blue smoke, signalling that the engine is burning oil. There could be excess oil in the engine, a malfunctioning PCV valve or a transmission fluid leak, commonly found in vehicles with an automatic gearbox. If you find that there's an exhaust issue emerging in your car, bring your car to your local garage for a car diagnostics check where we can diagnose and fix the issue immediately.
Black smoke
Black smoke coming out of your vehicle's exhaust can be caused by the engine burning too much fuel or the air filter being clogged.
It can also be caused by a build-up of soot or the particulate filter cleaning itself, which is likely to happen with diesel vehicles. With petrol vehicles, black smoke could lead to issues with the fuel injectors or the air intake line.
If you spot any black smoke coming from your vehicle, you should get your exhaust checked immediately. We recommend booking a full car service so that we can not only replace the air filters inside your vehicle, but also change your engine oil too.
If you're concerned with the smoke being emitted from your vehicle's exhaust, we recommend getting a free exhaust check. We can assess your exhaust to immediately identify, correct and eliminate the issue.
For any concerns with the colour of your exhaust smoke, discover our exhaust replacement service. Alternatively, contact our friendly team for more information or visit your local Setyres garage today.
Posted on: 22/02/2024
