Smoke Signals: What does Excessive Exhaust Mean?

In most newer cars you can barely see, if at all, the exhaust that exits the tailpipe. This is a sign of a healthy engine and exhaust system. If you begin to experience excessive amounts of smoke coming from the rear of your car or truck you can be sure that there is some sort of issue within your engine that is causing this, and it likely needs to be repaired quickly to avoid major engine damage. Depending on the color of the smoke you can generally diagnose what the problem may be that’s creating the large amounts of hazardous pollution.

Black Smoke
If your car is spitting out clouds of black smoke as you cruise down the highway it generally means that your car is burning too much gasoline. This can be caused by a variety of issues. Even a clogged air filter may cause your car to run rich (the burning of excessive fuel) because a proper air/fuel mixture can’t be created. However other problems include a faulty mass air flow sensor or oxygen sensor or a malfunctioning fuel injection unit. To have this problem properly identified be sure to head to the auto repair shop right away, as the black smoke is definitely causing your car’s fuel efficiency to drop drastically.

White Smoke
Thick clouds of puffy white smoke are often caused by a coolant leak within the engine. If coolant is being burned in the combustion chamber it means that the cooling system is not going to be able to properly do its job for long. A malfunctioning or leaking cooling system will lead to your vehicle overheating, which can cause a wide array of engine problems including blown head gaskets.

Blue Smoke
If you experience blue smoke coming out of your tailpipe this means that there is an internal engine oil leak that is allowing oil to be burnt up. If oil is burned away it will cause your engine to be improperly lubricated allowing for excessive metal on metal friction that can result in premature wear and tear of the motor’s moving parts. This will definitely lead to a need for major auto repair and perhaps even an engine rebuild or replacement.

It is important to pay attention to the signs of trouble that your car gives you, in this case by using smoke signals. If your car is suffering from large clouds of exhaust it more than likely needs some sort of engine diagnostics. For engine repair in Gretna bring your vehicle to West Transmissions Total Auto Care. Our team of skilled mechanics will be able to quickly diagnose the problem and have you on your way in no time! As a full service auto repair and transmission service specialist you can count on us to take great care of your import or domestic vehicle. Call West Transmissions at 504-362-6947 to schedule an appointment for affordable auto repair in Gretna today!

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