The exhaust blowing out of your car’s tailpipe gives you clues regarding possible problems. Some are benign while others are serious. The latter can become much worse – and more expensive to repair – if the underlying issue is allowed to persist.

Unfortunately, most drivers are unfamiliar with their vehicles. They may notice exhaust coming from the tailpipe, but lack the knowledge to determine the reason. Hoping it will resolve itself on its own (these problems rarely do), they continue driving their car as the problem worsens.

White smoke is seldom an issue. It’s usually caused by condensation in the tailpipe, and dissipates after you’ve driven your car awhile. Occasionally, it is caused by moisture or coolant in the cylinders. This may indicate a broken head gasket, which should be fixed as soon as possible.

Black smoke means that excess fuel is going into the cylinders, and not being burned efficiently. While this is a problem, it’s less serious than white (potentially) or blue smoke. We’ll focus specifically on blue smoke below. I’ll explain the most common reasons it appears and describe how to resolve the problem.

What Causes Blue Smoke?

If you see blue smoke coming from your car’s tailpipe, it’s an indication that motor oil is somehow gaining access to the cylinders. During the ignition phase of your engine’s 4-stroke cycle, the oil is burned along with the fuel. This produces blue smoke.

Identifying the root cause of the issue begins with figuring out how the oil got into the cylinder in the first place. Besides the head gasket, there are several other gaskets and rings that create a seal around each combustion chamber. Blue smoke means one of these seals has failed. The cost to repair the problem depends on which seal is affected.

With older vehicles, the issue can often be traced to one of the piston rings. This may be a signal that the engine itself is on its last legs, and will need to be replaced in the near future. It’s important to have the broken seal fixed quickly. As it continues to deteriorate, more oil will gain access to the cylinder. This will foul the cylinder’s spark plug and eventually lead to a misfire.

Having The Problem Fixed

If the oil leak is due to a failing seal around one of the valve stems, it can usually be replaced without extensive work. This means you can avoid the high hourly cost of labor. If, however, the leak is due to a piston ring, the mechanic will usually need to remove the engine in order to replace the seal. The job requires significant time to complete and therefore, will be costly.

An older vehicle with a high-mileage engine may not justify the cost of replacing a piston ring. In such a case, if you enjoy driving your car, consider having a replacement engine installed. Otherwise, your best option might be to retire the vehicle and buy a new one.

The Importance Of Ongoing Maintenance

Maintaining your car helps preserve the life of your engine. This is the reason your owner’s manual recommends changing the oil every 5,000 miles (check your manual to find the exact interval). Oil provides lubrication for the engine’s moving parts, which helps control heat and friction that would otherwise tear the assembly apart.

Oil changes by themselves will not prevent seals from eventually deteriorating and causing blue smoke to come from your car’s tailpipe. However, auto technicians agree that engines that have been well-maintained are less likely to develop these type of problems. Make sure you’re changing the oil on a regular basis. If you notice smoke coming from the exhaust – regardless of color – have a mechanic inspect your vehicle and resolve the problem. Doing so can help keep your engine and your car on the road years longer.

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Category: Automotive
Keywords: cars, automobiles, vehicles