Normally, you shouldn’t see any exhaust coming out of the tailpipe of your European automobile. You may see a few puffs of black smoke if you drive a diesel engine, but other than that, you shouldn’t see anything. This is why the color of the exhaust matters. If you see excess exhaust pouring out of the tailpipe, RB Auto Service advises that there is something going on with the engine that needs immediate attention. The color of the exhaust will give us a starting point to determine what the problem is.
Black
For example, black exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe is an indication that your engine is burning off excess diesel fuel or gasoline. The fuel could be leaking from the fuel injectors, the fuel hoses, or from another area inside the engine. The combustion chamber may also have too much fuel in it if the mass airflow sensor or the oxygen sensor is malfunctioning. Regardless of the problem, it’s important to stop the engine from burning away the excess fuel. Otherwise, you may end up with an engine fire.
Blue
Generally speaking, excess blue exhaust is a sign of engine death. This means that oil is hemorrhaging from somewhere inside the engine and is being burned away. Naturally, an engine without motor oil will die quickly; sometimes as soon as 30 minutes or less. One of the most common ways that an engine will burn oil is if you have a cracked engine gasket. This releases oil into the combustion chamber where it is burned away and, as a result, you end up with blue exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe.
White
Finally, excess white exhaust flowing out of your European automobile’s tailpipe is an indication that the engine is hemorrhaging coolant. You may also end up with white steam pouring out from underneath the hood. This can be caused by a cracked head gasket or a serious leak in the cooling system. Regardless, driving with white exhaust flowing out of the tailpipe is going to lead to an overheated engine because the engine does not have enough coolant circulating through it. This can damage your engine severely if you push it. Pull over and call for a tow truck to our shop.
No matter the color of your excess exhaust, RB Auto Service in Pinellas Park, FL, has your European automobile covered. We’d be happy to inspect the engine to find out which fluid is hemorrhaging and causing excess black, blue, or white exhaust.