DIAGNOSING DIFFERENT EXHAUST COLORS

By: Carters Towing

The strange exhaust coming out of your vehicle is an alarming matter – and drivers usually panic about sudden accidents when they see this. It’s important to be educated and understand that different exhaust colors may mean different things.

Black Exhaust

The black exhaust isn’t as dangerous as grey exhaust, and it can indicate a broken fuel injection system, a clogged air filter, or an impacted manifold. This usually indicated the car is likely burning more fuel than is typically needed.

Blue Exhaust

Blue / grey exhaust color isn’t commonly seen – and it indicates an oil leaking problem. It occurs when oil goes into a car’s combustion chamber and mixes with the fuel. This often happens when an engine’s power input is changed, which can stress out piston rings and cause oil leaks. Blue exhaust oil leaks can also be caused by worn-down cylinder walls or valve seals. Piston ring issues are often indicated by blue exhaust when accelerating. When blueish smoke is emitted when slowing down, it’s likely due to valve guide seals. 

Grey Exhaust

Grey exhaust is a bad sign; it’s often caused by a leaking head gasket, cracking cylinder heads, or broken engine blocks. This can result in a gasket leaking, allowing the engine coolant to enter a combustion chamber and burn up – which drains all coolant, making it super easy for engines to overheat. Any cylinder head or engine block damage needs to be handled ASAP to ensure safety.

White Exhaust

The white exhaust is the safest exhaust color to see – and it’s often seen on cold days when vapor is caused by the joining of two different temperatures. If white exhaust continues after your vehicle has warmed up, it can indicate an issue with fuel pumping injection, coolant leaks, or a few other issues.

If your car is persistently experiencing black, grey, blue – and even white – exhaust, we recommend having it towed by professional towing technicians to a mechanic for an inspection.

Carter's Towing and Recovery strongly encourages you to always drive safely and to always be prepared. When and if you find yourself in need of help with your vehicle, please keep Carter's Towing and Recovery in mind for all your roadside assistance needs.

We are available 24 hours a day with two convenient locations in Marion County, Fl.

We offer fast, friendly, & reliable service. Please call us at 352.245.3123, visit us online

@ carterstowingocala.com, or stop in and see us at: 4125 NE Jacksonville Rd, Ocala, FL 34479 or 8611 SE 126th Pl, Belleview, FL