Have you ever seen white smoke from the exhaust of your car? This can be a harmless phenomenon, but it can also be a “call for help” from your car to you. In this article, I will explain why it happens, what causes it, and how to fix it.
Before car exhaust escapes from the exhaust pipe, the exhaust has to pass through a part of the car called the catalytic converter. This exhaust filter filters and decomposes harmful substances in the exhaust gas such as CO, NOx, and HC, preventing these toxins from being released into the environment. Exhaust gas when going out has become CO2, H2O, and N2, meaning you will not be able to see the color of the exhaust.
Light Wisp Of White Smoke
When it is only a thin white smoke coming out, this is normal and nothing to worry about. If your car is new, it is possible that the preserving oil in the exhaust pipe is heated and produces white smoke. This proves that your new car is operating normally.
In the other cases, it may be the water condenses in your exhaust pipe. This usually happens in cold weather. You should not only drive a short distance but run until the water has completely evaporated. If not, you may leave the water to accumulate in the vehicle and cause rust to the vehicle’s components.
White Smoke With Sweet Smell
One of the most common reasons for white smoke from the exhaust is coolant leaking into the engine. Some of the reasons for this are blown head gasket, cracked cylinder head, cracked engine block,… Just a small crack is enough for the coolant to flow into the oil or burn in the combustion chamber. White smoke may come with a distinctive sweet smell. In the worst case, if your engine block is cracked, you will have to replace the engine block. This requires the intervention of a professional.
The reason for this damage is that the engine is not well-cooled and overheated. Maybe the fan is broken or you leave the coolant level too low, or too dirty, resulting in ineffective cooling. You can check to see if the coolant level in the car is low or not. Then find if there is any leakage. If not, there is a possibility that a problem happened inside your engine block, then you should take the car to check and repair as soon as possible.
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White Smoke With Gray Tint
A fuel injector is responsible for injecting just the right amount of fuel into the combustion chamber, at the right time. When the fuel injector malfunctions, too much fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and cannot be burned out completely. Excess fuel will be pushed out with exhaust, looking like thick gray-tinted white smoke. In more severe cases, the smoke can turn dark gray or black.
Fuel injector problems are usually caused by contaminated fuel. At this point, you should take the car to the repair place for the best treatment. You should also pay attention to and replace the fuel filter according to the recommended date by the manufacturer to avoid this happening.
White Smoke With Blue Tint
Too much oil in the engine is also not a good thing because it can cause oil to leak into the combustion chamber. Oil will be burned with air and fuel and emits blue or blue-tinted white smoke, but it is easy to mistake it for white. You should notice whether the amount of oil consumed is too much, or if the engine is misfired.
The cause for this is leaky piston rings or valve seals. This causes the amount of oil in your car to be too low because of fast consumption. Continuing to drive in such a condition will cause wear and damage to the engine, which is much more serious and costs you a lot more to fix.
Conclusion
To ensure that the above problems do not happen to you, you should keep in mind the time and instructions to change your car fluids. The problem usually occurs when you let these fluid levels get too low or too dirty, causing serious damage to the machine. And remember to get your car serviced on time to save your money and time on repairs. Visit Car Repair to see more ways to ensure the “health” of your car.
