Audrey's Automotive Blog

Is Your Vehicle's Exhaust Trying to Tell You Something?

31 May 2017

Penny Roberts

More often than not, motorists will seek the services of auto mechanics when their vehicle is completely unroadworthy. What they do not bear in mind that they could avoid the inconvenience of their car being out of commission by simply being in tune with its overall health and discerning the symptoms of an underlying problem.

One of the proactive measures that you can take is by keeping an eye out on the colour of your transmission emissions. A vehicle that is in good working condition should emit barely visible exhaust fumes. If you notice that these emissions have turned colour, it is prudent to visit a mechanic before the problem becomes aggravated. So what are your vehicle's exhaust fumes trying to tell you?

White exhaust emissions

In normal circumstances, exhaust fumes will have a pale white appearance. This white colour stems from condensation in the exhaust pipe, and the wisps of smoke should gradually dissipate as you drive. If you find that your car is constantly emitting white smoke, then it would be indicative of a mechanical problem. Typically, excessive emissions of white smoke would come about due to undetected leakage of the engine coolant. As the coolant makes its way into the combustion chamber, it is burned and releases white smoke. The leak could also stem from defunct head gaskets that would need replacement.

Blue exhaust emissions

Your car will emit blue exhaust fumes from time to time, as this comes about when engine oil is burned. However, the plumes of smoke should be minimal and should not linger for the entire duration that you are driving. If you realise that your exhaust emissions perpetually have a blue hue, it could mean that engine oil is leaking and becoming burnt up as you drive. Oil leaks come about if the seals in your engine have become compromised. As a result, the oil makes its way to the combustion chamber. If this is not addressed, your engine will gradually receive less engine oil than it requires and this poses the risk of insufficient lubrication. Without proper lubrication, the various components of the engine begin to experience friction, and this could lead to complete engine failure. The subsequent friction will also pose the risk of your engine overheating.

It should be noted that the presence of blue exhaust smoke in diesel engines would be indicative of excessive engine oil, which should also be addressed by an auto mechanic.

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