Like a patient who exhibits certain symptoms when they\u2019re sick, your car has ways of telling you it isn\u2019t well. Although most of the time you need a mechanic\u2019s tool set and know-how to fix the problem, there are a few initial diagnostic tools which come free to everyone: sight, smell, hearing and feel.<\/span><\/p>\n Many underlying engine problems can begin to be solved by making an exhaust smoke color diagnosis. The important thing as a driver is to pay attention to your car\u2019s operation and notice if anything seems off. Excessive exhaust smoke means you have an engine issue on your hands, which could be as simple as changing the<\/span> air filter<\/a><\/strong>, or as big as a crack in the engine block itself.<\/span><\/p>\n Before you go into panic mode, narrow down the problem according to the color of the smoke.<\/span><\/p>\n Black Smoke<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Black smoke is an indication that your air-fuel mixture is running rich. Gas engines are designed to run with just the right combination of fuel and air to create the most efficient conditions for combustion when spark is introduced. When the fuel-air ratio skews to too much air, it is said to be lean. When there is more fuel than is optimal, it is called rich. There are a number of things that could cause this: leaking injectors would introduce too much fuel into the combustion chamber or a dirty\/clogged air filter might not be letting enough air in. Improper ignition timing could mean getting the right amounts of everything, but at the wrong time. You might also have a faulty sensor or bad fuel pressure switch over-pressurizing the fuel system. If this is the case, you might notice the engine running rough, along with poor mileage.<\/span><\/p>\n Blue Smoke<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Blue or grayish smoke means you\u2019re burning oil. Keeping all the quickly moving parts of an engine well oiled is super important, but oil has no place in the combustion chamber, which requires air, fuel and spark only. Oil creeps in as a result of leaking valve seals, excessive clearance around valve guides or \u201cblow-by\u201d caused by worn piston rings or cylinder walls. Aside from problems like poor mileage, acceleration, starting and rough idle, burning oil means you\u2019re losing it, which is never a good thing.<\/span><\/p>\n White Smoke<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Not to be confused with the normal white vapor that disappears quickly under normal conditions due to condensation or on cool morning start ups, heavy white smoke is cause for concern. This means that coolant has made its way into the combustion chamber, and coolant only gets there if you\u2019ve got a bigger problem that should be addressed immediately or you risk<\/span> overheating<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and major engine damage. Best case scenario is a blown<\/span> head gasket<\/a><\/strong>, and while that\u2019s not exactly fun, it doesn\u2019t require major overhaul. Other possible culprits may be a damaged cylinder head (overhaul) or cracked engine block (engine replacement). In any case, if you notice persistent, thick, white smoke out of the tailpipe, stop driving the vehicle and call a mechanic.<\/span><\/p>\n Ultimately, exhaust smoke color diagnosis may not tell you the exact problem, but it can give you a much better idea of what you\u2019re dealing with and whether you could attempt to fix it yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n For more information on exhaust smoke color diagnosis, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local<\/span> NAPA AUTO PARTS store<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n