White smoke coming out of the exhaust: What this and other smokes means?

Did you see white smoke coming out of your car exhaust?

If you answered yes, know that this may be a sign of a serious problem that needs to be solved as soon as possible.

Read on and find out how you can correctly assess the color of smoke coming out of your vehicle’s exhaust and what are the main causes of white smoke.

 

How to make the diagnosis of smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe?

The first step for a correct diagnosis of smoke coming out of the exhaust is to identify exactly when it happens.

If smoke appears only when it is accelerating, this may indicate a different problem from the smoke that appears when the car is parked.

After finding out when the smoke is expelled, you need to try to determine what type of smoke it is.

It is really white? Or is it gray? Won’t it have a touch of blue? Do you see black smoke? Does the smoke evaporate in less than 1 minute or does it stay in the air for some time?

The main causes of smoke coming out of the exhaust may vary depending on your car and condition.

The real problem is the lack of maintenance, since the smoke coming out of the exhaust – whether white or other shade – can be a clear sign of serious problems.

The smoke you see can be caused by several factors, depending on the type of engine in your car.

We’ve identified  the different types  of smoke you can find to help  you  quickly recognize the causes of each:

• White smoke. White smoke coming out of the exhaust can be steam caused by condensation in the exhaust pipe or a more serious problem caused by an engine coolant leak. Excessive amounts of white smoke may indicate a failure in the head gasket.   Further down, we talk about all possible causes.
• Blue smoke.  If you see blue smoke coming out of your car, it’s a sign that the oil is being burned. There are several potential causes, the most serious valve seals, piston rings or turbochargers worn out.
• Gray smoke. Gray smoke may indicate excess oil, PCV  valve failure, or transmission fluid spillage in automatic cars.
• Black smoke. This smoke in a car suggests that too much fuel is being burned. This can be a sign of problems with the air filter or fuel injector. In diesel to cars, soot accumulation is more likely to happen. It could also indicates the diesel particulate filter doing an automatic cleaning.

 

Top 6 Reasons Why White Smoke Is Coming Out of the Exhaust Pipe

If you see white smoke coming out of the exhaust of your car, go to an auto workshop you trust.

It is important to solve the problem quickly to not damage the engine or exhaust system

Here are the 6 most common causes for a car to pour white smoke down the exhaust pipe:

1. Condensation

If you notice white smoke coming out of your car, don’t automatically assume the worst. You may not need to worry because it may just be the accumulation of condensation that is causing the smoke.

In these situations, you will usually see white smoke coming out on colder days. In this case, the smoke should only come out in small quantities after starting the engine. After about 30 seconds to a minute, the white smoke should dissipate. If that’s the case, you don’t have to worry.

 

2. Cracked cylinder head

When the cylinder head is cracked or damaged, the refrigerant begins to come out. And it doesn’t have to be a very large fissure. Just a little crack can cause a mixture. As soon as this happens, the oil will become contaminated.

The first sign of oil contamination is white smoke coming out of the exhaust.

 

3. Damaged refrigerant tank

Another area that can leak coolant is the coolant tank. It is not very common, but it can happen if the tank is damaged.

Sometimes this happens if a mechanic is repairing another problem in the vehicle and accidentally damaging the tank.

 

 

4. Spilled oil

If the oil comes out of the piston rings or valve seals, it will naturally flow into the internal combustion chamber and blend with the fuel.

Once mixed, white smoke will begin to come out of the exhaust. You’ll probably see bluish smoke, but it may look like white smoke to some people.

 

5. Fuel injector problems

The fuel injector is responsible for injecting fuel into the internal combustion chamber at the right time.

If you have a fuel injector in poor condition, white smoke will come out of the exhaust because the proper amount of fuel did not enter the chamber when it should have entered.

 

6. Cracked engine block

This is possibly the worst-case scenario you can find. A cracked engine block can be the cause of white smoke coming out of your car’s exhaust.

Go to your and make an accurate diagnosis.

The only time you don’t have to worry about white smoke is when it disappears about a minute after starting the engine.

If white smoke stays longer than that, you need to diagnose the problem quickly and hire a professional to fix it.