When you purchase a damaged car, you may have an issue with smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. To know how to remedy the problem, know what the different types of smoke mean:
o White Smoke
This type of smoke is typically associated with the burning of antifreeze, which means you’re probably experiencing a leak. If you’ve noticed a big, billowing cloud of white smoke, the culprit could by leaking transmission fluid.
When white smoke is present, it is possible that antifreeze is leaking into your oil, and you should check your oil to be sure that this is not happening. Oil that has had antifreeze leak into it can cause engine damage, so you do not want to drive a car letting out white smoke without investigating the problem.
o Black Smoke
This is often not a cause for immediate concern, as the occurrence of black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe indicates that petrol is getting into the cylinder and not burning as it should. The result of this problem is decreased fuel efficiency and minor problems in the engine, causing a decrease in performance. While it’s not cause for alarm, black smoke should be taken seriously.
o Blue Smoke
Dark blue tinted smoke points towards a problem with oil. Along with the blue smoke, you should notice the distinctive smell of burning oil. If your engine is burning oil, you’ll need to change the oil to assure that no serious, permanent damage is done to the engine.
* CC image by Infocog