McCurley’s Shell can help you if your car, truck, or utility vehicle is releasing a ton of exhaust. This is a bad thing. It is a sign that the engine is hemorrhaging fluid. We can find the fluid leak and fix it in most cases; however, some fixes may require a partial engine rebuild. Let’s talk about the different colors of engine exhaust below and what those colors mean. In most cases, we recommend that you call to have your vehicle towed to our shop rather than drive it. Driving it could be damaging and dangerous.
Black
For example, if you have black exhaust smoke flowing out of the tailpipe, this means that your engine is leaking and burning gasoline or diesel fuel. Continuing to drive your automobile could open you up to the possibility of an engine fire. It’s better to have the vehicle towed, especially if you see sparks in the exhaust. We will find the leaking fuel and let you know what it will take to repair the problem.
Blue
It is also a safe idea to have your vehicle towed if it is releasing a ton of blue exhaust. This means that the engine is leaking motor oil. Unfortunately, this could reduce the level of oil circulating through the engine to protect it. As such, if you continue to drive your automobile, you may end up damaging the engine beyond repair. Play it safe and have your vehicle towed to our shop because burning motor oil generally occurs when you have a cracked engine gasket or cylinder block.
White
If the exhaust color flowing out of the tailpipe is white, your engine is hemorrhaging coolant. In addition to the white exhaust, there is a 100 percent chance that your engine will be overheating because the coolant level is low. Aside from the tailpipe that has turned into a smokestack, you may also have white steam flowing out from underneath the hood. If you continue to drive your automobile when the engine is this hot, you run the risk of blowing the radiator cap and cracking the engine block.
Clear
Now let’s talk about what your exhaust should look like. Your automobile’s exhaust should be clear. You may see the exhaust in cold weather, but other than that, you should not see it. The exhaust should also be odorless, which is what makes it dangerous. Make sure to keep your vehicle’s exhaust system in excellent shape so exhaust does not make its way into the passenger cabin.
Call McCurley’s Shell in Atlanta, GA, today to schedule an appointment for your automobile if it is releasing a ton of exhaust.