How do I troubleshoot a smoking exhaust pipe?

Answer by  PuterGuru (256)

It all depends in what color the smoke is. If it is blue smoke then it is oil and white is water. Blue smoke typically means internal engine damage and white could be a head gasket.

Answer by  Jimbob (2275)

Well if the smoke is blue then there may be an oil leak as modern exhaust are made to not have any smoke.

Answer by  leroy (231)

You troubleshoot it by the color of smoke. If it's white it's burning antifreeze. Blue is burning oil. Black is from gas indicating a rich condition.

Answer by  palmerino (637)

you are probably burning oil. You will need to trobleshoot the engine oil consumption. And make sure you don't run your engine dry of oil.

Answer by  Amber40 (24961)

Well smoke coming out the exhaust indicates an internal engine problem. This means that you will need to do some engine work. Find yourself a good repair manual and follow the their directions on trouble shooting. Depending or the color of the smoke it could either be oil or coolant.

Answer by  Doug77 (1433)

Smoke coming from the exhaust could be a number of things: 1. Steam (light white) comes naturally in cooler temperatures as moisture is burned out of the pipes. 2. Coolant (heavy white/smells sweet) is from a cylinder head gasket. 3. Oil (blue) comes from seals at the valves or piston rings leaking. 4. Fuel (black) is from running too rich.

Answer by  Amber40 (24961)

Smoke from the exhaust means that the engine is burning something other than just gas. A blueish white smoke indicates oil burning while a white sweet smelling smoke indicates coolant. Have a mechanic check it out to find out for sure and tell you how to fix it.

Answer by  Joe1010us (239)

Check your intake and oil for antifreeze. if the smoke is bluish it may be a head gasket leak. if its black its burning oil.

Answer by  ReMx3dit (31)

I suggest first and foremost to visit a mechanic, troubleshooting over the net is next to impossible. But with that aside, smell the exhaust fumes first (carefully!). If you can smell burnt oil that could mean you car is burning oil which usually suggests heavy damage to the cillinders and/or pistons.