exhaust smokes

[JoeWagon]

white smoke is coolant, oil is black smoke. Its around 5 degrees here all the time, and in saskatoon the other day it was -66 degrees. so don't say "its the cold" my car runs fine in -15 all day long.

[caniborrow50cnts]

I think I remember what "snow" is now. Its that white stuff that falls when it is cold and melts when it hits the ground. Too bad the last time that ever happened here was christmas day 1989. I just love florida's weather; hurricanes, downpours, tornadoes, extreme heat, daily summer thunderstorms, sinkholes, severe drought.

[1qwik4]

White smoke: White smoke is caused by water and or antifreeze entering the cylinder, and the engine trying to burn it with the fuel. The white smoke is steam. There are special gaskets (head gaskets are the primary gaskets) that keep the antifreeze from entering the cylinder area. The cylinder is where the fuel and air mixture are being compressed and burned. Any amount of antifreeze that enters this area will produce a white steam that will be present at the tailpipe area.

If white smoke is present, check to see if the proper amount of antifreeze is inside the radiator and the overflow bottle. Also check to see if antifreeze has contaminated the engine oil. You can look at the engine oil dipstick, or look at the under side of the engine oil filler cap. If the oil is contaminated with antifreeze, it will have the appearance of a chocolate milkshake. Do not start the engine if the oil is contaminated with antifreeze, as serious internal engine damage can result.

How did antifreeze get in the oil or cylinder in the first place? The engine probably overheated and a head gasket failed due to excessive heat, thus allowing antifreeze to enter the cylinder (Where it is not meant to be). Also, too much boost and not enough fuel could cause a head gasket to blow.

Blueish-White Smoke: Blueish-White smoke is caused by engine oil entering the cylinder area and being burned along with the fuel air mixture. As with the white smoke, just a small drop of oil leaking into the cylinder can produce Blueish-White smoke out the tailpipe.

However, it is possible for the smoke to be steam resulting from low ambient temps and high humidity. This was my assumption going by what temperatures were around his area. Hard to make a call when you dont' actually see whats going on.

Black smoke usually means that your car is running to rich in fuel, doesn't necessarily mean you are burning oil. Black smoke is just the carbon deposit from unburned fuel, that is why its on pistons and in tailpipes. This is why when you race, its good to pull a spark plug b/c the color of the plug indicates if you are running rich or lean. Beige means good, black means rich.

[1qwik4]

Originally Posted by JoeWagon

white smoke is coolant, oil is black smoke. Its around 5 degrees here all the time, and in saskatoon the other day it was -66 degrees. so don't say "its the cold" my car runs fine in -15 all day long.

BTW, who are you quoting by saying "its the cold"?

[eclipseGTO]

If it's white smoke it's pretty common in the winter time since the temperature is low, the air can't hold much water, so it comes out as steam. Same like when you breath out. However if the smoke that comes out smell really bad, like rotten eggs, then you might have a head gasket leak or breakage. Get that check out immediately.

[JoeWagon]

"There you go" after saying that is was cold

could be mistaken, not like that was a very clear post. i was pretty sure oil was black but oh well

[ashah000]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I just pulled all of my spark plugs and they all were black. But then if i am running rich should there not be black smoke coming out of the exhaust.

[1qwik4]

How long were the spark plugs in the car?? I mean if they were in there for a year and they are black it really doesn't mean much. You know what I am saying?? If you are running rich on fuel, not just a little rich but pretty rich, then under hard accelleration there will be black smoke due to incomplete combustion of gas.

Your test should be to pull your dip stick and look at your oil. Is it clean or burnt. Does it look like a chocolate milkshake?? Is the oil overfilled? When did you chage the oil last?

[ashah000]

The plugs are less then 5 months old. But the oil is fine i can not see any thing wrong with it, it is not burnt, and no it is not overfilled, and it has been about 2300 miles from my last oil change.

What can happen from running rich? does it hurt the car

[1qwik4]

Running rich doesn't hurt the car, its a lot safer than running lean. Running rich just means you are getting more fuel than necessary. As you create more power that richness will soon go down. Most cars do run rich at idle, its only at WOT where this becomes a worry. Hence the air/fuel gauge and egt gauge. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

While you're at it, check the coolant to make sure you are not low.