Smoke from your exhaust? What the colour means
The colour of the smoke from your exhaust tells you a lot about what's wrong. Here's what each one usually means.
White smoke
A little white vapour on a cold start that clears quickly is just condensation — normal. Thick white smoke that doesn't clear usually means coolant is getting into the engine — often a head gasket. That's serious; get it checked before driving far.
Black smoke
Black smoke means the engine is burning too much fuel. Common causes are a clogged air filter, dirty fuel injectors, or a faulty sensor telling the engine to over-fuel. It wastes fuel and should be sorted, but it's usually less serious than white or blue.
Blue or grey smoke
Blue-ish smoke means the engine is burning oil — usually worn piston rings or valve seals letting oil into the cylinders. You'll often top up oil more often too. Get it inspected; ignoring it gets expensive.
When to get it checked
White or blue smoke that doesn't clear should be inspected quickly. A garage can confirm the cause and quote the fix — ask for a free inspection first.
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