Knowing Your Car: What To Tell a Mechanic When Your Car Is Smoking

There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with correctly diagnosing your car with an issue, because not only will it make you feel like a mechanical wizard, but you will also feel reassured that your mechanic is not charging you more than you deserve. At Wrench, we pride ourselves on delivering fair and comparable prices that will not leave you feeling cheated out of your money, but it is still a satisfying feeling to understand the work being done to your car. Wrench has compiled a list reasons your car may be smoking to order to help you identify the problem before scheduling an appointment with one of our mobile mechanics. However, if you are unsure what the issue is or would prefer a diagnosis to be done by a professional, our ASE certified mechanics would be happy to perform an inspection in order to best address the issue.

Even if you are not entirely sure what is wrong, it is always a good idea to have some understanding of what is going on with your car. In the event that your car is smoking, you can try to determine what the source of the issue is in order to give the mechanic some background information. Chances are, your car is pretty important to you, and you want to take care of it when it is trying to tell you that something is wrong. Knowing your car will help ensure that it sticks around for a while. Wrench has put together a list of questions and answers that can help you figure out what may be going on with your car.

1. Where is the smoke coming from? If you are seeing steam coming out of your tailpipe, there is likely no need to worry. This is simply the result of condensation building up and then getting released when your car heats up. If the smoke is coming from your engine, or looks to be more threatening than water vapor, it is most likely indicative of a bigger problem and should get checked out.
2. What color is the smoke? Different colored smoke can mean different things when it is coming from the tailpipe. The color of the smoke emitted can be a good indicator of the problem so it is important that you do not ignore the warning signs. Make a note of the color of the smoke coming from the tailpipe in order to determine what the issue may be.
3. Is the smoke black? Your car may emit a bit of black smoke when it is warming up, and this is likely not an issue unless it continues to do so after a couple of minutes. Prolonged black smoke is often an indicator of internal parts malfunctioning. The most common culprits for this kind of smoke are a dirty/clogged air filter, a bad fuel pressure regulator, or clogged fuel injectors. These issues have relatively simple solutions: a Wrench mobile mechanic can repair or replace malfunctioning parts. The best thing you can do for your car in this scenario is to schedule an appointment with a mechanic as soon as possible so that the issue does not get worse. Failing to do so could result in more costly repairs down the road (pun intended).
4. Is the smoke white? As we mentioned before, if the smoke looks more like steam and does not last for more than a few minutes, it is probably just the result of condensation in your car’s exhaust system. If your car’s tailpipe continues to emit white smoke, this may be due to your engine burning coolant that has leaked into the combustion chamber. This is a serious issue and requires immediate attention. If you are experiencing white smoke coming from under the hood, your engine may be overheating and should also be looked at by one of our mobile mechanics as soon as possible. Pay attention to the smell of the smoke too because this can help determine the source of the problem.
5. Is the smoke blue or grey? Blue or grey smoke is a strong indicator that your engine is burning oil, which is also due to a leak in the combustion chamber. This can reduce fuel efficiency and affect acceleration, so this is another issue that you do not want to ignore. Taking note of when this smoke is happening is also a good idea because the timing can indicate different problems (most likely either a valve issue or piston ring problem).
   

The best thing you can do for your car is listen to it when it is trying to tell you something. Having to repair or replace one part is better than having to buy a new car entirely. If you notice something is not right, schedule an appointment with a Wrench mobile mechanic today to ease your mind and get you back on the road in no time. While we have laid out some possible reasons your car may be smoking, it is always a good idea to get an expert opinion. We do not expect you to know exactly what is wrong with your car, but being able to explain the warning signs is helpful for diagnosing the problem. Being attentive to your car will make this process as efficient and painless as possible!