Exhaust System: The Muffler Tells All!
Pay attention to your vehicle's exhaust system, and you will find out what's going on inside your vehicle's engine. Things are happening inside—seen and unseen--as the engine burns fuel and creates exhaust. Some things really aren't supposed to be happening, such as burning oil, evaporating coolant, or unburned fuel left in the exhaust. What may seem to be just a worn-out muffler, may actually be engine trouble.
Watch your muffler and it will tell you what is happening inside your vehicle's exhaust system by the color and smell of its emissions.
- White Smoke or Water Vapor: This is the color that you may see coming from the muffler when you start your car on a cold day. However, if it is still there after the car has run awhile, it could be coolant leaking into the combustion chamber, a crack in the cylinder head, or a crack in the exhaust port facility. These are serious problems and will usually require extensive repair work.
- Gray or Blue Smoke: You may see this color of smoke coming from the muffler when you start your car and it may seem to disappear after the car warms up. The fact is, it is just less noticeable. Grey smoke can be caused by oil that has leaked into the combustion chamber and onto the cylinder head. Although easy to detect, it can be expensive to repair. Hopefully, it could just be an indication that your vehicle simply needs an oil change.
- Black Smoke: Black smoke may come from the muffler when you start your car and it may or may not disappear after the car warms up. At the same time, the engine may be running rough or misfiring. Black smoke could be an indication that your engine is burning oil. This is a more serious problem, such as a blocked air filter, or the injection system malfunctioning.
If you notice your muffler is trying to tell you something by the color of the smoke emitted, schedule an inspection of the your exhaust system with a certified auto mechanic. As the old saying goes, a little prevention now can save you money down the road.
Need an inspection of your vehicle's exhaust system? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at https://www.clausenautomotive.com for more information. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
Pay attention to your vehicle's exhaust system, and you will find out what's going on inside your vehicle's engine. Things are happening inside—seen and unseen--as the engine burns fuel and creates exhaust. Some things really aren't supposed to be happening, such as burning oil, evaporating coolant, or unburned fuel left in the exhaust. What may seem to be just a worn-out muffler, may actually be engine trouble.
Watch your muffler and it will tell you what is happening inside your vehicle's exhaust system by the color and smell of its emissions.
- White Smoke or Water Vapor: This is the color that you may see coming from the muffler when you start your car on a cold day. However, if it is still there after the car has run awhile, it could be coolant leaking into the combustion chamber, a crack in the cylinder head, or a crack in the exhaust port facility. These are serious problems and will usually require extensive repair work.
- Gray or Blue Smoke: You may see this color of smoke coming from the muffler when you start your car and it may seem to disappear after the car warms up. The fact is, it is just less noticeable. Grey smoke can be caused by oil that has leaked into the combustion chamber and onto the cylinder head. Although easy to detect, it can be expensive to repair. Hopefully, it could just be an indication that your vehicle simply needs an oil change.
- Black Smoke: Black smoke may come from the muffler when you start your car and it may or may not disappear after the car warms up. At the same time, the engine may be running rough or misfiring. Black smoke could be an indication that your engine is burning oil. This is a more serious problem, such as a blocked air filter, or the injection system malfunctioning.
If you notice your muffler is trying to tell you something by the color of the smoke emitted, schedule an inspection of the your exhaust system with a certified auto mechanic. As the old saying goes, a little prevention now can save you money down the road.
Need an inspection of your vehicle's exhaust system? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 or go on-line at https://www.clausenautomotive.com for more information. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
