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Anonymous Posted on Jan 17, 2015

I'm looking to purchase a used car. I've been doing online research and saw this webpage http://www.usedcarsmells.com . They talk about exhaust color and smells. Is it true that you could tell a lot about the engine by looking at what comes out of the exhaust?

1 Answer

Mikey

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  • Cars & Trucks Master 6,904 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 17, 2015
 Mikey
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Yes this is correct, you can get important information from the colour of smoke from the exhaust:

Blue/Gray Smoke: Blue/gray exhaust smoke is an indication of oil burning in the combustion chamber. These are possible symptoms and causes:
Valve Seals: Leaking valve seals will cause blue/gray smoke at startup because oil leaks past the seals into the cylinder after the engine shuts down.
Valve Guides: Excessive clearance between the valve stem and the valve guide allows oil to leak past the gap into the cylinder.
Piston Rings: Worn or damaged piston rings will cause blow-by resulting in blue/gray smoke.
Worn Cylinder Walls: Worn cylinder walls cause blow-by resulting in blue/gray smoke.
PCV System: A stuck closed PCV valve will cause excessive crankcase pressure resulting in blue/gray smoke.
Black Smoke: Black exhaust smoke is an indication of a rich fuel condition. These are possible causes:
Fuel Injectors: A leaking or dripping fuel injector will cause a rich fuel condition.
Fuel Pressure Regulator: A stuck closed fuel pressure regulator will cause a rich fuel condition.
Fuel Return: A restricted fuel return line will cause a rich fuel condition.
White/Gray Smoke: White exhaust smoke is an indication that coolant is burning in the combustion chamber. These are possible causes:
Cylinder Head: A crack in the cylinder head (around the coolant jacket) will cause coolant to enter the combustion chamber.
Engine Block: A crack in the deck of an engine block near the coolant jacket will cause coolant to enter the combustion chamber.
Head Gasket: A damaged or blown head gasket will cause coolant to enter the combustion chamber resulting in white/gray smoke coming from the tailpipe.

5 Related Answers

Richard Raynor

  • 225 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 03, 2008

SOURCE: Engine Control Module Relay

Hi Todd,
I could be dead wrong, but I don't think the ECM has a relay.

What is the problem?

Cheers, D.
93 Golf, 96 Passat TD, 97 Sharan TDI

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Anonymous

  • 106 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 04, 2008

SOURCE: 1999 Passat Pulley Problems

Hi

It looks like this could be the water pump pulley which has come away, in which case, the housing to which you refer would be the water pump itself.

Very best regards

Geordie

Anonymous

  • 1450 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 27, 2009

SOURCE: 2005 Chevy Impala exhaust smell

neither one of these would cause gas to leak. sure it is not coolant ? if you think it is gas it is not safe to drive car as it could catch on fire. possible cause would be a leaking injector.

Anonymous

  • 1489 Answers
  • Posted on May 08, 2009

SOURCE: Steam out from engine pipes/hose

It looks like from the picture you have a leaking radiator hose/connection. Remove, clean, inspect, replace hose if needed, or tighten connection.

autotherapis

Rich Norman

  • 502 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 21, 2009

SOURCE: Engine overheats, misses, and smells...

If the smell is like rotten eggs you have a cat converter that has failed. If it is another smell (can't tell because I don't know what kind of antifreeze you have) but you will see while smoke it sounds like you have a blown head gasket. If the gasket blew badly enough, you may be loosing compression on one or two cylinders. which could cause it to run poorly. and having your map sensor unplugged doesn't. help.

Hope this helps.

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A very good source on car and truck repair would be from chilton manuals.

You can purchase them at https://www.chiltondiymanuals.com
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card to look at the chilton manuals online. you might also try looking at

these videos:

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Live chat at dorman techincal support
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