White, blue, gray or black? What the colour of the smoke coming from your exhaust is trying to tell you...

1 - Light or thin white exhaust smoke: If your pride and joy is emitting a light or thin white exhaust smoke then this is nothing to worry about as it is typically just water vapor.

You will likely notice it the first time you start your vehicle on a cold day. It happens due to condensation that naturally collects in the exhaust system.

2 - Blue or gray exhaust smoke: Blue or gray exhaust smoke usually tends to mean that your vehicle’s engine is burning oil. It will require a qualified technician to check things out.

The oil leak can be caused by several factors such as leaking valve seals, damaged piston rings, or worn cylinder walls. If you notice blue smoke when you accelerate it means your vehicle’s piston rings may be damaged. But under deceleration it means the cylinder heads’ valve guides are damaged.

3 - Black exhaust smoke: Black exhaust smoke means your vehicle is burning too much fuel. This can also be caused by a clogged air filter, malfunctioning fuel injection system, or a blocked manifold.

You will need to have your vehicle checked by a qualified technician to see why it is burning more fuel than usual.

4 - Milky white or heavy gray smoke: A steady stream of milky white smoke from your tailpipe could mean your engine has a leaking head gasket. During the summer, your engine could easily overheat and it could leave you stranded.

Heavy gray exhaust smoke could be caused by a cracked block or cylinder head. Both are serious problems which need addressing immediately.