Perhaps you have witnessed your auto speeding up from a stoplight while belching out a cloud of blue engine smoke from its exhaust.
Unlike a smoke bomb, it’s not extreme. At this point, you know it’s not a sound signal. But how to get rid of blue smoke from exhaust? A question like this may spring into your mind.
It’s possible that your diesel car’s morning ignition isn’t as reliable as it used to be. Turning the handle will take longer, and you despise that.
It goes without saying that blue smoke is a significant problem. Not let you wait anymore, treat this issue well by reading this post!
What Does Blue Smoke Mean?
If you see blue smoke from engine, particularly rising from your exhaust, your engine is incorrectly burning oil. Several factors are at play, including:
- Worn or poor piston rings
- Worn-down cylinder walls
- Broken valves
- Head gasket leaks.
The blue smoke from exhaust may signal engine trouble. It typically results from motor oil that has burned.
If the engine burns too much gasoline, it will produce blue smoke. The fuel injectors or carburetors are likely to blame for this issue.
You should get the car tested out immediately if you recognize blue smoke that has no sign of ceasing.
Without timely therapies, additional engine damage may result.
Blue Smoke From Exhaust: 6 Proven Causes
Want to see what causes blue smoke from exhaust? Let’s take a peek at these 6 common roots:
Blown Turbocharger
A turbocharger is a part of the engine that boosts the power output noticeably. Granted, this component is also a common culprit of the light blue smoke from exhaust.
Since the turbocharger uses highly pressurized air when in operation when this air flow doesn’t move properly, deterioration will rise with fairly substantial repercussions.
Because of the fuel combustion and the engine oil or coolant, blue exhaust smoke is emitted when the leak is present.
Faulty Transmission Modulator
Gearbox modulators regulate the speed at which the transmission shifts with vacuum-controlled automatic transmissions.
Once your diaphragm in the gearbox modulator fails, transmission fluid might leak into the engine compartment.
The blue smoke exhaust stems from burning transmission fluid.
Broken Piston Ring
Manufacturers have utilized thin piston rings to ensure that no engine oil or other fluids are seeping into other areas of the engine. Still, their lifespan is limited, just like everything else.
There will be a marked decline in the metal component’s useful lifespan if it is subjected to less-than-ideal work conditions or isn’t properly maintained.
When the rust gets bad enough, the ring can no longer hold the oil in. And the blue smoke results from a combination of gasoline and motor oil.
Stuck PCV Valve
When oil gets into the fuel or the gasoline compartment, it forms blue smoke in exhaust and can have long-term implications if it enters your combustion chamber.
Broken piston rings, PCV valves, and valve seals produce leaks inside the tank.
More than that, any residual air inside the crankcase is sucked out via the PCV valve using the engine’s vacuum.
The gas is then forced into the combustion chamber and intake manifold, wherein it is re-ignited.
In this case, the blocked PCV valve facilitates fluid mixing with air, fuel, and other gasses, producing blue smoke.
Faulty Cylinder Head Valve Guide
The most likely cause of blue smoke upon deceleration is an issue with the valve guides in the cylinder head.
This implies oil escaping through the valve stem into the combustion chamber. The valve stems and the fuel injector might get oiled due to oil leakage.
The oil combined with the gasoline will generate blue or black smoke.
Oil Dripping On Engine
Oil, like other liquids, evaporates at high temperatures.
In the event of a spill, this oil will quickly evaporate if it lands on a hot surface within the working engine, which might reach temperatures of several hundred degrees.
Bluish smoke from exhaust emerges as a process’s byproduct.
How To Get Rid Of Blue Smoke From Exhaust
How to fix blue smoke from exhaust? Here are 4 viable measures, including removing excess or old oil, cleaning the engine, replacing broken piston rings, and altering the PCV valve.
Remove Excess Oil
As noted above, oil issues are a common source of blue smoke coming from exhaust. In this case, adjusting the level of oil contained within the vehicle is the most practical solution.
To protect the pipes from being damaged by the pressure or from leaking altogether, eliminate the excess oil.
More oil means a higher chance of pressure rise and aeration.
It will need more room for the extra oil if it’s poured in. Aeration is produced whenever the engine operates as the shaft turns, blending the excess oil with air.
When oil is full of air bubbles, its capacity to lubricate is diminished, causing higher temperatures and wear on the machine. Over time, it will wear out major engine components.
In addition, if too much oil is in the engine, the internal pressure will rise, and the oil will eventually leak out via the gaskets and seals. Leaks and expensive repairs might result from any of them breaking down.
Due to these two occurrences, the engine could be more efficient in dealing with heat and friction. Drain any surplus oil and replace it with the minimum amount needed to fix the issue.
The old fluid can no longer shield parts from friction. So you should replace it too.
Clean Your Engine
How to stop blue smoke from exhaust by cleaning the system?
When engines aren’t properly maintained and cleaned, they degrade deadly, develop leaks, and generate blue smoke.
Regular maintenance, notably engine cleaning, can drastically minimize or eliminate this issue.
Replace Broken Piston Rings
When piston rings wear, lubricating oil is forced upward into the combustion chamber. And it is burnt here, diminishing engine efficiency and producing blue smoke from the tailpipe.
Piston rings have various uses and benefits, including joint sealing and blocking oil leakage. Therefore, alter the worn or broken rings soon.
Change The PCV Valve
Clogged or jammed PCV valves prevent air from reaching the intake manifold and being expelled to the outside, making the PCV valve an integral element of the exhaust system.
As a result, if you notice any of the mentioned indications in your car, it’s time to take it in for some TLC.
Should You Still Drive With Blue Smoke From Your Tailpipe?
No.
Though you can continue driving even if blue smoke is flowing out of your exhaust, you should see a technician as soon as possible. Your vehicle was not built to operate with oil and gasoline blended.
If the piston rings get worn and your automobile has a lot of miles on it, you may need to replace the engine, which can cost between $2,500 to $7,000.
You do not want to change the engine, so get that issue examined the instant you notice blue smoke, as you might be able to only substitute those piston rings and operate the car for a couple of years.
FAQs
How to Reduce Smoke From Exhaust?
Regular maintenance and expert car servicing is the foremost tactic to reduce exhaust smoke. This will help ensure that there aren’t any leaks in the engines and that it is in good working order.
If deposits have formed on your injectors, apply a fuel additive to sanitize them. A further technique for minimizing exhaust smoke is switching to a better-quality fuel.
Seek expert help if exhaust smoke persists after trying the aforesaid remedies.
Is Blue Smoke From Exhaust Lousy?
Yes. Naturally, blue smoke emerging from the exhaust is an unhealthy incident; thus, rectify it quickly to prevent issues.
It’s plausible that oil leaking into the engine block, where the gasoline mixes with air, is to blame for the symptoms in gasoline-powered cars.
In contrast, blue smoke flowing from a diesel-powered vehicle’s tailpipe is caused mainly by too much oil inside the engine.
It’s not fun, and the smoke makes the air smell terrible. Likewise, this is not a positive sign and must be remedied promptly to avoid more damage to the car.
Does Blue Smoke Mean Blown Head Gasket?
Yes. The telltale sign of a head gasket failure is blue smoke emanating from the tailpipe. The gasket may be leaking oil and end up with the smoke.
White smoke can rarely be observed exiting from a car’s tailpipe. A cooling system leak usually manifests the white smoke coming from a tailpipe.
Do your best to get your car checked out by a competent auto repair as soon as possible if you spot blue smoke rising from the emissions upon cold starting or at any other time.
Sometimes, the blue hue is faint, so knowing how to tell it apart from the white smoke on startup then disappears and the white smoke from the hood when AC is on would help to seek the concise culprits before treating them.
Can Low Oil Create Blue Smoke?
No. Blue smoke from the tailpipe may not always indicate low oil. Additionally, the blue smoke emerging from an automobile’s tailpipe often signifies the oil leaking into your engine block.
When your engine’s oil level is low, refill it as soon as possible.
Granted, if blue smoke is always coming out of the tailpipe, your car may have an ongoing issue with oil. Hence, make an effort to tackle any difficulty that might lead to future setbacks.
Does Synthetic Oil Burn Blue Smoke?
No. The answer is quite the opposite.
The combustion of oil leaking from the engine block is almost always the culprit behind blue smoke from an automobile’s tailpipe.
In fact, switching to synthetic oil can even stop the car’s exhaust from constantly belching out blue smoke.
Look for a supplier of high-quality synthetic lubricant specifically designed for this purpose.
You might as well as the seasoned technician to pick the best option for your engine as there are different products on the market now.
Final Verdicts
If your vehicle’s exhaust is puffing out blue smoke, it could be due to the engine consuming too much oil. The piston rings, the air filter, and the fuel injectors can all wear down.
On the flip hand, white smoke often signals a coolant leak. If you’re wary about your car’s safety, call the experts.
Change the oil or repair the engine if needed regarding how to get rid of blue smoke from exhaust correctly.
On top of that, we appreciate your forwarding such a far-out read to other car owners. No one can ensure that they never face these hurdles in their lifetime.