Your exhaust system is essential to keep your car running smoothly. There are a lot of parts that make it work, so there are many reasons why you might need exhaust system repair. A Lou’s Custom Exhaust exhaust systems are our specialty, so we’re familiar with all the usual (and unusual) suspects when something goes wrong with your exhaust system. While we always inspect and run a diagnostic on your car before starting the repairs, we can usually narrow down the problem to a few possibilities.
Here are three of the most common reasons for exhaust system repair.
Exhaust Smoke
You never want to see smoke coming from your car, but you can figure out what is causing the smoke by its color. There are three common colors of exhaust smoke:
- Blue: Blue smoke usually means that oil is burning in the combustion chamber. Oil can enter the combustion chamber through valve seals, valve guides, piston rings, worn cylinder walls, or the PCV system.
- Black: Black smoke usually means that the engine is burning excess fuel. Burning excess fuel means that you’re also wasting gas and losing money. The most common cause is a clogged fuel injector or clogged air filter.
- White or Gray: white or gray smoke is probably due to coolant burning in the combustion chamber. If coolant is getting into the combustion chamber, that means the cylinder head, engine block, or head gasket is cracked or damaged.
Faulty Oxygen Sensor
The oxygen sensors in your car allow the computer to create the correct air-fuel mixture to run efficiently. Modern cars have multiple sensors, but a malfunction in just one of them can throw everything off. A faulty sensor will send the wrong data to the computer and can result in an air-fuel mixture that is too hot or has too much fuel.
Exhaust Leaks
The normal wear and tear of time and mileage can cause the weak areas of your exhaust system, like the joints, to crack. Exhaust leaks will make your car run inefficiently, but they are also a major health hazard. Exhaust fumes are dangerous to breathe in, so if you smell exhaust inside your car while you’re driving, get to a mechanic for exhaust system repair right away.
