Engine bay smoke is uncommon, and when it happens, the problem is usually already serious. Smoke is not a reliable sign that an engine problem is developing; a better diagnostic tool is the color of your car’s exhaust. Smoke that is produced by an issue inside the engine will escape through the exhaust if there is one.
Smoke may be produced by a failing valve cover gasket as a result of oil dropping onto a hot manifold. You might notice the oil spilling on your driveway or garage floor if the leak is significant enough.
Smoke from a fire beneath the hood would be followed by flames, creating an extremely dangerous situation. If this ever occurs, get out of the car as soon as possible and drive far away.
Once more, smoke from the exhaust is almost usually found during diagnostic procedures instead of smoke from the engine. Continue reading for frequent problems that can result in exhaust smoke.
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rogoman
Ensure that the PCV hoses are all securely attached. Remove the PCV valve from the rocker cover while the engine is idling. A properly functioning valve hisses as air flows through it. A finger should immediately feel a strong vacuum when it is placed over the valve entrance.
The smoke is it blue or white? If the smoke is white, smell the exhaust; if it smells a little sweet, there may be a blown head gasket. Oil burning is indicated by blue smoke, which can be seen coming from the exhaust if the PCV system is malfunctioning.
Think about putting in the proper PCV hoses. Your purchase of universal US SAE hoses, which are not metric and may account for the loose fit, may not match the OEM hose’s metric internal diameter.
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Answers
How far has the engine been driven? Sounds like defective valve seals. Oil escapes through the valve seals when the engine is turned off, producing the blue haze. Although you stated that there was no overheating or coolant loss, white smoke is typically created by coolant leaking into the cylinders. You should be alright for a while as long as everything is operating normally. You might notice fouled spark plugs as the problem worsens.
2.5L Nissan Altima with white smoke, fog, and Napa 10W 30 oil
Why does my 2008 Nissan Altima 2.5L smoke like a fog truck (white smoke)? When the smoking begins, I add one or two quarts of Napa 10W 30 oil, and the smoking ceases for about two weeks. This has been happening for the last eight months. I took it to a mechanic when she first started smoking, and he discovered what he claimed to be sludge buildup. He purportedly cleared the sludge buildup, but about a month later, she started smoking once more. Now, I’m utilizing Just Answer to try to identify the root of this issue. Second, while traveling between 30 and 40 mph this week, she started jerking as if she wanted to shut off. There are about 40k miles on this 2008 Altima.
If your car has started to leak smoke and perform poorly If you do have an oil ring issue, your Nissan factory warranty should cover it for five years or 60000 miles. Your next step should be to allow them to inspect your car, in my opinion. If you are still covered by warranty, they may replace your engine to address this issue. Thanks; please let me know if you have any more queries. ROY!
Customer:
Since I bought it new, this car is NOT in North America. In Cayman, there is no Nissan dealer. Additionally, the warranty is useless once a vehicle is shipped outside of the United States. I’ll take it to another shop for further inspection.
Roy :
That’s not good, so you’ll need to have it rectified there. Good luck, and do let me know if you have any other queries, Roy.
Roy, what else outside a potential oil ring issue could be causing the car to smoke in that manner? Remember, there are no Nissan Dealers on the Island, therefore we are unable to take it there. We took it to some so-called mechanics, but they don’t appear to be aware of the issue either. Through email, we detailed everything the automobile was doing. You responded that we should take it to the dealer for examination and that it might have an oil ring issue. We apologize, but we don’t believe Just Answer Mechanics will fix the issue we have with this Nissan. Please let me know if you are aware of any further issues that might contribute to this (white) smoking problem that you may have heard of or encountered in your time as a Nissan mechanic.
You mentioned utilizing 1 to 2 quarts of oil each week; this could be due to piston rings, excessive crank case pressure, or a malfunctioning PCV valve. If you smoke on a start up after sitting, valve seals may be the culprit. In order to clean out any sludge buildup and replace the PCV valve, I would remove the valve cover from the engine. This might assist release engine pressure. Since it wouldn’t cost much to try it, I suppose I’d do it first. It might just work. Regards, ROY!
Black
If you see some black smoke coming from your exhaust, your engine may be suffering from a rich fuel condition. This indicates that there is an imbalance between the amount of gasoline and air in the engine, which could result in higher fuel usage. This could be brought on by a damaged fuel pressure regulator, an air intake obstruction, or a defective or leaking fuel injector.
Why is my car burning all of a sudden?
Overheating in automobile engines frequently results in smoke. Defective wire casings, hot residues on the engine block, and hot liquids like oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid can all contribute to this.
Your cooling system can also be broken, or your engine might not have enough lubricant. Find a reputable garage to have a look, whatever the issue.
Why does my car smell like burning and is it smoking?
For two reasons, an oil leak is hazardous. First, a fire might start if it collides with the exhaust. Low oil levels may also harm the engine. If the stench appears soon after an oil change, it may be the result of a leak in the oil cap, a loose drain plug, a filter that wasn’t correctly installed, or other components. A poor gasket or seal that allows oil to leak might lead to issues like oil spilling on the timing belt or the crankshaft seal. In any case, it is not something to disregard. Trotta warns that it “may completely take your engine out.”
Why is the undercarriage of my car emitting white smoke?
Engine Smoking Leaking Coolant – If you notice white smoke coming from under your hood, it most likely comes from burning coolant that has contacted the hot parts there. This smoke has a pleasant aroma.
What causes a car’s exhaust to smoke?
This indicates that either the intake valves aren’t allowing enough air into the engine or that the fuel injectors are supplying too much fuel. This might be brought on by a malfunctioning fuel pressure regulator, a leaky fuel injector, or a clogged air filter. Your engine could have major issues if it’s running this rich.
Why is my exhaust emitting GREEN smoke?
Grey or Blue Smoke Grey or bluish-tinged smoke coming from the exhaust pipe typically indicates that your engine is burning oil in the combustion chamber. Numerous factors, such as faulty piston rings or leaking valve seals, could be the cause of burning oil.
Why is my car’s undercarriage smoking but it isn’t overheating?
The most typical response to the question “Why is my car smoking but not overheating?” is that an engine has come into contact with some sort of fluid. This can include coolant, motor oil, petrol, transmission fluid, and condensation. Due to the engine fluid being burned off, it may cause your engine to smoke.
How can white smoke from an engine be fixed?
White smoke typically indicates that coolant is entering your car’s combustion chambers. This typically occurs as a result of a head gasket that is damaged or leaking, allowing coolant to flow into your cylinders. In the worst-case scenario, your head gasket will need to be replaced. You can try a head gasket repair procedure at the first indication of white smoke to stop the leak before your engine suffers irreparable harm.
Can I operate a smoking vehicle?
How to Respond if You Smell Smoke. Do not continue driving if smoke is seen coming from the car. As soon as you can, stop on the side of the road and turn the engine off. Check to see if you can add fuel to the vehicle and restart the engine if there is also low oil pressure.
Can a car smoke due to low oil?
Blue smoke is typically brought on by oil leaking into the engine and burning with the fuel. Additionally, the oil in your engine will be low. Additionally, it’s possible that the exhaust system is being contacted by an external oil leak.
Can I operate my car while emitting white smoke?
Smoke White You need to get off the road as quickly as you can if it’s overheating. If you decide to disregard it, you can end up severely harming your car. If the smoke smells nice, your coolant may be malfunctioning.
If coolant is low, would the car smoke?
If you’ve ever used the phrase “I’m going to blow a gasket” to describe how you’re feeling, you know how horrible it is when anything bad happens to your engine. A blown head gasket on your engine block can occasionally be brought on by low coolant. If this occurs, you can see smoke coming from the engine or tailpipe, lose power, hear banging noises from the engine, or notice decreased efficiency.
The meaning of white smoke
Most often, water vapor is the light or thin white exhaust smoke. The first time you start your automobile, especially on a chilly day, you’ll notice it. Condensation that naturally accumulates in the exhaust system is the source of this. In cars, thin or light white exhaust smoke is typical.
What does it cost to repair an engine that smokes?
Repair prices for engine smoke If the issue is something straightforward, such as a bad gasket, a replacement should run you less than $150 including labor. The cost of the additional repairs is generally high. For instance, the cost of a leaking valve or seal could range from $50 to $1,000. The cost of a damaged fuel injector or pump could reach $2,000
Can white smoke be caused by low oil?
Can White Smoke Be Caused by Low Oil? Answer: No, it can’t. Unrelated to the fluid level, you can notice blue-tinted smoke emerging from your exhaust if oil manages to enter the combustion chamber.
Can you drive when your battery is smoking?
Here in the shop, this is a question that is frequently asked. And the response is, “It depends.”
It’s a sign that the chemicals inside your battery are interacting and producing a lot of heat if your battery is smoking. If the battery overheats and explodes, this could harm the battery and be deadly.
Therefore, if your battery is smoking, you should definitely have it checked out by a technician or battery expert. If it’s okay to drive with it or if you need to replace it, they can advise you on that.