Why Is My Car Emitting Blue Smoke From the Exhaust

Summary

    – Blue Smoke Exhaust: Symptoms and Diagnosis

    – Blue Smoke Exhaust: Causes and Repair

    – Repair costs for blue smoke

Smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe is a common phenomenon, especially on diesel vehicles. However, if the exhaust is blue, it is because of a mechanical problem. Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and repairs for blue exhaust smoke. 

Blue Exhaust Smoke: Symptoms and Diagnosis

Blue exhaust smoke is not always visible from inside the car. However, the symptom is noticeable when an odour of burnt oil wafts through the vehicle, especially if the windows are open. This smoke can be visually detected when accelerating.

Blue smoke from the exhaust usually results in higher engine oil consumption. Older vehicles with high mileage tend to consume too much oil, leading to blue exhaust smoke.

If the oil level in the crankcase drops as soon as blue smoke is emitted from the exhaust pipe, there is probably a defect in some engine components.

Important: This is no job for amateurs here. If you want to avoid an impending engine failure, it is essential to contact a professional mechanic who will diagnose the problem urgently. 

Blue smoke in the exhaust: causes and repair

Defective piston rings

Consequently, a defect in the piston rings can cause blue exhaust smoke. These rings are cylindrical steel parts mounted on pistons, and the ring system seals the combustion chamber and improves the compression ratio. If the compression ratio drops, it means that the engine power is low. On the other hand, the higher the compression ratio, the more powerful the engine.

When a ring loses its seal, oil tends to spill into the combustion chamber to be burned, resulting in blue smoke in the exhaust. It may be considered for replacement, but in some cases, engine replacement will often be recommended.

Blue exhaust smoke caused by valve stem seals

Valve stem seals seal the valve stem. When the seal is worn, the engine draws oil from the stems. The lubricant enters the combustion chamber when the valve opens for airflow. It is strongly recommended that the valve stem seal be replaced. Again, this is no job for amateurs. Play safe, bring your car to an auto garage with the necessary competence.

Blue smoke in the exhaust caused by the injectors

Injectors are mechanical devices that transport fuel into the engine’s combustion chamber. If the injectors are damaged, the ignition does not work correctly, and the fuel is not burned. This usually results in bluish smoke in the exhaust. It is therefore recommended to change the spark plugs or even the injectors to remedy this problem.

Good to know: periodic maintenance of the vehicle is necessary to check specific components, such as the air filter, the intake manifold, the compressor or the turbo-compressor. If one of these is defective, you should not hesitate to replace it to avoid the exhaust emission of blue smoke.

For further reference:

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