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What Smoke In The Exhaust Means

Cars are built better and more durable today than ever before. But, things continue to go wrong and can lead to expensive repairs (not to mention frustration). Sometimes, while driving, your car will start spewing spoke from the exhaust. That can imply a number of potential issues under the hood. In this article, I’ll explain the types of smoke you might see, how to figure out what the problem is, and ultimately, what you should do about it.

Different Colors

If you notice smoke coming from your vehicle’s exhaust, it will most likely be 1 of 3 colors: white, black, or blue. If it’s blue, you have a problem. It usually means that oil is burning in your engine for some reason. In my experience, it’s often caused by bad piston rings. But, the blue smoke can also result from a broken cylinder or a problem in the valve guide.

White smoke isn’t much better. It often happens as a result of burning transmission fluid when the fluid leaks into the engine through a hose. Burning coolant can also cause the problem if your cylinder head is cracked or broken, or your head gasket has developed a leak. Finally, black smoke has a couple of potential causes, depending on the kind of car you’re driving. If it’s an older model that uses a carburetor, the choke plate can stick. Otherwise, the fuel injection system may have sprung a leak or the air filter may be filthy and congested.

Diagnosing The Problem

Besides the color of the smoke, there are other signs that a problem may be lurking in the bowels of your vehicle. For example, if the smoke is blue, it will usually smell like burning toast. Check your oil to make sure it’s full and look at the pistons to see whether they’re worn or broken.

Burning transmission fluid smells the same way. Similar to the oil, check the levels and replenish the fluid as needed. While the hood is up, look at the vacuum hose that goes from your transmission to your engine. If there’s fluid inside, you may need to buy a new modulator valve. If coolant is burning, you’ll notice a mildly sweet odor. You can identify whether the issue is with the head gasket or cylinder by pressure testing the cooling system.

Black smoke is usually the easiest to diagnose. If your vehicle is using a carburetor, check the choke plate to see whether it’s sticking. Otherwise, test the pressure of your fuel injection system and take a quick look at your air filter. If it’s clogged, replace it.

Fixing The Problem

If you’re handy with car parts, doing the repair work associated with black smoke won’t pose a challenge. On the other hand, if you’re noticing white or blue smoke, take your vehicle to a repair shop that you trust. The mechanics may need to overhaul the car engine or remove the cylinder head. It’s better to have trained hands performing those jobs.

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How To Sell Your Used Car

While driving your car for several years is a great way to save money, you’ll eventually want to get rid of it. At some point, you’ll want to replace it with another vehicle that is better-equipped, more reliable, or even more fuel efficient. You can either use it as a trade-in when buying another car from a dealer or sell it yourself. Trading it in is less effort, but you’ll probably get a better price by selling it. Below, I’ll take you through the basic steps of selling your used car.

Set A Realistic Price

You’ll need to identify how much your car is worth on the market. First, ask a local dealership how much they’ll offer you for the car. Once you know the figure, use it as your price floor. It’s the least amount of money you should accept. Next, find out what dealers are charging other buyers for your make and model. Unless your car has extremely low mileage or an overhauled transmission, the dealer price will represent your ceiling.

Finally, check through your local paper (check online, too) to see how much your car is selling for in your area. Then, identify the lowest amount that you’d be willing to accept from a buyer and add a small markup. That way, you’ll have a bit of room to negotiate.

Getting The Word Out

You may need to do little more than telling friends and family that you’re selling your car. Often, someone you know will either want to buy it or they’ll know someone else who will. Consider placing ads online, too. You can use eBay, Cars.com, and Yahoo Autos to attract prospective buyers in your area.

Plus, don’t neglect the proven strategy of leaving your car parked near a busy intersection with a “For Sale” sign on the window. The key details that passersby want to know at a glance are your car’s year, mileage, whether it has air conditioning, and the type of stereo system. And, of course, leave your phone number or email address so interested buyers can contact you.

Documentation

The type of documents you’ll need in order to sell your car is largely dependent upon the state in which you live. Every state has their own way of handling private party vehicle sales. Some states require you to submit a “Transfer Of Title” document. Others allow you to write down the mileage and sign the owner’s certificate. Also, most buyers will want you to provide a bill of sale that documents the transaction.

A lot of people consider the process of selling their used car to be too high-maintenance. For them, trading it in toward the purchase of another car is a better solution. However, if you’re willing to spend the time and put in the effort, you’ll be rewarded with a higher price for your car than a dealer will offer you. And that can provide a hefty boost to your budget.

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Checking Your Car’s Tire Pressure

Some people might remember a time when getting gas meant pulling up to a station and having an attendant fill the tank and check the tire pressure. Those days are long gone in most places. Even full-service gas stations usually won’t check the pressure. That means motorists need to either learn to do it themselves or have a mechanic do it for them. Below, I’ll describe why you need to maintain the right pressure in your tires. Then, I’ll explain how to check them.

Importance Of Tire Pressure

When your tires don’t have enough pressure in them, it can reduce the safety of your vehicle while driving, limit its performance, and result in higher operating costs. First, low pressure can reduce traction and make the tires less responsive to your steering commands. During bad weather, this can lead to traffic accidents.

Second, if you have ever driven your car when the pressure is low, you may have noticed a sluggish response. This is due to a gripping reaction that the tires are having on the road, often because of worn treads. Third, it’s estimated that motorists burn through 5 million extra gallons of gas each day as a result of low pressure. The reduction in fuel efficiency drives up the cost of operating your car.

How To Check Tire Pressure

First, you’ll need to buy a gauge. A digital model that offers an accurate reading of the pressure should cost less than $15. If possible, check it before driving your car. When you drive, heat builds in your tires, and it can gradually increase the pressure within.

You’ll notice a small cap that covers each of the air valve stems. Remove the caps and place them next to you. They have a tendency to disappear, so you might want to put them in your pocket. Next, place your tire gauge on the valve stem and press in. You’ll hear a momentary hissing before it connects snugly. A couple of seconds should be long enough to get an accurate reading of the pressure. Write it down for each of your tires.

Before you fill them with air, take a look at your car manufacturer’s handbook. It should list the recommended pressure levels. Sometimes, the recommended levels will be the same for all 4 tires. Other times, the levels for the front will be different than those for the rear. Once you have checked the air pressure and you know the manufacturer’s recommended levels, you can visit any gas station to fill them. Most stations will charge a few quarters for the compressed air, so bring some change with you.

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