Although we’re starting to see a shift towards electric cars, the vast majority of vehicles on North York roads are those powered by fossil fuels. The chances are that the car parked in your driveway is, in fact, powered by gas. And one by-product of internally combusting fossil fuel is emissions from your vehicle’s tailpipe. However, did you know you can learn a great deal about the health of your car’s engine by observing the colour of your vehicle’s exhaust emissions? If you want to learn the causes of white smoke from a car exhaust or the causes of black smoke from a car exhaust , we suggest you read on to find out more. Black Smoke — Why? If you’ve ever noticed black smoke from your car’s exhaust , your natural reaction may be to panic. While most modern vehicles no-longer emit big, black clouds of car smoke from their exhausts, there could be a few reasons as to why this is happening. Firstly, it depends on whether your car is powered by petrol or diesel. If petrol, then the cause of black smoke from your car’s exhaust may simply be a case of poor air-fuel mixture. Combustion takes place by combining air and fuel with a spark. If there’s too much fuel, this can lead to black-coloured smoke. Rather than a cause for alarm, a quick visit and diagnostics scan by a trained automotive repair shop should help you get the problem identified. It could be as simple as a faulty sensor, a clogged air intake or filter or problematic fuel injectors. All of these fixes are relatively simple. If you’re driving a diesel-powered car or truck, then there may be a couple of other explanations behind the cause of black smoke from your car’s exhaust. If you own an older diesel-powered vehicle, then some amount of black smoke under load (such as hard acceleration or climbing a steep incline) may be expected. If you own a modern diesel with a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter), then the occasional plume of black smoke may be down to the expulsion of built-up soot. In either scenario, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern. White Smoke — Should I be worried? A little white smoke from your car’s exhaust on start-up shouldn’t be cause for concern. On a cold day, it may not be smoke at all and just steam or condensed water. However, if you see larger plumes, the causes of white smoke from a car’s exhaust may necessitate a trip to a car specialist. Consistent white or grey smoke could be caused by your car’s coolant mixing with the engine’s combustion process. This isn’t good, as the coolant should never be part of such a process — and this means that if it has found its way there, there has to be a serious underlying problem. The first suspect may be the head gasket, which will inevitably lead to overheating. More seriously, it could be a blown cylinder head or cracked engine block — both of which are potentially catastrophic for a car’s engine. No matter the cause of white smoke from a car’s exhaust , you should stay vigilant and get it checked out. While it may be nothing, bringing it to a specialist auto shop may be best to stay on the safe side. Blue Smoke — Potentially Serious Finally, blue smoke — often very light blue or even pale grey — may be indicative of a more severe issue with your engine. Blue car smoke from an exhaust is a symptom of oil being burnt during combustion. This isn’t the same as an oil leak that leaves a patch on your driveway. This, rather, is an internal leak, which will eventually drain the engine of oil (perhaps without you even noticing it)! Blue smoke could be the result of a leaking valve seal — or worse, a piston ring. Both jobs require a partial engine rebuild, at the least. If you own a vehicle with a turbocharger, blue smoke may indicate an issue with the turbo. This may be accompanied by poor performance, such as sluggish acceleration. Once again, if you sight blue smoke in your rear-view mirror, it’s best to get your car inspected. Book an Appointment with J&E Tokyo Auto Collision If you need professional advice on why you’re witnessing car smoke from an exhaust , then our experts at J&E Tokyo are happy to help. We provide the best car and fleet repair services for customers in North York and can help with a proper and accurate diagnosis of any suspected fault on your car or truck. Give us a call at 416-743-8888 to learn more about our services or book an appointment with our team today!

Your car is likely one of your most prized possessions — and as such, it’s only natural to want to keep it in tip-top condition. But when it comes to everyday habits, you may be surprised to learn that some seemingly innocuous actions can cause severe damage to a car over time. Here’s a quick overview of some of the more common habits and how you can avoid them in the future. Driving with a Light or Empty Tank There are many schools of thought out there that suggest that topping up the minimum to keep your car’s tank continuously close to empty saves fuel on account of the reduced on-board weight. While this theory does have merit in practice, you may end up spending more in the long term due to severe damage to your car . As carefully refined as most fuel is today, it’s rarely 100% pure. Over time, particles and other foreign artifacts may end up settling at the bottom of your petrol or diesel tank. When a car’s tank is close to empty, the fuel pump inevitably draws these particles up. While the fuel filter should stop these substrates from doing damage to the engine, the fuel pump itself may end up either getting clogged or subject to undue stress. To avoid possible premature pump failure, it’s recommended that you instead keep your tank at over a quarter full—if not more. Overloading Your Car Overloading a car can have a dramatic impact on several components. While it’s tempting to assume that if you have space, it’s safe to pack it to the brim, it’s essential to understand that each car has been designed to accept a maximum weight. Adding excess weight can cause severe damage to a car’s components. Components that can suffer damage include, but are not limited to, suspension, wheels, tires, and excess stress on engine and transmission components. It’s important to note that adding great weight can also lead to changes in handling characteristics and an increase in stopping distances. Always consult your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications for maximum carrying capacities. It’s also important to note that many makers specify different tire pressures for different weights. Revving a Cold Engine If you own a car with an internal combustion engine, you might not be aware that the most wear and tear on your vehicle’s engine is when it’s cold. This is because your traditional motor has many moving parts which cause friction. It’s why we add oil to engines — to reduce friction caused by metal-on-metal contact. Your car’s engine oil is most effective when hot and your engine is at operating temperature. To prevent premature wear and tear on an engine, it’s advised to wait until operating temperature is reached. If you cannot practically do so while stationary, it’s recommended your drive gently until the temperature gauge is in its normal operating zone. Sudden Acceleration or Braking Can braking too hard damage a car? While it may not cause severe damage to a car in the short-term, constant and sudden acceleration or braking will cause excessive use of fuel, as well as reducing the lifespan of several critical components. Heavy and unnecessary acceleration without factoring in your surroundings is a sure-fire way to burn excess petrol. In contrast, sudden braking without anticipation can not only be jarring to passengers and those behind you, but it will also add undue strain to the braking components of your car. Therefore, it’s advised that you accelerate in a smooth and gentle fashion, using just enough gas to get up to speed without causing inconvenience to those around you. Similarly, the application of brakes can be smooth and less wasteful, especially if you anticipate things such as red lights and stop signs, coasting to a stop with minimal brake application. Missing Scheduled Check-ups Sticking to the recommended maintenance schedule is perhaps one of the most effective ways to avoid unintended damage to your car. For example, missing a simple check-up can lead to how to damage a car battery, damage an engine and much more. Oil changes, brake check-ups, and regular services are all critical to extending your car’s service life and each of its individual components. Frequent fluid changes will help the service life of the engine, brake and transmission systems. Book an Appointment with J&E Tokyo Auto Collision If you ever need further advice regarding car maintenance or bodywork repairs, we’re happy to give you a helping hand. We provide the best car and fleet repair services for customers in North York to ensure their peace of mind, regardless of driving habits. Give us a call at 416-743-8888 to learn more about our services or book an appointment with our team today!