Make Your Car Stop Smoking

Even if you perform all of the recommended maintenance on your vehicle, such as changing the oil, rotating the tires or checking the fluids and air every single time you fill up your gas tank, sooner or later something will need to be repaired. However, just because something is wrong with your car does not necessarily mean you will be facing a costly repair bill. If your car is smoking, do some troubleshooting to narrow down what might be the cause before you head to the mechanic's shop.

Instructions

1. Determine where the smoke is originating. If the smoke is coming from beneath the hood of the car, make certain there is no fire, then look for leaks that might be causing the smoke. It's also possible that you simply have spilled some oil onto the engine when pouring it in and now it is burning off.

2. Continue to look for the source of the smoke if it is not the engine. Most likely, if the smoke is not coming from the engine, it is coming from your exhaust pipe.

3. Note the color of the smoke. If the smoke is coming out of your car's tailpipe, check your radiator and the overflow bottle to make sure there is a sufficient amount of antifreeze. If not, add some, being careful to add only antifreeze, not water, and using the proper type of coolant.

4. Determine whether the smoke is blue or black. If the smoke is blue, it is a sign that oil has gotten into your exhaust system. Do a tune-up on your car, check your seals, o-rings and gaskets, and do an oil change using a heavier or thicker engine oil than you previously did.

5. Call your mechanic if black smoke is present. Black exhaust is generally a sign of a bigger problem, such as a bad sensor, engine computer, carburetor, fuel pump or fuel injector, among other possible problems.

Tips & Warnings

• Read your car's owner's manual to find out what type of motor oil and coolant you should be using.

• Don't continue to drive the car if there is thick black smoke is coming from the exhaust.