Smoke from Car's Exhaust-Why?

akshay4587 · 21st November 2010, 09:27

I got End Can(Muffler)of my Accent replaced Last weekend.
My car is usually driven with a Light foot(2-2.7KRPM) 95% of the times,and driven only by me,and not to mention,it has always been pampered with Mobil 1 fully synthetic.
Yesterday early morning,while coming back from chandigarh,i found a nice open stretch,so for a change,i stretched her legs in overdrive.
Suddenly i got a call,and i pulled over to the road side,i let the car idle,and came out for a breath of fresh air and attend the call.
I suddenly sensed burning smell,i was standing near the front left wheel,and i got a mild heart attack,from what i saw,there was smoke all over(infact near the front wheel too).
Immediately i ran and shutdown the engine,and fearing worst,i popped the hood,thankfully everything was like as it should have been,no oil\coolant anywhere,and even the coolant can was full.
I started her,and it came to life normally,then i noticed smoke is coming from the exhaust,i was so heartbroken.:(.
I revved her,and more smoke,and lots of it in blue color,with extreme burning odour.
Checked coolant and engine oil again,and found it to be normal.
slowly i left that place,and 10Kms later i was back home.
I checked it again,but there were no signs of smoke????
i revved it again,and no smoke,all i had was water and water vapours from exhaust.?
Why did it happen?
1)New Exhaust muffler?
2)I had got oil changed sometime back,and i had 100ml of extra mobil1 lying around,and the mech,had added that too to the oil,can it be due to extra 100-200ml oil in the sump???

manikjeet · 21st November 2010, 10:56

are you sure it was blue smoke. usually blue smoke comes when the engine consumes oil.
it could be the extra mobil1.
and the new muffler will sound empty but never give out blue smoke

do a simple test
start the engine and put your hand on exhaust so as to cover it completely then let it go

see the colour of smoke and hear for a pop sound

now go to the engine bay take out the dip stick and put your finger over it. remove your tum and see for oil traces on it

it no blue smoke comes and no oil on the finger the engine is fine

ps during the exhaust thing white smoke is good sign

akshay4587 · 21st November 2010, 13:08

Manik,i already checked,by covering the exhaust with hand,and then revving it.
There is no smoke,i only get traces of water on hand.
Also,searched around on internet,and asked my mechanic.
The new muffler comes coated with some material to prevent rusting while storage,the smoke comes due to its burning,i just wish its that only.

Aroy · 21st November 2010, 13:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Manik,i already checked,by covering the exhaust with hand,and then revving it.
There is no smoke,i only get traces of water on hand.
Also,searched around on internet,and asked my mechanic.
The new muffler comes coated with some material to prevent rusting while storage,the smoke comes due to its burning,i just wish its that only.

Yes that is the only reason. New parts come with a coating as well as plastic wrap. At times while fitting, small pieces of plastic remain inside. When the exhaust is hot enough the plastic ignites.

manikjeet · 21st November 2010, 15:00

yes bro i also hope the same

I suggest to let the exhaust fill up and then see

v&v · 21st November 2010, 15:23

@akshay4587 - Since you said blue smoke, it is always advisable to double check.
Get a compression test done, but before that once again drive hard at higher RPM. Check for oil burning smell again/smoke.

it will clear all doubts.

abhibh · 21st November 2010, 16:13

Early morning ? how early

I doubt there is anything wrong with the car. Can be due to extra oil or fuel.

Similar thing happened in Skoda and you know how such things gives heart attack in Skoda's. Early morning white smoke on pushing hard went back to normal by 10AM. Never happened again.

Check now if you still see blue smoke ?

GTO · 22nd November 2010, 11:16

I've always noticed a li'l smoke for the first 300 - 400 kms after getting a new exhaust. Been told it's due to the oil & coatings inside the pipes + muffler. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Just drive around for a couple of days and come back to update us.

passion4cars · 23rd November 2010, 04:53

Hi ,

It could be due to driving at high speed , as its normal for cars to consume & burn a bit of oil at high speeds ,

also the extra 100ml oil at high speeds could burn out - if you dont see it again , its the extra oil which you put in.

kindly update your Kms on car & year.

Thanks :-)

SirAlec · 23rd November 2010, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by passion4cars

Hi ,

It could be due to driving at high speed , as its normal for cars to consume & burn a bit of oil at high speeds ,

also the extra 100ml oil at high speeds could burn out - if you dont see it again , its the extra oil which you put in.

kindly update your Kms on car & year.

Thanks :-)

Only you have worn piston ring.

BTW he is using synthetic remember, it made for such high rpms/speeds

21st November 2010, 09:27	#1
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,152 Thanked: 4,553 Times View My Garage	Smoke from Car's Exhaust-Why? I got End Can(Muffler)of my Accent replaced Last weekend. My car is usually driven with a Light foot(2-2.7KRPM) 95% of the times,and driven only by me,and not to mention,it has always been pampered with Mobil 1 fully synthetic. Yesterday early morning,while coming back from chandigarh,i found a nice open stretch,so for a change,i stretched her legs in overdrive. Suddenly i got a call,and i pulled over to the road side,i let the car idle,and came out for a breath of fresh air and attend the call. I suddenly sensed burning smell,i was standing near the front left wheel,and i got a mild heart attack,from what i saw,there was smoke all over(infact near the front wheel too). Immediately i ran and shutdown the engine,and fearing worst,i popped the hood,thankfully everything was like as it should have been,no oil\coolant anywhere,and even the coolant can was full. I started her,and it came to life normally,then i noticed smoke is coming from the exhaust,i was so heartbroken.:(. I revved her,and more smoke,and lots of it in blue color,with extreme burning odour. Checked coolant and engine oil again,and found it to be normal. slowly i left that place,and 10Kms later i was back home. I checked it again,but there were no signs of smoke???? i revved it again,and no smoke,all i had was water and water vapours from exhaust.? Why did it happen? 1)New Exhaust muffler? 2)I had got oil changed sometime back,and i had 100ml of extra mobil1 lying around,and the mech,had added that too to the oil,can it be due to extra 100-200ml oil in the sump???
	() Thanks

21st November 2010, 10:56	#2
manikjeet Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chandigarh Posts: 1,618 Thanked: 295 Times View My Garage	are you sure it was blue smoke. usually blue smoke comes when the engine consumes oil. it could be the extra mobil1. and the new muffler will sound empty but never give out blue smoke do a simple test start the engine and put your hand on exhaust so as to cover it completely then let it go see the colour of smoke and hear for a pop sound now go to the engine bay take out the dip stick and put your finger over it. remove your tum and see for oil traces on it it no blue smoke comes and no oil on the finger the engine is fine ps during the exhaust thing white smoke is good sign
	() Thanks

21st November 2010, 13:08	#3
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,152 Thanked: 4,553 Times View My Garage	Manik,i already checked,by covering the exhaust with hand,and then revving it. There is no smoke,i only get traces of water on hand. Also,searched around on internet,and asked my mechanic. The new muffler comes coated with some material to prevent rusting while storage,the smoke comes due to its burning,i just wish its that only.
	() Thanks

21st November 2010, 15:00	#5
manikjeet Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chandigarh Posts: 1,618 Thanked: 295 Times View My Garage	yes bro i also hope the same I suggest to let the exhaust fill up and then see
	() Thanks

21st November 2010, 15:23	#6
v&v Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,545 Thanked: 1,207 Times View My Garage	@akshay4587 - Since you said blue smoke, it is always advisable to double check. Get a compression test done, but before that once again drive hard at higher RPM. Check for oil burning smell again/smoke. it will clear all doubts.
	() Thanks

21st November 2010, 16:13	#7
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,769 Thanked: 39 Times	Early morning ? how early I doubt there is anything wrong with the car. Can be due to extra oil or fuel. Similar thing happened in Skoda and you know how such things gives heart attack in Skoda's. Early morning white smoke on pushing hard went back to normal by 10AM. Never happened again. Check now if you still see blue smoke ? Last edited by abhibh : 21st November 2010 at 16:20.
	() Thanks

22nd November 2010, 11:16	#8
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,482 Thanked: 309,173 Times View My Garage	I've always noticed a li'l smoke for the first 300 - 400 kms after getting a new exhaust. Been told it's due to the oil & coatings inside the pipes + muffler. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Just drive around for a couple of days and come back to update us.
	() Thanks

23rd November 2010, 04:53	#9
passion4cars BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 156 Thanked: 6 Times	Hi , It could be due to driving at high speed , as its normal for cars to consume & burn a bit of oil at high speeds , also the extra 100ml oil at high speeds could burn out - if you dont see it again , its the extra oil which you put in. kindly update your Kms on car & year. Thanks :-)
	() Thanks