When your diesel engine emits a plethora of white smoke, this can be a concerning sign for drivers. There are a few reasons why this may be happening. Let’s take a look at causes and solutions for drivers experiencing this issue, especially while accelerating.
What Causes White Smoke To Come From Diesel Engines?
Typically, when white smoke emerges from a diesel engine, it means unburned fuel, oil, or coolant is entering the combustion chamber. Let’s take a deeper look at these three specific issues below.
Coolant Leak
When coolant leaks into your combustion chamber, it ultimately escapes through the exhaust with burnt fuel. This will result in white smoke and occasionally a sweet odor. Cracked head gaskets are common offenders when it comes to these leaks. The head gasket is located between the cylinder head and the engine block, for reference.
This part serves as an airtight seal between the two components, helping circulate coolant from the top to the bottom of the engine. If the head gasket gets cracked along the coolant pathway, fluid may leak into the cylinder and combustion chamber.
Coolant can also leak into the internal part of your engine through an engine block or cracked cylinder head. Coolant leaks may lead the engine to overheat.
Oil Problems
Oil leaks can also be the culprit when it comes to white smoke. Oil can sneak into the combustion chamber through damaged components, such as gaskets, piston rings, and valve seals.
The white smoke, however, should be the least of your worries when it comes to an oil leak. Oil is responsible for lubricating moving parts in order to maintain a smooth performance, overall. If the leak is not addressed promptly, crucial parts of the engine may deteriorate and lead to larger issues.
Bad Fuel Injectors
Bad fuel injectors are commonly behind the emission of white smoke from diesel engines. The fuel injector is in charge of releasing the correct amount of fuel at the exact right time.
If it fails to do so, raw diesel can sneak through the combustion chamber and back out of the exhaust steam. This will create the white smoke.
How To Diagnose White Smoke From Diesel Engines
If you wish to diagnose the cause of this issue yourself, take the following steps.
Visual Inspection
Cautiously examine the white smoke before panicking. If the smoke is thick and billowing, it’s time to either pop your hood or take the car to a local repair shop.
If it looks more like steam than smoke and the weather is quite chilly, the smoke is likely the result of frozen soot burning away. This is a minor issue, especially when compared to the causes listed above. Checking and replacing the glow plugs could be helpful at this time.
Examine Coolant Levels
To check your coolant levels, turn off your car and let the engine cool down for a few hours. After that time has passed, pop your hood and find the coolant reservoir. Oftentimes, coolant fluid is blue, green, pink, red, or yellow.
The reservoir will have a minimum and maximum line on it. You do have a coolant leak if the level is approaching or beneath the minimum line. If the coolant appears rusted or oily, it has likely been contaminated and requires the eyes of a professional diesel mechanic.
Compression Test
A simple compression engine test can reveal the cause of the white smoke. The test can expose internal problems, such as a damaged valve, cylinder, or gasket. Technicians will perform these tests when a car has performance issues, especially a lack of acceleration.
During a compression test, the technician will place a gauge on each cylinder in order to calculate how much pressure is being produced. When a cylinder is underperforming, the technician will search for internal damage.
Check Oil Condition
Once you have ruled out any other possibility, it’s time to pull the dipstick and check your oil’s condition. To check the oil, start by turning off the car and popping the hood. Grab a cloth and locate the dipstick, which is likely found on the left side of the engine featuring a yellow or orange handle.
When you find the dipstick, pull it out and use the cloth to completely wipe away the excess oil. Reinsert the dipstick by pushing it down as far as you can. Pull it out again and look at the lines labeled near the bottom of the stick as “safe” or “add”.
If there is oil found between the two lines, then all is well. If it is either at or below the “add” or “safe” line, you are low on oil. A diesel mechanic should inspect your vehicle in this event.
How To Prevent White Smoke
There are a few tasks drivers can do to prevent this smoke coming from a diesel engine.
Keep Up With Regular Maintenance
You should take your diesel vehicle in for routine maintenance checks at the 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000-mile marks.
During maintenance checks, technicians will inspect and test the components and systems that are most likely to cause smoke.
Monitor Coolant Levels
It’s important to make a habit of checking the engine coolant every 30,000-80,000 miles. Doing this can save drivers a headache in the future.
Always Address Issues Promptly
Engines are quite complex machines featuring several interdependent parts. To put it simply, if you notice an issue, time is of the essence.
Contact the experienced team at Heath’s Auto Service in Cottonwood, AZ for more information.
Heath’s Auto Service In Cottonwood, AZ
At Heath’s Auto Service, our comprehensive range of services covers everything from routine maintenance to complex repairs. Our certified technicians are skilled in handling oil changes, brake inspections, engine diagnostics, tire rotations, and much more. Whether it’s a minor tune-up or a major overhaul, trust us to get you back on the road with confidence. Contact our team at Heath’s Auto Service today!
