What Is The Oil Leaking From My Exhaust?

What Is The Oil Leaking From My Exhaust? Some issues with your car and automobile are more noticeable. If black smoke is coming out of the exhaust/tailpipe, it can be easily noticed and be taken care of in time. However certain issues like the oil leaks are less noticeable.

Such an oil leak can be a symptom of something more grave. An oil leak from the exhaust of the car may be a symptom of the wearing of the internal components and parts of the engine or some serious failure.

Many different components in the engine of the car include:

• the piston rings (of the car’s valve),
• head gaskets
• others

Oil or fluids may come out from the exhaust/tailpipe of the car when there is something not going well with these internal components. If you find oil coming out from the exhaust/tailpipe of your car, you can take the car to a repair centre. The professional mechanic can look into the matter.

Reasons for Oil Leaking from Exhaust/tail Pipe

A recent report by the DoT (the transportation department) states that approx. 70,000 vehicle problems occurred due to issues with the fuel combustion systems of automobiles.

When the oil is coming out from the exhaust/tailpipe, it often reveals that a problem has occurred. Below are five important steps that you can follow to find out the issue with the exhaust/tail system of the car when oil is leaking from the exhaust.

An Obstruction in the PVC Valve

The gases from the internal engine flow via the PVC valve and reach the combustion chamber subsequently. When the gas volume increases, it may create pressure on the car’s engine. Gas volume may increase due to an obstruction. In case the pressure is high, the oil may flow through different valve seals. It ultimately reaches the exhaust/tailpipe.

When this problem occurs, the car will emit blue coloured smoke. The spark plugs will also have oil smeared onto them.

Examining the Exhaust/Tail Pipe

In some cases, the oil coming out of the exhaust/tailpipe may not be actually oil. If the exhaust/tail system of the car is not inspected and cleaned regularly, the exhaust/tailpipe may gather soot. (in the form of a thick layer)

This soot, when combined with the condensed substances coming out of the exhaust, can result in the formation of liquid that resembles oil. You can check and examine the end of the exhaust yourself by wearing a hand glove and by running your finger inside the tailpipe.

Wearing of the Valve Guides

The flow of the gases inside and outside the engine is managed and guided by the valves. The valves consist of seals that are located around their shafts. The seals may get worn out sometimes, which may result in the leakage of the oil through the exhaust/tail gases. The smoke emitted by the car and automobile turns bluish when the problem occurs.

Torn/Ruptured Gaskets

The head gasket found in the engine of the car is a seal between the block and the engine heads. When the gasket of the car and the engine blows away, the fluids may get through the seals. These fluids can then subsequently mix with the exhaust or the tail stream.

When you find that fluids are coming out of the exhaust of the vehicle, the blown and defective gasket can be a cause of it. The gasket of the vehicle and the engine will usually blow away in cases including excessive burning of the car’s fuel or an overheated engine.

It will also be evident in the form of decreased performance of the engine.

Checking and Examining the Colour of the Smoke

For this purpose, you can monitor the colour of the smoke coming out of the tailpipe or exhaust/tailpipe. The colour of the smoke may help you better determine the cause of the problem.

For instance, if black smoke is coming out of the tailpipe, it is a symptom of improperly burnt fuel.

On the other hand, grey or bluish smoke reveals that the engine oil has leaked into the internal chamber of the car. White smoke, when emitted by the tailpipe, can be due to the defective piston oil rings or due to some defect in the car’s combustion chamber.

However, if you only find the water coming out of the exhaust/tailpipe, it is not a cause of concern. While water may usually come out from the exhaust/tailpipe in the form of vapour, it may also condense when the environment or surface of the exhaust/tailpipe is quite cold.

What Is The Oil Leaking From My Exhaust? – Conclusion

Fluid or oil coming out from the exhaust/tailpipe of the tailpipe may be a common problem with many cars. However, it is even more common with used cars that have a long usage history.

To be on the safe side and to prevent vehicle breakdown, you should ensure that your car is inspected and maintained regularly and frequently. Such proactive measures may provide for a hassle-free and safe driving experience. You should not panic when you find that oil/fluid is coming out from the exhaust/tail, and should reach out to a professional mechanic for proper checkup and maintenance.