The last time our lawn mower emitted white smoke, I didn’t know what to do because it was new to me. What does it mean when your lawn mower is smoking?
Luckily, my brother was home when this happened. He explained to me why this was happening to our machine.
I was told that its coolant was getting into the combustion chambers of the machine. This sign shows a cracked or leaking head gasket, making it possible for coolant to leak into the cylinder.
When the matter got worse, I had to replace the head gasket, and it stopped the leak and kept the engine from damaged.
When you see a car emitting white smoke, it signifies the car has a mechanical problem. Many factors can be the reason behind this. If you leave them unattended, they will lead to bigger problems.
However, your car emission of white smoke can result from the weather. For example, when you start your car in winter, white smoke will appear and disappear for a while.
Causes of White Smoke
Below is a list of some possible causes of white smoke and their solutions.
Broken Cylinder Head
When the cylinder head or gasket seal of your car engine gets damaged, coolant leaks into the cylinder and results in the engine producing white smoke. The coolant in the car will be exposed to extreme temperature and pressure that comes from the combustion engine.
Furthermore, the engine oil will be contaminated, creating white pleasant odor smoke. You can use a dipstick to identify this damage.
Condesation
Condensation is another reason you see white smoke coming from your car’s exhaust when you start it in the morning. This is a common occurrence in the winter.
The white smoke that came as a result of condensation disappears within seconds. Condensation is a common weather problem. It is not a mechanical problem.
Coolant Reservoir Damage
The coolant reservoir tank can cause coolant leakage and oil contamination. There are fewer possibilities of getting oil contamination due to reservoir damage. When there is seepage from the reservoir, it can only result in external damage to the tank.
When the coolant reservoir is damaged, the engine’s cooling is affected, leading to overheating of the engine. You can perform a compression or leak-down test on the engine to identify the coolant leakage.
A car engine can emit white smoke due to malfunction or ruptured coolant reservoir tank.
Oil Leakage
Oil leakage from the piston rings or valve seals into the combustion chamber occurs when the gasket is damaged. The oil will mix with fuel and come out of the exhaust. The smoke it produces will be bluish or grayish.
You have to get this fixed as soon as possible because it may damage other vital parts of the engine. Most times, it is suggested that you change your engine gasket. Go to dealers on auto accessories and parts to buy faulty parts you want to replace.
Error In Engine Control Unit
Glitches in the fuel injector can be caused by a faulty engine control unit or car computer. This will give rise to thin white smoke emitting from the car exhaust. The fault is not from the fuel injector because the engine control unit is malfunctioning.
Plug off the battery to fix this fault. The vehicle system will automatically restart and reprogram. If it does not correct, consult your mechanic.
Bad Fuel Injector
Pumping the right quantity of fuel at the right time into the combustion chamber is the primary function of the fuel injector. When the fuel injector malfunctions, a short-circuit will result in a cloud of white smoke coming out of the exhaust. Replace the fuel injector to fix it.
Engine Block Crack
When the engine block develops a crack or gets damaged in any way, it will smoke the car engine. It is a major mechanical problem, and getting it fixed will cost you good money. It is advised you go for used cars that are for sale instead of spending much money on repairing them.
How To Stop White Smoke From Exhaust
You can apply certain measures to reduce the rate of white smoke coming out of your car exhaust. Go through these tested precautionary steps that will give answers to your question on how to stop white smoke from coming out of your car exhaust.
- Run a check on your car’s coolant level every week or every two weeks. If you notice continuous reduction, know that the coolant is damaged or sleeping.
- Check the manifold gasket for any crack, rust, or damage.
- Make it a duty to clean your injector monthly. Change it to serve you better every six months if you can.
- If your engine is a diesel engine, change your fuel pump after it has done 4000 km.
FAQs
What does it mean when your lawn mower is smoking?
The ratio of gasoline to air mixture that goes into your lawn mower‘s engine is regulated by the carburetor. If the mixture is more gasoline, it is a sign that the carburetor is not getting enough air.
This will result in black smoke coming out of the exhaust. A dirty or clogged air filter may stop enough air from entering the carburetor.
What does it mean when a lawn mower blows white smoke?
When the engine is over-filled with oil or when the oxygen in the engine is excess, the engine will produce white smoke. Other things that will make your engine produce white smokers are incorrect oil grades, air leaks, worn cylinder/rings, or a blown head gasket.
How do you fix white smoke?
White smoke occurs because of a cracked or leaking head gasket. When the head gasket is cracked, it will result in coolant seeping into the cylinder. If the matter gets worst, change the head gasket.
At the initial stage, you can try to repair the head gasket, and seal off the leak, to avoid damage to your engine.