As a driver, it can be challenging to know when a problem has arisen with your vehicle without prior automotive training. However, one of the clearest signs that there’s something wrong is when smoke or steam billows from under the hood. While a towing service will usually be along quickly to help you in this event, it’s wise to know why this could happen and what you can do to prevent it. Find out more in the guide below.

What Causes Smoke Under a Car’s Hood?

Smoke under the hood is almost always caused by leaks or spillages of fluids like motor oil, transmission or brake fluid, coolant, or power steering fluid. When these fluids escape and are exposed to heat from the engine or exhaust system, they’ll ignite and turn into clouds of smoke in a variety of colors. Any vapors or fumes coming from your car are signs that you should immediately pull over and wait for a towing service to get you to an auto repair shop.

What Should You Do About Different Smoke Colors?

Automotive smoke is usually white and sweet-smelling, blue or gray and bitter-smelling, or thick and black while smelling like burning fuel.

White smoke is typically a sign of a coolant leak. If a head gasket or coolant line has developed a leak, it could allow coolant into the engine compartment. It may also be a sign of a cracked cylinder head or engine block. Check the oil dipstick to see if a brown greasy deposit is present, as this is a sign of a blown head gasket. If your car is backfiring, it may indicate a cracked cylinder head.

Blue or gray smoke is usually a sign that oil is burning in the engine compartment. Some issues which might cause this to happen include leaky valve seals, damaged or worn piston rings, and overfilled crankcase, using the wrong type of oil, or not changing the oil often enough. Alternatively, some oil may have been spilled during a recent oil change, in which case the problem can be addressed by cleaning out the engine compartment.

Black smoke is caused by unburnt fuel. This is often the case with older cars, which use carburetors instead of modern electronic fuel injection systems. Over time, a carburetor can develop leaks which drip oil onto the engine. Alternatively, a leaking fuel injector, defective fuel pressure regulator, or damaged ignition component could be disrupting the combustion cycle. As a result, unburnt fuel may pass into the exhaust system, producing the thick, black smoke smelling of gasoline.

If you notice smoke coming from under your hood, turn to the towing experts at Garrett's Towing & Recovery. Based in Thomasville, NC, and serving drivers throughout High Point, Lexington, and the Piedmont Triad area since 1969, they offer a full range of 24-hour roadside assistance services along with rapid response times and courteous staff. Call (336) 476-3153 to request help, and visit them online to learn more about their services.