Q: Thick white smoke coming out of tailpipe
My car overheated and now I have thick white smoke coming out of the tailpipe.
Recommended Services
| Car is overheating Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
Hi there. White smoke is an indicator that coolant is getting into the combustion chamber and exiting out the tail pipe. When you overheated the engine, the cylinder head gaskets blew and the head or block might have cracked from the high temperature conditions. A thorough inspection of the overheating problem would need to be done by a qualified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, to determine the extent of the problem.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
What does the SRS indicator on the dash mean?
Your air bag system is technically called the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and you’ll see that abbreviation on each air bag cover, as well as a couple of lights on the dash. The main SRS indicator looks like a person...
Car bouncing and shaking
It sounds like your struts are worn out. The strut is designed to support the weight of the vehicle via the coil spring and serve as a pivot point for the steering. Worn struts can result in a vehicle that...
Check Engine light stays on
Hello. Without knowing the code and the problem that is occurring then it will be hard for me to give you good information. From what has been replaced though, I am assuming that this is an issue with the cooling...
Head gasket, alternator, engine
I would recommend getting a quote for each of these repairs and comparing it to an engine replacement. It would be hard to tell without seeing the vehicle firsthand whether or not repairing those two items will resolve the problem....
Engine oil light comes on and then goes out when driving
Hi There, The engine oil light (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-pressure-light-is-on-inspection) is driven by the oil pressure in the motor at any given time. When you first start the vehicle up, this light comes on as it does a system check and momentarily detects...
How much to repair a u-joint on 2009 bmw 328i all wheel drive x drive? 2009 BMW 328xi
Hello - I believe, from your symptoms, that you have either a bad flex disk (https://www.yourmechanic.com/parts/drive-shaft-flex-joint), or a bad transmission mount. The flex disk connects the transmission to the front of the (rearward-facing) driveshaft. It is a giant rubber/fiber doughnut,...
brakes
Brake noise is not normal and is due to the failure to use OEM (dealer supplied) brake pads, apply shims to the pads as required in the OEM set-up, use appropriate anti-squeal compounds, and also failure to properly re-surface the...
OIL ON SPARK PLUGS
Oil can leak into the combustion chamber from either the piston rings or through the valve guides (past the valve stem oil seals). Of course once oil is there, the spark plug can get contaminated. If the leak is past...
I hit a curb on my right tire. It is now leaking green fluid and oil near the belt and pullys and the bottom
The green fluid, if from the engine compartment, is probably anti-freeze. If the fluid is from the tire itself, it is probably a tire sealing compound that was within the tire. If the anti-freeze and/or oil leak is from the...
Related articles
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 BMW 7-Series
When When power, performance and luxury are at the top of your list, the 2012 BMW 7-Series is sure to be a perfect fit. From the stylish design to two length options for enhanced comfort, three available engines and two...
How to Buy a Good Quality Gasket
There There are a wide variety of gasket types on a typical vehicle, from head gaskets which are installed between the cylinder head and the engine block to engine gaskets which seal out harmful elements and keep the engine safe...
Understanding the BMW Condition Based Servicing and Service Indicator Lights
Car symbols, or dashboard lights, are a car service reminder. The BMW Condition Based Servicing system indicates when and what service your car needs.
Browse other content
Estimates
Services