Why Is My Car Smoking But Not Overheating?

If your car starts smoking while you’re driving around Cherry Hill, something is likely wrong, even if your engine isn’t overheating. An engine smoking or white smoke under the hood could be caused by any number of problems including: 

• Inoperative cooling systems
• Car burning oil
• Damaged valves, pistons, or wiring
• Leaking head gaskets

If you notice smoke coming from your car, you’ll want to exercise caution and drive as little as possible. Schedule service at our service center in Turnersville as soon as possible, and browse our guide for a more in-depth answer, to “Why is my car smoking but not overheating?”

What Does it Mean if Your Car is Smoking But Not Overheating?

There are a few possible answers to, “Why is my car smoking but not overheating?” To diagnose the issue, start by locating where the smoke is coming from. It could be your engine smoking, or strange smoke coming from your exhaust as you drive around Maple Shade. Then you can use the smell and color of the smoke to determine the cause: 

Engine Smoking

• Oil Spillage and Leakage – If oil spills on the engine, it can burn and send up smoke without there being any overheating. The smoke will be blue or gray.
• Leaking Coolant – If you see white smoke under the hood, it’s most likely burning coolant that has come into contact with the hot components beneath your hood. This smoke will smell sweet. 
• Damaged Electrical Wiring – If the white smoke under the hood smells especially pungent, then it could be burning electrical wiring. This doesn’t happen often but is easily noticeable when it does. 

Exhaust Smoke

• Black Smoke from Exhaust – It’s normal for there to be a little black smoke when you start your vehicle. It’s only a problem if it persists. Then it could be a sign of a damaged fuel injector, faulty fuel pressure regulator, or dirty air filter.
• White or Gray Smoke from Exhaust – Just like if you see white smoke from under the hood, persistent white smoke usually indicates a coolant leak. If there’s only a little bit, it’s probably condensation. 
• Blue Smoke from Exhaust – If you see blue or dark gray smoke, that’s an indication of burning oil. You might have oil in your engine because of worn pistons, damaged seals, a broken gasket, or a malfunctioning PCV valve. Check your oil level when the engine cools and see whether it’s dropped. 

The Acura Turnersville Service Team Can Help!

Our service center is only a short drive from Medford, and we’ll be happy to help you fix whatever is causing your vehicle to smoke. Check out our service specials to get a great deal on your service, and feel free to use our other service tips and tricks to take care of your vehicle.