Your engine is producing so much exhaust because it is hemorrhaging fluid. You can determine which fluid is leaking out of the engine based on the color of the exhaust. For example, if you have a serious oil leak in the engine, the exhaust will be blue or gray. If you have a serious coolant leak in the engine, the exhaust will be white. If you have a serious fuel leak in the engine, the exhaust will be black. Unfortunately, this is a sign that your engine needs to be replaced. Here are other signs.
Constant Overheating
Your engine will overheat constantly if the head gasket is cracked. In this case, we can repair the problem by partially rebuilding the engine rather than replacing it. The same is true if the exhaust manifold is cracked. If you have a cracked engine block, we may need to replace the engine to resolve the problem. Finally, if the cooling system is the issue, we can replace it.
Knocking all the Time
Unfortunately, older engines may knock because there is an issue in the cylinder block. Specifically, the noise is being caused by the pistons. Rods move them up and down inside the cylinders to help the engine produce combustion. If the rod bearings are worn, this will jiggle the rods and the pistons. Consequently, the pistons may damage the cylinder walls as they crash against them.
Loss of Power
A significant loss of power can be a sign that the engine is too old and needs to be replaced. As with any piece of machinery, there will come a point when the engine simply will not work anymore. No matter what we do, we will not be able to get your engine to produce power. Consequently, to resolve the problem, we will have to replace the old engine with a new one.
Metal Shavings
Finally, if you do drive an old automobile, check the oil often to make sure you cannot see any metal shavings in it. Unfortunately, as with the power loss, the only way to resolve metal shavings in the motor oil is to replace the engine. The reason why is that the metal shavings are parts of the engine. In other words, the engine parts are dissolving into the oil.
We are here to help, so call us today. We would be happy to schedule an engine inspection so we can check your engine to see if there are any serious problems.