Driving a vehicle comes with numerous aspects you need to remember, especially if you drive a turbocharged vehicle. A modified vehicle has a variety of components that give the engine a quality boost. Like any piece of machinery, it may malfunction and begin to smoke. You will need to follow steps to ensure the safety of your vehicle when you notice smoke coming from the turbocharger.
Pull Over the Vehicle
If your turbo is damaged and you continue driving, you risk worsening the damage or affecting other parts of the engine. After pulling over your vehicle to a safe spot where you can inspect under the hood, you will need to determine certain aspects of the smoke.
Identify the Smoke's Color
A vehicle may experience different types of damage, and if your turbocharger begins smoking, the smoke can tell you the cause of the problem. The turbocharger may emit different smoke colors, and understanding what each color means will give you a better understanding of the problem.
Black smoke signifies too much fuel burning and insufficient air pumping from the turbo to the combustion chamber. Blue smoke is a sign of burning oil that may come from the turbo. If there's a split in the turbo's structure, the oil may leak out and burn from the engine's heat.
White smoke indicates a coolant leak from the head gasket that separates the engine block and the cylinder head. If you see white smoke, there is a problem with the engine, not the turbo. Still, you should have your car inspected by a professional.
Inspect the Turbo To Find the Source
In the event of blue or black smoke, inspect the turbo to find the source. Understanding the root of the problem is essential when your vehicle’s turbocharger smokes, as it helps you understand how to solve the problem.
The turbo has visible and hidden areas to inspect, so examine what you can see. Don’t look closely for too long; the smoke is hazardous to the lungs, so only a few seconds of inspections are safe.
Call a Mechanic or Turbo Expert for the Next Steps
After the inspection, it’s wise to call a mechanic or turbocharger expert to determine the next steps. Professionals have the tools and knowledge you may not have to fix your turbo or give advice on the best course of action.
Calling the turbo experts at Turboturbos will give you access to great information on turbo maintenance and repair. You may also learn some quality information on turbo replacement parts and the best choices!
Turbos are intricate machines, but they will experience errors. When you see smoke coming from your turbocharger, follow these steps to handle the situation as quickly as possible to ensure your vehicle doesn't experience worse damage.