What Causes Engine Oil Leakage and Smoke Emission?
2 Answers
Engine oil leakage and smoke emission can be attributed to the following reasons: Aging and hardening of sealing rings: Over 90% of oil leakage issues are caused by rubber sealing rings losing a significant amount of plasticizers and softeners due to prolonged exposure to alternating cold and warm temperatures, leading to corrosion, aging, and hardening. Incomplete combustion: A small injection advance angle results in incomplete combustion, slight water leakage in the cylinder liner, or water presence in the fuel, causing white smoke emission during cold starts, which disappears as the engine temperature rises. Smoke limiter failure: Air-fuel ratio imbalance, decreased cylinder pressure, premature fuel injection timing, failure of the smoke limiter on the fuel injection pump, malfunctioning exhaust brake system, engine cylinder liner wear, piston ring sticking, misalignment, aging and deformation of valve sealing rings, or excessive valve guide clearance.
Seeing oil leaks and smoke from the engine is quite worrying, and it could be caused by several common issues. Aging oil seals or gaskets can lead to leaks, as these sealing components are prone to cracking over time; loose screws or a damaged oil pan can also cause leaks. The leaked oil drips onto high-temperature components like the exhaust pipe, producing smoke when heated—most commonly white smoke, indicating the oil is burning. This not only affects engine performance but may also lead to more serious failures. Immediately stop and check the oil level; if it's too low, top it up, but don’t rush to drive—repeated issues will occur if the leak isn’t fixed. Remember to inspect the seals during routine oil changes to prevent small issues from escalating. Engine smoke is a direct threat to driving safety, so it’s best to seek professional repair as soon as possible. Delaying may damage other components.
