What Causes Engine Shaking and White Smoke?
3 Answers
There are many reasons for engine shaking and white smoke, mainly including the following aspects: 1. Engine temperature is too low: Some diesel fuel turns into oil vapor without burning and is discharged from the exhaust pipe along with the exhaust gas, resulting in white smoke. 2. Water in the fuel supply system: There is water in the fuel or combustion chamber. The water is heated into steam by the heat released during combustion in the cylinder and is discharged from the exhaust pipe, forming white smoke. 3. Injection timing is too late: Due to the late injection timing, the cylinder temperature has already dropped when the fuel is injected, causing some diesel fuel to turn into oil vapor without burning, resulting in white smoke. 4. Poor fuel injector atomization: Poor atomization leads to incomplete combustion of diesel fuel, which mixes with the high-temperature exhaust gas from normally operating cylinders in the exhaust pipe, resulting in white smoke. 5. Cylinder pressure is too low: Some diesel fuel turns into oil vapor without burning, thus causing white smoke from the exhaust pipe.
I've driven many cars and encountered situations where the engine shakes and emits white smoke. The most likely cause is a blown head gasket, which allows coolant to leak into the cylinders and burn, creating that white smoke. As for the shaking, it's mainly due to uneven cylinder pressure—maybe a spark plug isn't firing, or there's an issue with the fuel injection system, causing unstable engine operation. Once, my car had this problem on the road, and I immediately pulled over to check. Thankfully, I caught it early before any serious engine damage. Regular maintenance, like checking coolant concentration and spark plug condition, can prevent such surprises. If you notice similar symptoms while driving, don't push it—turn off the engine, engage the handbrake, and call a tow truck to a professional repair shop. Safety first.
Recently, my car's engine has been running unevenly on the road, accompanied by thick white smoke, which is quite alarming. Upon reflection, this is most likely caused by a cooling system failure, such as a damaged radiator or cylinder head gasket, allowing liquid to seep into the combustion chamber and ignite. The shaking may stem from aging ignition components or internal cylinder damage. If this happens while driving, it's crucial to slow down immediately, pull over, and turn on the hazard lights to avoid collision risks. I've also researched that such issues are more prone to occur in cold weather, so it's advisable to conduct a comprehensive inspection before winter. For the safety of your family, don't delay repairs; prolonged neglect could lead to complete engine failure.
