What does black exhaust mean?

When your vehicle is functioning properly, you usually don’t see much exhaust. However, when something with your exhaust is wrong, the issue is readily apparent — especially when plumes of black smoke are coming out of your tailpipe. Read on for what to do.

What causes black exhaust?

Black exhaust is a typically an indication of excessively burning fuel. This is often caused by an issue with your fuel injectors. If the injectors are clogged, it’s likely that the amount of air is insufficient for the combustion of fuel. As a result, solid carbon is formed from the fuel, which is emitted as a black smoke from the tailpipe of the vehicle. 

Sometimes black smoke can also be caused by a clogged air filter or a blocked intake manifold, or it can indicate that a manmade material (such as a tire) is burning.

What to do about black exhaust

The first step to solving black exhaust is to check your vehicle’s air filter. Excess fuel may be burning if your engine isn’t getting enough air, and replacing the filter is easy. If your air filter is clean, visit a mechanic to ensure your engine is running properly. 

To help prevent future issues, using CENEX® TOP TIER™ DETERGENT GASOLINE will keep your vehicle running at its best. That’s because Cenex TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline includes a special additive package including detergents that clean your engine as it runs. With 2.5 times the cleaning power of conventional gasoline, Cenex TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is proven to remove engine deposits, giving you better fuel economy and engine performance for more worry-free miles on the road.

Find Cenex TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline at your local CENEX DEALER.