If you can see your car’s exhaust – that could be a problem.

Have you checked your car’s exhaust lately? 

It may be trying to tell you something. During normal operations, your tailpipe emissions should be invisible. It’s a good idea to take a look once in a while at your vehicle’s smoke signals. Here’s what they mean:

• Thin white vapor: No cause for concern. A thin cloud of white vapor that quickly disappears is just normal condensation. Most cars do this, especially in the morning.

• Blue or gray smoke: See your mechanic. Thick blue or gray smoke could indicate clogged oil passages or something more serious.

• Black smoke: See your mechanic. Black, sooty smoke is not good and usually means your engine is not running efficiently. If the smoke clears after the engine warms up, it might be okay. If it doesn’t, you may need a new air filter.

• Thick white smoke: Call a tow truck. Billowing white smoke almost always means trouble. If you keep driving, your engine could overheat and cause real damage.