Black Smoke? Blue Smoke? What Your Engine's Exhaust Is Screaming (That You're Probably Ignoring)

Persistent Black Smoke

Incomplete combustion; fuel-air mixture is too rich.

1. Clogged air filter
2. Faulty or clogged fuel injector(s)
3. Loss of turbocharger efficiency

1. First, inspect, clean, or replace the air filter.
2. If problem persists, professional inspection of the fuel injection system and turbocharger is needed.

Blue Smoke

Engine oil is being burned in the combustion chamber.

1. Worn piston rings allowing oil seepage
2. Worn valve stem seals
3. Failed turbocharger oil seals

Monitor oil consumption rate closely. Plan for a workshop inspection to prevent accelerated wear.

White Smoke(on a warm engine)

Coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber.

1. Blown cylinder head gasket
2. Crack in cylinder head or liner

Shut down the engine safely immediately.Contact professional repair services. Continued operation risks catastrophic engine damage.

Elevated Iron (Fe) & Chromium (Cr)

Abnormal wear of core metal components (cylinder liners, piston rings, crankshaft).

Loss of power; may lead to a major overhaul if severe.

Plan for an internal inspection. Cross-check with findings from the oil filter.

Elevated Silicon (Si)

Dirt/dust ingestion via the intake system. Indicates a failed or failing air filter.

Abrasive wear, accelerating damage to all moving parts.

Inspect and replace the air filter immediately.Check intake pipe connections.

Fuel Dilution(low viscosity)

Diesel fuel is leaking into the oil, potentially from injectors or fuel lines.

Severe degradation of oil's lubricating properties, leading to excessive wear.

Inspect the fuel system and perform a complete oil change.

Severe Oil Oxidation(high viscosity, sludge)

Oil has been used beyond its service life or engine has been running chronically hot.

Sludge formation can block oil passages, leading to lubrication failure.

Change oil immediatelyand investigate cooling system efficiency.

Green (Healthy)

Smooth operation, normal sound, clear exhaust, all running parameters within standard range.

Very low risk. Operating at optimal efficiency.

Adhere strictly to the scheduled preventative maintenance plan from the manual.

Yellow (Caution)

Minor but persistentanomalies:
 Slight deviation in a single oil analysis parameter.

 Brief black smoke on cold start.

Incipient fault stage. Possible slight drop in performance or efficiency.

Increase inspection frequency. Source relevant spare parts.Plan for inspection/repair at the next port call.

Red (Warning)

Clearly noticeableproblems:
 Significant variation in exhaust temperature between cylinders.
 Persistent black smoke with power loss.
 Irregular knocking or rattling sounds.

Active fault development. High risk of progression leading to breakdown.

Avoid long voyages or heavy load operations.Schedule shutdown for troubleshooting and repairwithin 30 days.

Red Flashing (Critical)

Severefault indicators:
 Heavy metallic knocking.
 Severe smoke with major power loss.

 Low oil pressure or high coolant temperature alarms.

High probability of imminent functional failure with risk of catastrophic damage.

Initiate safe shutdown procedure immediately!
Request professional assistance.Under no circumstances continue operation.