SeaKaye12
Lieutenant Junior Grade
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,108
Hi,
I'm not asking about a specific vehicle. I'm wondering if the visual condition of the tailpipe has any meaning these days in relation to the state of tune of the engine?
Some vehicles burn their pipes a light tan....some a bit darker...and some ar downright sooty black,
In the "old days" before fuel injection, and when we had leaded gas; an engine that was in good condition with the mixture set up right would burn a light tan color in the tailpipe; a overly black pipe back then would mean either a rich mixture or oil consumption.
What prompts the question is a Dodge Dakota truck that my friend just bought. (used). It runs fine and doesn't consume oil; but he feels that the mileage isn't where it should be (don't we all...)
His exhaust pipe is downright sooty...yet the dealer claims that it's "just exhaust" and shouldn't be an indicator of anything...
Anyone have any information?
I'm not asking about a specific vehicle. I'm wondering if the visual condition of the tailpipe has any meaning these days in relation to the state of tune of the engine?
Some vehicles burn their pipes a light tan....some a bit darker...and some ar downright sooty black,
In the "old days" before fuel injection, and when we had leaded gas; an engine that was in good condition with the mixture set up right would burn a light tan color in the tailpipe; a overly black pipe back then would mean either a rich mixture or oil consumption.
What prompts the question is a Dodge Dakota truck that my friend just bought. (used). It runs fine and doesn't consume oil; but he feels that the mileage isn't where it should be (don't we all...)
His exhaust pipe is downright sooty...yet the dealer claims that it's "just exhaust" and shouldn't be an indicator of anything...
Anyone have any information?
