black substance

[rogelio]

I have a 1998 323ic, which has a lot of a black substance in the exhaust tip. I am not sure if this is from dirty plugs or what. I supposedly had the plugs changed as part of the 40K servicing. Any ideas?

 

[vlad]

Is your car using any oil?

 

[rogelio]

No oil consumption. However, when the I rev the engine, there is a faint wisp of black smoke. By faint wisp, i mean barely visable. It looks like the black stuff inside the pipe, but is on the outside of the tip.

 

[carcus]

Sounds like normal exhaust carbon. At least it is not blowing out blue smoke....
Don't worry about it. Nothing is wrong. Just my 2 cents.

 

[BigEarl325is]

Do me a favor, check every other cars exhaust pipe. Is it black inside?

 

[rogelio]

okay, a big "duh" on my part about inside the exhaust tip. What about the faint smoke? is that just carbon that has built up?

 

[carcus]

If it is white smoke, since you are in Colorado....probably water condensation, not a problem. That is normal when a car is cold.....blue smoke is what to worry about. You seem to be ok....no worries. Is it driving OK or is there something that is making you worry about it. Hey, I listen to every strange sound and idle also....nothing wrong with that.