When to Walk Away

Blue smoke streaming out your tailpipe is not a good thing—it means your engine is burning excess oil (which usually results from worn valve guides or piston rings). As if that's not bad enough, burning excess oil can lead to problems in other parts of your engine. While an engine that burns excess oil usually needs costly repairs, ignoring the problem will only prove more costly later on. In other words, get it checked out sooner rather than later. *If you are buying a used car and you see blue smoke coming from the tailpipe, consider it a “smoke signal” that you should walk away.