Q: Car shuts off, smoke and black water from muffler

The color of the smoke can point us in the right direction of the problem. Blue or purple smoke indicates oil burning in the combustion chamber and can be caused my weak piston rings, worn valve seals or a malfunctioning crankcase ventilation system. Thick white smoke is an indication of burning off coolant or water. The white smoke is steam coming from the tailpipe. In most cases, this is due to a blown head gasket. Black smoke is an indication of running too rich and the black smoke is unburned fuel. A boost leak on a turbocharged car or severely clogged engine air filter can cause black smoke. If you would like to have an expert go over these problems, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the smoke and stalling issues for you.