# Black exhaust pipe

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** taurus, ford\
**Created:** [June 10, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026 "2018-06-10T21:44:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JulieO1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@JulieO1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieO1)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026/1 "2018-06-10T21:44:59Z")

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Is it true if your exhaust pipe is black that you have engine problems?

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026/2 "2018-06-10T21:46:28Z")

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It usually means the engine is running too rich.

Is the Check Engine light on?

Tester

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JulieO1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@JulieO1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieO1)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026/3 "2018-06-10T21:48:52Z")

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No, I do not see any light on the panel. That also concerns me. When I start the car they show up, but then they turn off. Is that normal? It is a 2006 Ford Taurus.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026/4 "2018-06-10T21:51:39Z")

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When you see all the warning lights come, those systems are going thru a self-test.

If they turn off once the engine is started, that’s normal.

Tester

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JulieO1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@JulieO1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JulieO1)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026/5 "2018-06-10T21:53:16Z")

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Ok thank you. I am just trying to figure all this stuff out and make a decent decision. I am buying this car from my work. It seems to run good, but someone told me if the pipe is black then it is engine problems. I cant have that.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026/6 "2018-06-10T21:56:21Z")

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Then I suggest you have a pre-purchase inspection performed on the vehicle.

Spending a $100.00 now could save you 1000’s later

Tester

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**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026/7 "2018-06-10T21:59:36Z")

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> [@JulieO1](#):
>
> I am buying this car from my work.

Is it owned by your employer or someone you work with ? Either way if the vehicle has expensive problems it might have a detrimental relationship at your job. It is 12 years old after all.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/black-exhaust-pipe/119026/8 "2018-06-11T00:43:13Z")

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A black exhaust pipe can also be due to oil burning and that’s a serious issue.