Here’s Why Your Land Rover Discovery is Smoking (And How to Fix It!)

You can learn a lot about your car’s health and well-being from exhaust emissions. If it’s working in good condition, that tailpipe emissions should be undetectable. But what should you do if your Land Rover Discovery starts smoking?

A Land Rover Discovery can start smoking for several reasons. The location of the smoke typically indicates its cause. Smoke from the engine signals a critical issue that requires prompt action. Exhaust smoke can be a sign of a problem with the fuel regulator, air filter, cylinder head, or engine.

The Land Rover Discovery is a reliable SUV that delivers unrivaled off-road ability and comfortable driving. You may be dealing with a real issue if the exhaust smoke is visible, so contact a skilled auto technician to have your car fixed. Let’s take a more detailed look at how to interpret smoke coming from your vehicle and the different problems it might indicate.

What Causes a Land Rover to Smoke?

Smoke from your Land Rover Discovery often signals a mechanical issue. Your engine bay rarely produces smoke, usually indicating a severe problem when the engine starts smoking.

However, the color of your car’s exhaust emissions is usually an excellent diagnostic tool. Smoke from the engine usually exits your vehicle through the exhaust.

Leaks from the valve cover gasket may produce smoke because of oil dripping on the hot manifold. If the leak is large enough, you may notice oil dripping on the driveway or garage floor.

The engine bay may also produce smoke when there’s a fire under the hood. But this is a hazardous scenario that would lead to flames. So if this happens, it’s best to exit the car and move away for safety quickly.

Smoke from the exhaust is the most common type of smoke detected. Here’s some reasons why you might notice smoke from the exhaust:

Fuel Pressure Regulator Issues

The fuel pressure regulator controls the fuel system’s pressure to keep it within the vehicle’s optimal operating range. If the regulator fails, the pressure rises or falls outside the allowed parameters.

When the pressure drops too low, the engine might not be able to start because insufficient fuel is getting through. There is a risk of over-fueling if the pressure is too much, which has many adverse effects on your vehicle, including a decrease in performance and poor fuel mileage.

Clogged or Leaky Fuel Injectors

Fuel injectors are tiny electromechanical devices that spray a fine mist of gasoline into the intake manifold just in front of the intake valve.

To ensure the most effective burn or combustion, the gas is sucked into the combustion chamber and combined with an appropriate amount of oxygen. The fuel injectors may need to be cleaned or fixed if you notice smoke from the pipe.

Dirty or Clogged Air Filter

Is your Land Rover emitting black smoke from the exhaust? You may have a clogged or dirty air filter.

The air filter is an essential part of a vehicle’s fuel system. It prevents airborne debris and contaminants from getting sucked into the engine.

Unwanted contaminants from the air may clog the system, causing back smoke to exit from the exhaust. You can read our tips for cleaning and maintaining air filters here.

Damaged Cylinder Head

A damaged cylinder head is a complex issue that requires specialized attention. Combustion occurs in a chamber positioned in the cylinder head, where most explosive action occurs.

If the cylinder head is damaged or severely warped, the engine won’t have enough compression and will misfire, generating excessive heat.

All of the metal parts of an engine are put under unnecessary strain when driven at high temperatures, but the cylinder head, which is where most of the engine’s heat is generated, is most affected.

The cylinder head can crack due to component warping and pressure buildup if the head gasket fails due to excessive heat, often caused by a cooling system failure.

Cracked Engine

A broken engine block necessitates the use of a crash cart. The cylinders and their components are housed in a cooled and lubricated crankcase within the engine block.

The engine block is highly sturdy because it’s cast from a single piece of metal, usually iron or aluminum. It holds the engine parts together, making fixing a cracked engine block extremely difficult.

How to Fix a Smoking Engine in a Land Rover Discovery

Fixing engine smoke in your Land Rover Discovery will depend on the root cause of the problem.

If you notice smoke, take your car for a check-up or have a mobile mechanic come and determine the cause and source of the smoke. Your mechanic will provide a detailed inspection report with the scope and cost of necessary repairs.

Replace the fuel pressure regulator if the smoke results from a poor air-to-fuel ratio. If you see black smoke from the exhaust, you must replace the air filter (on Amazon) and suspect a dirty or clogged air filter.

If you are dealing with a cracked cylinder head, there is no simple solution to this problem. The surfaces of the cylinder heads are milled to a high degree of accuracy, allowing for a snug and smooth fit with each component. It would be more efficient to acquire a new head.

The only sure way to fix a cracked engine block is to replace the engine, but that can be too expensive in some cases. Depending on how old your automobile is and how much it’s worth, you might choose to sell it and get a new one.