Tail pipes remain black

[93Disco]

My Exhort tail pipes are not whiting up after a long trip, should they?
I was told some years ago (30) that a good mechanic could tell how well an engine was running by the colure of a cars Tail pipe, is this true?
My Tail pipes remain black, dose this mean anything?

Noel

 

[Joey]

It just means that you are either burning oil or that it is running rich as more LR do.

 

[BARMPA]

This is true for engines run on the old leaded petrol, but with modern engines run on unleaded it is not necessarilythe case. I was always under the same impression but a couple of mechanics said if a leaded petrol car was taken on a long drive then yes, the exhaust should be a greyish colour, it would be black if it was running too rich. But modern unleaded vehicles are different due to the absence of the lead in the fuel.
Bryce!

 

[93Disco]

Yep ok, not using too much oil mabe just 1 small top up from time to time.
I was thinking it maybe running rich, is there nothing to do to alter this?
There is also a slite rich smell.

Noel

 

[Andrew Homan]

Any running issues or check engine lights? Mines black at the pipe and seems to be running fine other than crappy milage.

Cheers Andy 95 D1

 

[93Disco]

Nope, no W/lights its a 93 D1 and it runs like a dream.
Just the slite smell and the Black tail pipes
Oh and I drive it in mid Reve Range 2000 to 3000 RPM, its a manual.

Noel

 

[ShaunP]

The grey colour was from leaded fuel.

 

[Andrew Homan]

Heck just drive it. I had heard the same thing about the color of the pipe when I was growing up. I don't know about down under but in the states they add so much crap to the fuel it could burn purple for that matter.

Cheers Andy 95 d1