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From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Mass Exhaust condensation
My stroker has been doing this for a long time and I'm wondering about it ... ... no excessive coolant consumption but when I start it up there's a huge footprint of condensation from the tailpipes on the driveway.
Now remember, I'm in San Diego and I don't expect this much from the exhaust system. The pic below was taken today, and it's 75* outside, maybe even closer to high seventies. And the car had been running for five minutes, so the actual water had started to evaporate, but you can see the size of the splatter footprint by each pipe very clearly still:
my el camino did the same thing. Similar weather (central coast). Didn't have any performance issues, didn't consume any fluids, I just ignored it. ALthough recently it hasn't been doing it as much.
My stroker does the same Paul. Sometimes I get some black spotting as my mixture is a little on the rich side. Similar weather here in FL, maybe more humid.
Water is a by-product of combustion. Normally, it would be suspended as a vapor, but if the pipes are cool, the water can precipitate out. My 427 does the same thing
I will get small puddles under my side exhaust outlets if it's been running in the garage for a while. If I have been revving it a bit there will be patterns similar to yours. I don't have any coolant consumption/loss issues either so it must be something to do with the weather and humidity.
I would love to know the "real" answer.
Did I read somewhere .... somebody reccomending putting pin holes at the low point in the exhaust system to allow water to drain out? does that ring a bell with anyone?
I also posted a long time ago noting the large amount of water spitting out my exhaust on startup.
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
Originally Posted by CGGorman
Water is a by-product of combustion. Normally, it would be suspended as a vapor, but if the pipes are cool, the water can precipitate out. My 427 does the same thing
Haven't see a car yet that doesn't do it to some degree. My favorite is I've seen a little rice rocket with the can muffler go around a corner, looked like he poured a glass of water out as he went
I'd just let it run each time long enough to stop precipitating to make sure there wasn't any left in the pipes to rust from the inside out.
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
I think its all related.
Originally Posted by SanDiegoPaul
My stroker has been doing this for a long time and I'm wondering about it ... ... no excessive coolant consumption but when I start it up there's a huge footprint of condensation from the tailpipes on the driveway.
Now remember, I'm in San Diego and I don't expect this much from the exhaust system. The pic below was taken today, and it's 75* outside, maybe even closer to high seventies. And the car had been running for five minutes, so the actual water had started to evaporate, but you can see the size of the splatter footprint by each pipe very clearly still: :o
Paul if ur having carb problems (as previous post) and that black crap too with water out the pipes from here in San Clemete looks like like fuel problems. Drain and get that checked tank out. Flush out or replace those lines. Maybe try some iso-alcohol (Heet) to remove wtr and then some fuel cleaners like SeaFoam etc. But i would at least drain the tank and look at the bottom. Remove the sender and check/replace the strainer/screen.
Sounds like troubles in the fuel tank.
Good luck. cardo0
its not condensation, its from the combustion chamber. i really cant see any connection with the fuel tank. if gas were the problem, a little tuning will solve that. more often than not, with collector cars, their not driven very much and the water builds up. the exhaust doesnt stay hot enough, long enough to burn it off. the black stuff is carbon buildup in the muff and pipes from running to rich.
Did I read somewhere .... somebody reccomending putting pin holes at the low point in the exhaust system to allow water to drain out? does that ring a bell with anyone?
I also posted a long time ago noting the large amount of water spitting out my exhaust on startup.
I've read about putting small holes in mufflers where they collect water, but not in the exhaust system...