I really need good advice
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta Georgia
I really need good advice
In November I brought a C4 from a used car dealership. The car has 86,000 miles on it and runs fairly decent its all original I'm pretty sure it has never had a tune up. Now with that the weather is cool I have notice a good amount of white smoke coming out of the tailpipe(especially at startup), so it is a little water coming out of the exhaust. The car does not run hot, so is it safe to assume that the heads are not warped?
I can only assume the car will need:
- Headgasket Repair
- Valve Job
- Tune Up
I can only assume the car will need:
- Headgasket Repair
- Valve Job
- Tune Up
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,771
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Every internal combustion engine will do that in cold weather.
A by-product of the combustion process is water vapor.
Once the engine and exhaust system warm up to operating temps, you shouldn't see any water dripping though.
But depending on how cold it is, you might still see the white exhaust vapor.
This is one of the reasons you don't want to start your car during the winter, unless you are going to drive it long enough to warm everything up (engine, transmission, exhaust, etc.)
Running it for 15-20 minutes in the driveway is not enough, and is especially hard on exhaust systems.
A by-product of the combustion process is water vapor.
Once the engine and exhaust system warm up to operating temps, you shouldn't see any water dripping though.
But depending on how cold it is, you might still see the white exhaust vapor.
This is one of the reasons you don't want to start your car during the winter, unless you are going to drive it long enough to warm everything up (engine, transmission, exhaust, etc.)
Running it for 15-20 minutes in the driveway is not enough, and is especially hard on exhaust systems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Sounds normal for this time of year. If it runs fine, not over heating, the vapor goes away after warmed up good, you don't have a plug that looks like it was steam cleaned, no bubbling of the coolant with the cap off of the reservoir (engine cold, don't remove cap when hot!), water vapor doesn't smell like antifreeze...I'd say U B good.
Here's a video of perfectly normal, cold weather idle. The vapor is condensation being driven out of the exhaust system. And, there is water dripping out of the tail pipes. Temp that day was about 25, if I recall.
P.
Here's a video of perfectly normal, cold weather idle. The vapor is condensation being driven out of the exhaust system. And, there is water dripping out of the tail pipes. Temp that day was about 25, if I recall.
P.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 43
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta Georgia
That's the thing even at a stop light I can see the vapors in the rear view. Driving is the only time I do not see them..
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
It would depend upon the year as to the likely hood of head gasket problems. In your case it sounds like normal condensation, It would be important to change your antifreeze down the line if it hasn't been changed in 5 years. It doesn't lose it's freeze protection, but the corrosion inhibiters lose their effectiveness. (one of the major causes of head gasket failures in Caddilac Northstar engines). "valve jobs" are pretty much a thing of the past, other than cleaning, planeing, and new seals with today's valves and hardened seats.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,771
Likes: 177
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
You might just notice it more with the Corvette's dual exhaust and the way the tips point it straight out the back.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,021
Likes: 7
From: Morgan Hill and Marina California
I sure don't see where the tightness of the garage would
increase condensation. Gasoline is a hydrocarbon. When
burned, in a perfect world, the hydro part combines with
oxygen to make H2O, the carbon part combines with
oxygen to make CO2. And modern cars are pretty close
to perfect. Anyway, when the exhaust cools down it
enough, the water condenses, either on the inside of
the exhaust pipe, or in the old air on the outside, or
both.
increase condensation. Gasoline is a hydrocarbon. When
burned, in a perfect world, the hydro part combines with
oxygen to make H2O, the carbon part combines with
oxygen to make CO2. And modern cars are pretty close
to perfect. Anyway, when the exhaust cools down it
enough, the water condenses, either on the inside of
the exhaust pipe, or in the old air on the outside, or
both.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,424
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From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
2017 Corvette of the Year
2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 0
From: Suwanee,Ga
In November I brought a C4 from a used car dealership. The car has 86,000 miles on it and runs fairly decent its all original I'm pretty sure it has never had a tune up. Now with that the weather is cool I have notice a good amount of white smoke coming out of the tailpipe(especially at startup), so it is a little water coming out of the exhaust. The car does not run hot, so is it safe to assume that the heads are not warped?
I can only assume the car will need:
- Headgasket Repair
- Valve Job
- Tune Up
I can only assume the car will need:
- Headgasket Repair
- Valve Job
- Tune Up
?? Where do you live? It would be good to fill out the personal info to, nice to know who we are talking too. Helps answering questions.
See ... If you live in Key West, it might be valve seals.
If you live in Northern Ontario... look at everybody else cars??? Perhaps they have condensing hot gas coming out of the tail pipe as well?
TJM
