Exhaust condensation
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Woodbridge VA
Exhaust condensation
I seem to always be blowing a great deal of smoke(not oil smoke) in cold weather out of my exhaust. I have always known cars to do this while warming up and then pretty much stop. Why does my vette do it all the time?? :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
Re: Exhaust condensation (95DropTop)
it is moisture build up in the exhaust... it happens all year round, really, you just don't see it in the summer.
the cats also generate water... that is why a good long drive is required to blow all the water out - or else the system will rust out prematurely.
the cats also generate water... that is why a good long drive is required to blow all the water out - or else the system will rust out prematurely.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 799
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From: Fremont CA
Re: Exhaust condensation (95DropTop)
Gasoline is a hydrocarbon, its molecules are composed of atoms of hydrogen and carbon. When you burn gasoline (in a perfect world at least), the carbon turns into CO2 and the hydrogen turns into H2O. I've heard that for every gallon of gasoline burnt, you create 12 gallons of water.
On a cold day, you see all that water as steam. Once the exhaust warms up, the steam is too hot to see before it dissapates. If your car continues to make steam, there could be water leaking into the combustion chambers.
Does the steam smell like antifreeze?
On a cold day, you see all that water as steam. Once the exhaust warms up, the steam is too hot to see before it dissapates. If your car continues to make steam, there could be water leaking into the combustion chambers.
Does the steam smell like antifreeze?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Woodbridge VA
Re: Exhaust condensation (chaos on wheels)
I've never actually smelled the steam but I can tell you I occasionally smell anti-freeze from inside the car(once a month or so) The steam just seemed strange to me because it normally stops after a while on other cars...
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
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From: Dallas TX
Re: Exhaust condensation (95DropTop)
I've noticed that C4's tend to steam a lot more than most other cars... it's most likely due to the large engine size and the volume of air that it uses...
The smell of anti-freeze in your car is not a good sign. I would check the floor area of the passenger side for moister and anti-freeze... your heater core could be going out and dumping anti-freeze in the car :(
The smell of anti-freeze in your car is not a good sign. I would check the floor area of the passenger side for moister and anti-freeze... your heater core could be going out and dumping anti-freeze in the car :(
