Dripping Exaust

[Stallion]

I was just behind a car on the road today and I noticed that there was a constant drip coming from the car's tail pipes. I was just wondering what could possibly cause this in the exaust system to drip like this. Maybe condensation somehow? Is this a bad thing, something this guy should try and fix?

Thanks!

TR

 

[vette-dude]

The drip you are seeing is condensation. I can't remember what the exact ratio is but something like for every gallon of gas the engine burns it produces ? gallons of water. The only other explanation is if the water smells like antifreeze the engine has blown a head gasket ,has a cracked head on the exhaust port, or has a crack in the water jacket in the block. Most likely what you saw was just condensation as the new cars with the winter grade gas seemed to do this more than the older cars.

Randy

 

[Stallion]

So it's not really that big of a problem? Do any Vettes do this?

TR

 

[dmrodco]

Only when they are running:J

 

[Stallion]

Only when they are running:J

:confused :confused What do you mean?

TR

 

[Eric]

:confused :confused What do you mean?

TR

What he means is that this is true of just about any internal combustion engine. It's especially evident in colder climates. Like when you see cars just started when it's cold outside and all of that white whispy smoke pours out - that is actually the condesation coming out of the tailpipe hitting the cold air just like when you breath and can see your breath.

This is almost never indicative of a problem unless, as stated above, it smells like anti-freeze.

 

[Stallion]

Okay, I see now! Thanks, everybody!

TR

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

Something to add, even when it is warm out you might likely see water dripping out of the exhaust on a car. One of the the products of the catalytic converter is water. Just hold your hand behind the tailpipe of a running car, your hand will get slightly damp. There is also CO (carbon monoxide) in there as well.

The water is why it is a good reason to make sure your exhaust system is fully warmed up, even in the summer, so the water produced evaporates out instead of pools in the pipes or mufflers. If it pools, it might, over the course of a few years, begin to corrode the exhaust system from the inside out.

 

[JohnZ]

Which is why the passenger side exhaust system on pre-catalytic converter dual-exhaust Corvettes always rusts out much sooner than the driver's side; the heat riser valve on the passenger side exhaust manifold outlet makes that side of the exhaust system warm up much slower, and it never gets as hot as the system on the driver's side, so it doesn't get rid of either the condensed moisture or the moisture that's a direct by-product of combustion.

 

[Stallion]

Okay, I see what you mean. Thanks, guys!

TR