The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Condensation?.......

Been a while since I posted last. The '61 Apache is pretty much wrapped up except for a few minor details. Have one recurring problem that is baffling me a bit. When I start the truck after sitting overnight I get a good amount(maybe quarter to half cup) of VERY rusty water from the tailpipe, it continues to drip a bit while the motor warms then clears up. I done the usual diligence, no oil in the radiator, no coolant in the oil pan. No exhaust smoke or pulse in the radiator with the cap off. Oil and coolant levels staying the same, at least there's no noticeable difference over the last week. The water that comes from the tailpipe has no hint of the smell of the plain old green coolant that is in the radiator. And no steam from the tailpipe. Yet, there it is every time I start this thing.(on average about three times a week)Is there something I'm missing? Would you chalk it up to just plain condensation in the muffler? Truck stays inside the shop all the time, never parked outside at night. Thanks for any ideas.

Sorry, looks like my signature line has gone missing. The truck in question is a '61 Apache 10, with 235 bored 60 over, rochester "B" 3 speed muncie tranny. Pretty much stock. Pics at www.picturetrail.com/yachtcare

A by product of combustin is water, plenty humid in Fla I imagine also-I would bet its condensation

Yachtcare,

I didn't see "water-heated Fentons" on your list so I'll scratch it off my list! You certainly have investigated every possible cause, but sitting inside a shop and generating that much water sure seems bizarre. I have been in Florida and know the humidity deal, but inside a shop??

Stuart

Cool muffler + engine running under light load generating water vapor = condensation.

Once the exhaust is up to operating temp, the water vapor goes right on out the tail pipe to condense somewhere else.

I wouldn't worry.

Some mufflers have weep holes in the bottom. Make sure yours is installed with the holes pointing down.

Every gallon of gas burned creates a gallon of water. When you are driving the hot exhaust system vaporises the water. Stop & start the water condenses in the exhaust system & drips out.

Condensation. It's normal. Don't worry about it. Replace the muffler & tailpipe & it'll be clear water unless you're running rich, then it'll be black water. It's the same reason you see vapor coming out of the tailpipe in cool weather that goes away after the vehicle warms up. The condensation in the muffler is boiling out. Condensation is also the main reason mufflers rust out.

I park my truck in a unheated garage, and although I can't drive the truck and follow myself at the same time to observe the tailpipe, I sure as heck can't believe that there is a 1/2 a cup of water blowing out the back end every time I start the thing. Sure seems like lots of water to me.

Stuart

Your shop Air condition? Cool inside then hot outside? Water in Fuel? Try one of the water remover additives you put in the fuel. Cant hurt nothing. But if it removes the water it might help. You seem to have check everything else.

Every gallon of gas burned creates a gallon of water?? YIKES!! Thats a lotta watta!!
Where does it go? Where does it come from??
All these things......
Inquiring minds need to know.......

Sounds like a hydro car with lotta of watta!!

it is vaporized normally

Thanks for the extra points to consider. The shop is semi air conditioned. One ac duct situated pretty much over the spot the truck sits in. The muffler doesnt have any weep holes that I can see, but it does have a mounting bracket welded to the top of it at the rear side of the muffler. So I'm pretty confident it is mounted in the correct orientation. I have started it each day over the past couple, and there is less water each time. The truck isnt driven much at all. Prolly been ten or more months since I put gas in the tank. Water there might be an issue? I'll run it up the street and put some fresh stuff and a shot of "dry gas" in it tomorrow to see if it makes any difference.

Yachtcare,
If your truck is setting that long with same tank of fuel I would deffinately advise ya too add some Stabil when ya do the fill-up.
Just to help the Carb and the Fuel itself.
Just my 2 pennies.
Tim

Get it a drive it, that will sure clear it up. A small 1/8" hole in the muffler will keep it from rusting out so fast. Also, I've heard its not good to start the engine and let it idle unless you a planning on driving it someplace. You are just asking for water vapors to form. Joe

Some of it drips out in the exhaust like Yacht,s does. Some of it goes out in vapors. A small amount gets in the oil & is vaporized out the crankcase vent system when the engine warms up. Better with a PCV system. Water in the gas is harmful to the fuel system but does not come out the exhaust.

Should've mentioned that I do keep stabilizer in the gas. (I've got cases of the stuff to "summerize" my customers boats with). And it does have a PCV system as well. I guess it needs to be driven more, I've just never gotten around to registering it yet, so I take my chances an over zealous cop will give me a ticket when I run it on the road without a tag. It ran great today for the whole 3.5 mile round trip to the gas pump and back. Added a shot of dry gas and a little more stabilizer. Very little water on start up today, so I guess I'll chalk it up to a solved case of condensation and call it good. Thanks again group.

Perhaps straightening some of the bends out of the tail pipe might help. The other thing is that one of the oil companies (possibly more) is pumping billions of gallons of water in the oil well to get out the thick crude from down deep in the earth. A good geologist will tell you that its NOT fossil fuel. Its made from the earths magma layer and crust from extreme heat and friction. Its comes out of the ground HOT and not cold. I had had more than one friend that worked for the oil companies, even on the rigs themsleves. One worked 40 years at it then retired a couple of hours from here. Bones are made from calcium, a mineral, and does not make oil. After all, how many quarts of crude do you get from Triceratops??? NONE! The earth makes billions of gallons of crude daily. That phrase came out in 1927. Besdies, how did they, the dinosaurs, get many miles deep in the earth?

Henry! stay calm! every oil company uses the whole range of techniques to get every possible drop of oil out of a well .... if the crude is 'thick', they're injecting steam, which is why it comes out warm .... and gasoline is a refined portion of crude oil - oil and water don't mix, so they're not watering down your gas

Bill