water and steam at exhaust

[nbristow01]

Ok, yes I did check archive. i am not the greatest at guessing searches so forgive me. Whenever I start my car i get white steam (a small amount) and a little water kind of shooting out of the exhaust. the water combines with the old black exhaust residue and leaves blackish splatter on my drive. After a few minute (once warmed up) it stops. Car runs fine. Also after several days of driving (maybe 20 miles) my coolant level was about an inch low. Car has not run in 15 years and I have been very carefukl about what i do. Just changed the oil again, it was a bit dirty but no signs of water in it.

Should I have concerns? Do I have a head gasket leak?

[Lars]

Mine does the same thing, someone explained once that it was condensation that builds up in the exhaust pipes. Mine has the coolant problem too, but I know it has a slight leak somewhere.

[esty]

condensation builds up in the exhaust...it's normally in cooler weather

[nbristow01]

Whew good to hear so either all is good or we all have screwed up cars haha

[pkbinplano]

keep an eye on your coolant level

[nbristow01]

it stays at the same level for a while but very slowly over several weeks it goes down some

[pkbinplano]

just keep an eye on it. Change rad cap, flush , add coolant /water mix if last time unknown. Bad radiator cap can account for loss.

[thehackmechanic]

If it doesn't smell sweet, it's likely just condensation.

If it DOES smell sweet, it's likely antifreeze is getting into a combustion chamber from a cracked head or a bad head gasket.

[oldguy]

If it doesn't smell sweet, it's likely just condensation.

If it DOES smell sweet, it's likely antifreeze is getting into a combustion chamber from a cracked head or a bad head gasket.

while true... if this were happening it wouldn't be loosing 1" of coolant over "weeks" but over "day or days". More or less I'm inclined that he's got condensation in the exhaust, and a leaky intake manifold hose that's rotten from age.. (only because that's one of the harder ones to inspect and I'm sure he's checked the easy to see ones)

If it was a cracked head or headgasket.. overheating and a pressurized cooling system usually result...

[nbristow01]

Thanks guys. I changed rad caps yesterday since mine was ancient. I was told this can be the cause of the cooloant drop. In Jan I will be installing a 38/38 and canon intake so that will help if it is a manifold issue

[BillWilliams]

Coolant level is about 1 1/2" below the top of the radiator fill area. So if you overfill, it will pee the overage out.

[bukaki_bob]

hmm might be nuclear powered...lol

[TobyB]

Yeah, 1-1/2" is pretty normal running level.

Taste it. If it's not sweet, you're fine.

Water is actually a byproduct of combustion, too.

t