Water Coming Out of Exhaust at Start-up

Water Coming Out of Exhaust at Start-up

by Martinld123

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, Yesterday at 07:01 PM

Martinld123 said:

Water Coming Out of Exhaust at Start-up

by Martinld123

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, Yesterday at 07:01 PM

I have owned my 1956, BN2 for 5 years but don't ever remember water spitting out of exhaust at start-up in the morning and for few minutes after then seems to be dry. When it set for a week it looked like a tablespoon of clear water with no smell or taste. No white smoke anytime but still wonder if I have a blown head gasket or something else wrong. The engine has a recent professional rebuild with a MLS head gasket. A couple of those starts were humid days but not all. I am hoping for condensation collecting over night but I maybe dreaming. Any ideas? Thanks Marty

I had as a blog but thought it belonged here.​

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Water coming out of the exhaust as you describe is normal. Mine does it too as well as several other cars I've owned.

By product of fuel burn is water. With car sitting and exhaust cooling the vaporized water becomes liquid and settles in muffler and pipes. Upon morning startup this is really a time that you can see it. If you notice small puddles under your newer cars, not the A/C puddle, it is the water coming thru the joints in the exhaust system. Normal for all internal combustion engines. Now, if it turns to a white smoke while running, then you could possibly have an issue.

In the EU we have "green" petrol with some alcohol ...
Gives even more condensation

We have the 10% alcohol and the E85 which produces the extra water also. If he would stand behind someone else's car as they rev it or his newer car, he would see all do the same.

Agree with everyone, happens every time I start mine up.

Hi Martin,

Although, on initial startup, water is a relatively common substance coming out of the exhaust, I have found this condition to be more prominent when:
1. A grater then spec amount of water is in your fuel.
2. The condensation is being trapped within a section of your exhaust and then blasted out on startup.

I would suggest you:
1. Add dry gas to your fuel to address the possible additional water in the fuel.
2. Check your exhaust for any area that has fallen out of line and could be capturing and POOLING Condensation.

However, I am extending these suggestions, assuming you are not also experiencing a loss of fluid from the cooling system as a result of a bad head gasket or other major engine issues. Keep in mind that although water found in the exhaust as a result of combustion gas condensation may not pose a major problem, it is usually acidic and can, over time, cause deterioration of your exhaust.

Good luck,
Ray (64BJ8P1)

What Ray said--definitely.