Exhaust water. Condensation in the muffler and other problems

Many motorists are faced with the problem of condensation in the exhaust pipe and, as a result, the appearance of water droplets in the muffler. Sometimes this is normal, but it happens that the condensate in the muffler is such an alarm beacon that indicates a malfunction. internal systems cars.

Where does water come from?

the main problem condensation - invisibility. Most of us simply do not pay attention to its appearance until the amount of liquid becomes noticeable to the naked eye. In winter, when water constantly changes from one state to another, this is a particularly dangerous phenomenon. But even in summer, the liquid dripping from the exhaust also does not bode well.

Condensate itself is basically water, which is formed during the transition from a gaseous state to a liquid state. In nature, it is constantly formed, but does not cause damage. But for a car, it can be a problem. It can form not only in the muffler, but also in the internal systems of the car: fuel, oil, and also in the cooling system. It also accumulates in the cabin, closed areas of the body. In any case, there is harm from this. But its degree in each case is different.

The moment you turn off the engine, condensation begins to form in the exhaust pipe. Even if the car is new and fully functional. This is a natural phenomenon from which it is impossible to protect yourself. Outside, the entire system cools much faster than inside. Small accumulations of moisture appear in the muffler, which freeze in a short time and cover the “insides” with an ice crust. Experts say that much harm in this case this phenomenon does not cause, but many drivers are wary of it.

The fact is that a slight accumulation of moisture in the muffler during the active operation of the car may, on the contrary, indicate its serviceability and correct work. Here are some examples of how and why condensation occurs:

• With the active operation of the car, it will always be formed. In the cold season, car trips and, of course, engine heating become the main cause of its formation;
• Cars with auto start are more susceptible to this phenomenon. The pipe warms up in a maximum of 20 minutes, the frozen condensate melts, but does not have time to evaporate yet, but under the flow exhaust gases splashes out.
• If you press the gas pedal hard, the fluid from the exhaust pipe will come out more actively due to the greater pressure in the exhaust.

Conclusion: if in winter minus temperature water is dripping from the muffler, and its amount is small, this is not a reason to panic and not a reason to go to the nearest service station to carry out a thorough diagnosis and repair.

What are the dangers of condensate?

Formed in the muffler, it will cause practically no harm. Although it becomes over time the main cause of corrosion. But in winter, the corrosion process occurs much more slowly than in the warm season. If the car is not warmed up at least once a day in winter, the amount of frozen condensate in the exhaust can increase to such a level that the car simply will not start after a couple of days of inactivity. Some advise, in order to avoid such troubles, to drill a small hole in the resonator so that unnecessary moisture drains. However, this solution is not the best. The problem is that the metal around the hole you made will corrode much faster. As a result, after a short amount of time, you will have to completely change the exhaust pipe. Agree, if such a method were effective, the manufacturers themselves would use it at the manufacturing stage.

Another thing is when condensate accumulates in other systems of your car:

• In the engine. A white coating may form on the neck of the lid. This is also water, or rather, a sign of its absence, which in itself becomes the cause of many additional problems. Such plaque can also form near the valves if the gasket is damaged, and in other areas. Some of it can also enter the exhaust pipe and exit through it. It could also be the antifreeze you are using when it gets into oil system car. In this case, the engine itself may begin to heat up more strongly. But if nothing like this is observed, then there is nothing to worry about. In the process of mixing water and oil, a layer of moisture also quite often forms on the surface of the engine. However, in this case, it does not enter the exhaust pipe and can only be seen by looking under the hood. But when the engine heats up, the plaque is quickly washed off and does not pose a threat. Most likely, a white coating appears due to not enough water in oil. If necessary, you can just add a little of it and stir. It is not necessary to change the oil.
• In the gas tank. Here main reason – low quality gasoline. It may contain some water. Especially if you fill up at an old gas station. Those who travel with full tank and leaves the car warm, there are no problems with these. With a small amount of free space, there is simply nowhere for condensate to form. But if there is not enough fuel in the tank, the amount of moisture increases greatly. However, when the car is outside in winter, the temperature difference between the air and your fuel tank is minimal. Therefore, dew practically does not appear. But if you leave the car in a warm garage, then everything happens exactly the opposite.

The water in the tank, which also partially enters the muffler, is not very a good sign. Sometimes it can cause malfunctions of candles or fuel pump. But moisture can also enter the propulsion system from the tank. For diesel engines this is especially dangerous, because of this, the fuel lines can freeze, and the filter fine cleaning. Today, there are special water removers that chemically react with water and convert it into substances that easily burn with fuel without getting into other systems. The main problem is that this moisture does not always get into the exhaust pipe, so it goes unnoticed until the last. But if you see that the amount of fluid escaping through it has increased significantly for no apparent reason, you need to carefully examine the rest of the car's systems and check them for condensation.

How to deal with water in the muffler and is it worth it at all?

In order for moisture not to accumulate so actively in the muffler and get out of it faster, there are several effective ways:

• If your car has an automatic warm-up function and it starts up several times a night, but fluid still drips from the exhaust in the morning, simply increase the warm-up time. The fact is that with a short warm-up, the muffler simply does not have time to heat up to the desired temperature. Alternatively, a heater can be used.
• Always park your car in a garage if you have one.
• Try replacing the fuel with a more expensive one. It may well be that a significant part of the used is just water.
• In order for the water to come out in a state of vapor, and not a liquid, you can start the engine, wait a couple of minutes, and then put it at an angle with the front down. But this option is not very effective. It does not reduce the amount of condensate, but simply changes its shape. However, to some extent it reduces the rate of corrosion of the muffler metal due to moisture.
• You can also insulate the silencer itself with a non-combustible heat insulator or make additional liquid heating.

But all these actions still will not protect against the appearance of condensate in winter. The temperature difference doesn't really go anywhere. You can only reduce it a little, but this will not completely solve the problem. Depending on the quality of the muffler itself, it can last you from five to ten years. In any case, you will have to replace it with a new one. Preferably from the manufacturer and with additional protection from corrosion.

Silencer corrosion, contrary to popular belief, is formed mainly not due to condensate, but through the aggressive environment created by exhaust gases. Water in the muffler is just one of the factors affecting the rate and degree of corrosion processes. The fight against condensate, on the basis of this, is often empty and waste time. Worries should be only when, along with water from the silencer, there is a thick White smoke. This is a signal that it's time to replace the cylinder block gasket. And even then this is only necessary if the level of antifreeze began to decrease much faster.

Most motorists are not so much worried about why water is dripping from the muffler, but what threat this phenomenon poses to their car. As you can see, in the vast majority of cases, such a phenomenon in itself does not pose any serious danger. However, regular inspection of other internal systems is mandatory.

It is worth worrying seriously only if smoke of a continuous color comes out along with the condensate. This may already indicate a malfunction. fuel system or engine. In other cases, you have no particular reason to worry.

Condensate in exhaust system The car is caused by mixing cold and hot air. Dripping water from a muffler always scares a novice car owner. Is it so scary and what Negative consequences can be?

Where does the water in the exhaust come from?

Water vapor tends to turn into condensate. In the car, condensate collects in many places - in the exhaust and cooling systems, in the fuel and refrigerant lines. Moisture also accumulates in the cabin and hard-to-reach niches of the body.

After the engine is stopped, condensation begins to form in the exhaust system. This happens even on new cars, fully working. This is explained by the fact that the outside of the system cools much faster than inside. Therefore, drops of water splash from the muffler. They can quickly harden, coating the inside of the muffler with an ice crust. There will not be much damage, although many drivers believe otherwise.

The natural formation of moisture in the exhaust system is unavoidable. The most intense is:

• after active operation of the car;
• on cars with auto start;
• after a hard press on the accelerator pedal.

If condensation appears at temperatures below 0 and there is not much of it, it's okay.

Silencer Water: Causes

There are 2 reasons why water drips from the muffler. Condensation can appear from the outside - when snow and rain penetrate inside automotive systems. In the second case, moisture is formed directly in the exhaust, since any engine runs on a fuel-air mixture.

Steam is formed on a hot motor, the amount of which increases due to sudden changes temperatures.

Condensation can also accumulate in other vehicle systems:

• In the engine itself. White coating at the neck - traces of condensate.
• Near the valves (due to gasket damage).
• In the lubrication system (due to refrigerant).
• In the fuel tank (due to the use of low-grade fuel).

Try to keep the tank filled to the brim, and put the car in a closed room. Then the risk of moisture in the tank will be minimal.

Moisture inside the car - a big problem, because it may not reach the muffler, remaining invisible.

The liquid will significantly accelerate the wear of the elements. Therefore, it is worth regularly checking the under-hood space, and undergoing maintenance in a timely manner.

The presence of condensation in the fuel tank can be determined by the difficult start of the engine or by its interruptions. Moisture gets inside the tank along with low-quality fuel.

When refueling, look at the price of gasoline or diesel fuel. If it is significantly lower than the market, beware, do not rush to rejoice. Octane number easily increased synthetically, with the help of additives. Therefore, it is better to call on proven, branded gas stations.

Experienced motorists always try to keep fuel tank complete. This is not a whim, but the ability to avoid condensation even with low-grade fuel. There is simply no room for moisture inside the tank. Conversely, regular partial fillings contribute to the retention of moisture in the gas tank and other car systems.

No less hassle with condensate in the engine. This is where it comes from the fuel tank. Symptom of the problem - excessive heating motor. You need to inspect the car for leaky gaskets or valves. If there is moisture on the internal combustion engine itself, this can be determined by grease stains on the engine case. Oil mixes with hot air, evaporates, settles in the form of condensate.

It will be possible to get rid of moisture in the tank and engine by applying chemistry - special enzymes dissolve in water. Connections are formed that easily burn out during engine operation without causing damage to the engine installation.

Water is more likely to form in vehicles with modern system exhaust gas cleaning. Condensation can flow out of the muffler while driving. It occurs in a catalyst that oxidizes platinum, palladium and other harmful compounds coming from the engine. As a result of the reaction, carbon dioxide and water vapor are formed, which remain on the walls of the pipe.

What threatens the water in the muffler

Natural transparent condensate is not a problem if it is small. It's just water - its accumulation, on the contrary, indicates the health of all systems. The situation is worse if the color of the moisture is unusual, thick black smoke appears.

Danger number 1 - condensate can turn into ice. This threatens to rupture the muffler or resonator. In addition, when water freezes, important channels connecting the motor to other systems are clogged. Therefore, the car is very difficult, almost impossible to start.

Danger number 2 - corrosion. The internal cavities of the exhaust system quickly rust. For example, on the first VAZ cars, resonators and pants rotted in almost 3 years, although they were made of durable steel. With a stainless muffler of foreign cars, things are somewhat better, but condensate can react with sulfur dioxide (present in the exhaust of any internal combustion engine), form acid and corrode metal in 1-2 years.

Moisture is especially dangerous for diesel unit. It's easy to freeze here. fuel lines, fine filter, interruptions in the operation of glow plugs occur even in summer.

The color of the condensate coming out of the muffler is important. A yellow (or red) color indicates an antifreeze or oil leak. Black condensate - use low-quality fuel with additives. Also, black color indicates the deposition of soot. Green tint - a consequence high content sulfur in gasoline.

How to get rid of water in a muffler

Moisture must not actively accumulate inside the muffler. You can avoid its formation by adhering to the following recommendations:

At least once every 30 days (preferably in winter or autumn) it is worth making long trips. This will make it possible to warm up the car and its exhaust system well. One hour road trip high revs - The best way remove excess moisture from the muffler. Short-term trips around the city do not give such an effect. This, on the contrary, is a detrimental factor - the condensate will only have time to thaw and turn into water.

Can the muffler be drilled?

You need to drill the resonator, not the muffler itself. A thin 3 mm drill bit for metal is placed on the drill. Exhaust cans can leak up to 250 ml of water. The method is imperfect, but quite safe. Some drivers use it even on new cars.

The manufacturer does not recommend making holes in the resonator. The muffler metal quickly becomes unusable after that, because even a small hole is a potential source of corrosion. Due to high temperatures and dirt, the rust spreading process becomes more intense. In addition, the leaky muffler makes a lot of noise, exhaust gases enter the cabin.

The resource of exhaust elements is 4-5 years. With regular use of the car - even less. When purchasing a new muffler, give preference to models with anticorrosive.

Every second driver in the Russian Federation is forced to solve the problem with condensate. The humid Russian climate is the reason for this. Be careful, keep an eye on the amount of moisture. A small amount of water is not a problem. If there is too much of it, it is better to contact a car service, perform diagnostics and accurately find the source of the problem.

October 26, 2017

If during the warm-up of a cold engine, pay attention to back car, you can notice an interesting phenomenon - along with the exhaust gases, water splashes from the exhaust pipe. In the warm season, literally a few drops form, and in winter a wet path or puddle is often observed behind the car. This worries inexperienced motorists who perceive spray from the exhaust tract as a symptom of a malfunction. To be convinced of groundlessness of suspicions, it is necessary to understand the nature of this phenomenon.

How does moisture get inside the muffler?

In the vast majority of cases, water splashes escaping from the exhaust pipe do not indicate any breakdown and do not pose a danger to the “health” of the car. Spray can be observed on almost all machines, regardless of class and model. The reasons for the formation of moisture lie in the usual physical phenomena and chemical reactions that occur inside the engine and exhaust tract:

1. Condensation due to hot surfaces coming into contact with cold outside air.
2. Isolation of water as a product of a chemical combustion reaction hydrocarbon fuel occurring in the cylinders power unit.
3. With residual afterburning of combustible gases inside catalytic converter water vapor is also formed.

Each reason requires a detailed explanation. In the first case, moisture is formed after stopping the running engine, when the exhaust tract is thoroughly heated. Water vapor suspended in air condenses on contact with hot surfaces. The wetter outside air And more difference temperatures, the more condensation occurs. That is why much more liquid flows out of the pipe in winter than in summer.

Reference. The largest number condensation occurs during periods of rain and fog, when the air is oversaturated with moisture.

Water vapor is also a combustion product of gasoline, LPG and diesel fuel. When oxidized, the hydrocarbon compound decomposes with the release of heat. As a result of a chemical reaction, 2 substances are formed - carbon dioxide and water, which evaporates at the time of combustion. The steam is expelled through the valves into the exhaust pipe, where it partially condenses.

Since the conditions for burning gasoline are not too ideal, unburned carbon monoxide (CO) is formed in the chambers, which is sent along with the exhaust to the catalyst. There, the final oxidation and combustion of gasoline vapors occurs, again releasing water.

Consequences of condensate release

The droplets that appear inside the exhaust pipe after the engine stops, flow down and accumulate in the cylindrical body of the resonator. At the next start of a cold engine, they are squeezed out by exhaust gases, as a result of which water drips from the muffler until the path warms up. The remaining liquid evaporates from the hot pipe and is thrown out along with the smoke, the flow stops.

What are the consequences of water accumulation inside the exhaust system:

1. If the car is stored in winter open parking, frost will pick up moisture after cooling. Ice will appear in the pipe, partially blocking the flow area.
2. Freezing of water in the muffler and resonator tanks shortens the life of these elements. Since the formation of ice is accompanied by expansion, the metal walls and welds experience tensile stress.
3. Exhaust system made of black metal with anti-corrosion coating risk of rusting over time. The condensate contains sulfur and other corrosive substances. Pipes from of stainless steel chemical attack is not terrible.

Note. An ice plug that completely blocks the passage of flue gases is a rather rare occurrence. The normal dehumidification processes described in the previous section do not lead to such consequences. The maximum that can happen is the growth of icicles at the end of the pipe.

Since condensation always appears in the exhaust pipe in all cars, the difference in exhaust system wear is almost imperceptible. Gas ducts and tanks made of ferrous metal serve from 20 to 50 thousand kilometers, and the resulting fistulas can be repaired using conventional welding and thus extend the life of the elements. Stainless steel lasts twice as long - up to 100 thousand km.

When should you be concerned?

In some cases, the release of water indicates certain problems with the motor:

• the amount of condensate is too high;
• the expiration does not end after the engine and exhaust system have warmed up;
• flying drops are distinguished by a pronounced black color or leave oily stains on the pavement.

If strong condensate comes out of the exhaust, which does not stop with the engine warming up and is accompanied by white smoke, there is a breakdown of the cylinder head gasket (cylinder head). This means that the crack connected the channels of the block cooling water jacket with the combustion chamber. Antifreeze penetrates into the cylinders, evaporates from high temperature and thrown into exhaust system. As a result, you observe the release of white steam and coolant, which has managed to partially condense.

Advice. Detecting a breach of integrity cylinder head gaskets, immediately start repairing the power unit. It is unacceptable to drive with this malfunction.

Both the color of the exhaust gases and the color of the condensate can indicate a specific problem. Black water from the muffler indicates a large amount of soot contained in the smoke and settling on the inner walls of the pipes. There are two reasons for its formation:

• poor combustion conditions (wear piston-cylinder group, problems with the fuel supply, ignition system, and so on);
• refueling low-quality gasoline or solar.

There are cases when soot from unburned or low-quality fuel completely clogged the pipeline system, starting the engine became impossible.

An oily puddle under the exhaust pipe may indicate wear on the cylinder-piston group or valve seals. motor lubricant, penetrating into the cylinders, burns out and is partially thrown into the gas duct and mixed with condensate. The malfunction is accompanied by bluish smoke, soot on the electrodes of the candles and an increase in oil consumption in the engine.

Sometimes the condensate is colored in an unusual yellow-green hue. A similar color indicates a high sulfur content in the fuel, which is a sign of poor quality.

Is it possible to reduce the amount of fluid in the exhaust?

The intensity of condensation inside the exhaust system practically does not depend on the make and model of the car. It should be understood that a small amount of water in the pipe is normal. An exception is the situation when liquid flows like a river due to a breakthrough in the cylinder head gasket.

Because you can't control the chemical reaction of gasoline burning to release water vapor, try to fight condensation. What is needed for this:

• reduce the temperature difference between the heated surface of the pipe and the surrounding air;
• reduce the humidity of the air in contact with hot gas ducts;
• create conditions for the natural evaporation of condensate.

There is only one way to meet these requirements - to store the car in a warm, tightly closed garage equipped with exhaust ventilation. Less moisture will fall out of the heated and drier air, and due to the positive temperature, the condensate will evaporate during the stop and be removed through the hood. Please note that it will not be possible to completely get rid of water droplets from the muffler.

In children's drawings, when kids draw cars, we have seen more than once how our children are intently painting plentiful puffs of gas escaping from the exhaust pipe of a car. What do we see on the road? Some of us who are more observant, perhaps, contemplated the picture when the car started off or added a little speed and a good portion of water poured out of its muffler. So why is water pouring out of the muffler and where did it come from?
Perhaps this serious malfunction or so it should be. There are many questions that the average person can ask himself, and we will try to answer them. This is what we will talk about in our article.

Where does water come from in a car muffler (exhaust pipe)

Basically, there isn't much to say here. Everything has been studied and explained for a long time. It turns out that during the combustion of hydrocarbons, which is gasoline, water is formed and by-products burning. In order not to fill your head with formulas, take a look at the figure below. You will see what our fuel is approximately converted into in the engine combustion chamber ...

That is, if in a simple way, then our fuel is in a liquid, and this liquid remains, except that its composition changes and some of it goes into vapor. That is, gasoline turns into water and many other products formed as a result of fuel combustion.
From all this it follows that even if you have high-quality gasoline, there is no water in the tank, you will still get water in the exhaust pipe during combustion, in the form of steam.

How water vapor turns into water in the exhaust pipe (causes of water from the muffler)

Now a completely simple process is the condensation of vapors on the metal walls of the exhaust pipe. We all know about the dew point, that is, when at a certain pressure, temperature and humidity, water vapor is able to settle on the surface. The warmer the air and the colder the surface it comes into contact with, the more likely it is that condensation will “fall out”. In principle, this is what happens in the exhaust system of a car, in the resonator, in the silencer, in the pipes. All this leaves no chance that the exhaust system will be dry.
Having understood one simple truth that we can’t get away from water, it is necessary to resolve the issue. How to get rid of it? How to minimize the effect of water on the exhaust system? These questions are quite reasonable, because our exhaust system is a metal structure, and not stainless steel. Therefore, the problem of water content in the exhaust system, in the muffler, is relevant. So, when we figured out the processes of water formation in the muffler. Let's talk about the dangers of excess water that can accumulate in the exhaust system of a car and how to get rid of it.

How to get rid of or minimize the amount of water in the muffler, resonator (exhaust system)

Let's start with the fact that it will not be possible to get rid of water in the muffler. This is a dogma and there is no getting away from it. At least this cannot be done 100 percent, but it is quite possible to reduce the moisture content. It was not in vain that we mentioned temperature in the previous paragraph. It is on the change in temperature of the metal elements of the exhaust system that you can play on the amount of condensate deposited in it, that is, water. Optimum operation will be when the car warms up, while the entire exhaust system warms up. Such heating will contribute to the fact that less moisture will settle on the walls of the muffler and resonator, and if it settles, it will quickly evaporate. That is, the conclusion is simple. Long term operation, rather than one-time and short trips, will help to slightly reduce the water content in the exhaust system of the car.

What threatens the accumulated water in the exhaust system of your car

We have already talked about the corrosion of the exhaust system, which does not like excessive moisture at all. So, the increased water content in the exhaust system will lead to the fact that its elements (resonator, muffler) will corrode and become unusable ahead of time. For domestic cars this period may not be so significant 2-3 years and that's it, there is already a hole in the muffler. By the way, holes in the muffler, as the most common malfunction, confirm the fact of moisture accumulation on the coldest surfaces, that is, further from the engine through the exhaust system.
The second, no less pleasant phenomenon that can be encountered when water forms in the exhaust system is the formation of icy impassable plugs in the exhaust system. This is true only in the cold season, but still. Gradually growing ice plugs can “crush” the engine to the point that it will completely stop starting. Traffic jams can just be formed from short trips, or when a timer is set on the car to maintain engine temperature. The car is standing and warming up for idling while the entire exhaust system is cold. Almost all water vapor will remain in it, in the muffler. Here it would be nice to rev up, play around with the speed, but if the car is warming up without a driver, then there is no one to do this.

Ice extracted from the exhaust pipe of a car during the cold season. And the subsequent decrease in engine power in the presence of such traffic jams can not be mentioned, since this is a matter of course.

Drilling a hole in the muffler can to get rid of the water in it

This advice is more cardinal and is suitable for domestic auto industry. It will be especially relevant for those who come here with a request about how to extend the life of a muffler or a rotten muffler. And indeed, on domestic car muffler can rot in a couple of years. Rot to holes, while such that it will no longer be subject to repair. Foreign cars in this regard are much more pragmatic. The corrosion properties of mufflers of foreign cars are not even bad. Their mufflers are capable of walking for 10 years or more. Well, okay ... What can be done so that the muffler does not rot?
In fact, this advice garage tuning USSR and again from the designers foreign car industry. Some of the car enthusiasts drilled a hole in the muffler bank. It was done at the lowest point or closest to the back of the car. And all so that condensate and moisture from the exhaust gases do not stagnate in the muffler bank. Let's say take a look at this muffler bank of one of the foreign cars.

There are two holes here. At the same time, their diameter is so small that it is not able to change in any way to the volume of the sound, but the moisture through them goes well into environment.
For such tuning, all that is needed is a drill with a 2-3 mm drill and a hole so that you can crawl under the car. Approximately like this.

In some cases, water may pour out right away. Especially if it's winter and the car has low miles. Then there is probably already a whole “lake”. It can be about 0.5 -1 liters of water. If the water runs out, great! However, do not rush to follow this advice ...

If the muffler is made of stainless steel, which is very rare, then everything is fine. And if it is coated, then by drilling a hole, we damage and protective layer on metal. Now the one-time release of water will turn into a constantly “drip hole”. And if you remember about the removed protective layer, temperature and humidity, then the hole will probably grow. And if this is our auto industry, then the muffler will last about the same amount, with or without a hole. But for a foreign car, you can significantly reduce the life of the muffler. Therefore, although you want to, you should not do this for a high-quality metal muffler ...

So, the phenomenon of water formation in the muffler, resonator (exhaust system) is inevitable. We also mentioned ways to get rid of excess moisture in the exhaust system. Now, it remains to be hoped that you will find for yourself optimal balance when there is not so much water in your muffler, while the mileage will be optimal for you, and not too high.