Excess Water exiting the TailPipe

On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 23:25:38 -0500, "DSigma" found these unused words floating about:

Temperature, Humidity of your location at the time?

The catalytic converter changes carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, which can be absorbed by plants, by adding an oxygen atom. It also adds an oxygen atom to hydrogen oxide, making it h2o, which is water. HTH, davidj92

Yep and thanks, Since I am in Florida, relative humidity is high and temperatures lately in the lower 70's to mid 90's. This is a complete overhaul 22r engine installed in a '79 4x4 restored. No catalytic converter. My other Toyota vehicles do not display the same conditions. In other words, I have not observed excessive amounts of water exiting the tailpipe from 22re celica or mr2. Temperature and humidity conditions are the same for all.

Hydrogen oxide *IS* water. You don't add an oxygen atom to hydrogen oxide to get water. H2O means Hydrogen * 2, + Oxygen * 1.

H2O2 is hydrogen peroxide.

GC

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 05:55:17 -0500, "DSigma" found these unused words floating about:

I'd get the same thing with a 2002 DC Tacoma when: Recently run, temp had cooled a bit more and I restarted.

Seems to condense a bit, blow it out for a couple minutes, then all clear.

Cat checked for leaks and operation - OK.

A quick way to check if you are leaking coolant into the engine is to take the radiator cap off when the engine is cold - make certain it is filled all the way up and then start the engine - if the coolant jumps

- you have a leak. Also monitor the coolant levels. You can tell which cylinder is leaking by removing the plug and look for colored coolant contamination on the plug.

Obviously in FL you got lots of humidity - cats emit a lot of moisture.

All three assertions are rubbish.

Well Duh! When a catalyst lights off in the first quarter mile after cold start, the 650-700 degree exhaust temperature now entering the resonator and muffler dries out those components in a matter of 60 seconds. That's why mufflers and resonators and pipping last so much longer than exhaust systems that have no catalyst.

On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 16:31:51 GMT, "Philip" found these unused words floating about:

Well Duh! ... What's "pipping" ???

Kirk Splaat

Excuse me, "piping" as in pipes or tubing.

You are correct, I didn't explain it correctly on the conversion to water. The correct explanation is: A three-way catalytic converter has three simultaneous tasks: 1.. oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide: 2CO + O2 ? 2CO2 2.. reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen: NOx ? O2 + N2 3.. oxidation of hydrocarbons (unburnt fuel) to carbon dioxide and water: CxHy + nO2 ? xCO2 + mH2O So, the section where water is created would be defined by number 3. davidj92

You must define "excessive". It is common and normal for water to drip from the tail pipe of a cold engine.

I'd argue that the reason they last so much longer in many cases is because many exhaust systems are made from stainless steel these days. Cars with a catalytic converter can actually be worse on pipes and mufflers because the converter can create sulfuric acid if the fuel has a significant amount of sulfur. My old F150 is particularly hard on mufflers. I use it to make lots of really short trips and have been know to buy gas of less than Top Tier quality. I am on my third muffler in less than 15 years. It is the only vehicle I have owned from new that ever required a muffler replaced at all. My SO's old Camry ate 3 mufflers in about ten years as well, and she did not make a lot of short trips. I figured it was because a lot of the gas in our area includes significant amounts of sulfur. The Sable I had of similar vintage to the Camry never needed a muffler in over 13 years, but it had a stainless steel exhaust system. My Sister's current Civic is interesting in that it appears to have a stainless steel system as far as the rear muffler, but the actual muffler is aluminized steel. The OE Honda muffler lasted over

7 years. Surprisingly, the replacement muffler purchased from a Honda dealer lasted less than one year (looked like a crappie welding job on the pipe). The Car Quest replacement was also just aluminized steel, but at least it appeared to be better made - and cost more as well.

Ed

The length and configuration of the exhaust system can effect how much water condenses in the exhaust system. A long system with larger diameter pipes will more efficiently cool the exhaust gases and condense more water. A system with a large muffler may actually retain the water long enough for the system to warm up and re-evaporate the water stored in the muffler. A truck system is more exposed to the air flow, which means it takes longer to warm up, which can also lead to condensation. And as Philip pointed out, a vehicle with a catalytic converter will heat the exhaust gases, further reducing condensation.

Ed

You would have to ignore the history of catalyst equipped vehicles prior to the common place practice of coated exhaust piping. No OEM has used solid stainless exhaust pipes. Cost prohibitive. It is also a fact that gasoline engine exhaust systems corrode from the OUTSIDE first. Weld points are nearly always a rust point.

OOPS.... self editing oversight.

Should have read: "It is also a fact that gasoline engine exhaust systems corrode from the INSIDE first. "

I was thinking diesel at that earlier writing. duh.