It is normal to have some condensation in the exhaust, however this sounds excessive. I'll assume the smoke is white. I believe he is getting coolant into a cylinder causing the smoke and excess water. It could be as simple as a head or intake gasket, or a crack in the head or block...not so simple. Let me give one warning; water doesn't compress like air, so if too much water gets into the cylinder, you can bend a rod. Also, check for water in the oil, and if there is, park the car.

 

Heads were cleaned, but I dont think pressure tested. There had not been any real problems up to that point. The reason for the rebuild was some bluish smoke from the tailpipe. Instead of just doing a ring job, the engine had never been out, so he thought "while its out, might as well re-do everything".
We thought cracked head or break in the seal, but why would it get better with driving and worse with sitting? Is the heat causing a swelling that is sealing off a leak somewhere, or does the heat cause the water to evaporate so that it is not as noticable until the car cools down and the water condensates?

Thanks for all of the reply and help.

 

We thought cracked head or break in the seal, but why would it get better with driving and worse with sitting? Is the heat causing a swelling that is sealing off a leak somewhere, or does the heat cause the water to evaporate so that it is not as noticable until the car cools down and the water condensates?

Tough one to troubleshoot. Since there was no issues before the rebuild, a cracked head/block is unlikely. My guess is a leaking head gasket which seals up after warm-up. Might just be a bad gasket, installation error, or could be a warped surface on the head or deck.

 

It still might just be condensation.

Do you notice any coolant smell in the puddle or is it just water mixed with soot?

Phil

 

It still might just be condensation.

Do you notice any coolant smell in the puddle or is it just water mixed with soot?

Phil

Thats what I was thinking.

Give a better explaination of the amount of water we are talking here? Large is too vague. Make a guess or put a cup back there and get a good measurement. check for coolant.

Also describe the smoke. Thick white is burning oil, wispy white is probably just water. Black is fuel.
A water coolant mix can burn thick white also but not likely.

If it is condensation what has your weather been like lately? very cold mornings? quick temp rise between sun up and noon?

 

Is the coolant level going down?

 

"Smoke" is wispy white. I'll ask about the measurement of water. There is no discoloration in puddle, or gas/oil/coolant smell. Catching it in a cup is a good idea.
Yes on the weather question. Here in North Texas, awfully chilly nights, with fairly warm afternoons. Humidity around 60%. It just seemed funny that it started after a rebuild.
Like I said. This is a friend of mine and I'll get better info for all of these good questions. Thank you to everybody who has responded.

 

Yes on the weather question. Here in North Texas, awfully chilly nights, with fairly warm afternoons. Humidity around 60%. It just seemed funny that it started after a rebuild.

Wispy white, sounds right for your weather.

One thing, did he install all new pipes? from the headers back? If so the muffler angle can be off just so that the condensation collects in the early morning and sits just waiting to be forced out in a big gush.

Chances are if he was able to pull the engine and install it himself he would have noticed coolant or oil mixed with the water on the ground.

I bet the angle or style of the muffler is to blame. If I am wrong, oh well. This is the internet.

Good luck.

 

Oh yeah, if the heads were leaking coolant into the exhaust, you would have way more probems that just a puddle of water every morning.

The only way coolant could get into the exhaust is if it came out either directly on or really close to the exhaust valve.
I would be really surprised to see water in the exhaust pipe, but not any in a cylinder. The engine would hydrolock and if you were lucky the flywheel would lose some teeth.

right?

 

Eimo, I hope you are not asking ME if thats right. Those who have followed or seen my posts know that I know NOTHING about engines. That is why it is so great to come on here and get such great insight.
He did not replace pipes or headers, just the long block.
There are a lot of good replies here. I am going to get with my friend and get some answers to questions that I cant answer right now. Thanks agian to all who responded.

 

How far to work? It might be that he is just getting it warmed up and then he shuts it off, I had a time with this a while back with my wife's bronco II, she only worked about 8 mins from the house and I was getting a lot of condensation build up in the exhaust and rusting out mufflers and smoking a lot. Once I figured it out we would warm up the car longer on cooler days and that seemed to help. I would check to see about coolant usage and go from there

 

We drive Crown Vics here at work (police). Everyone one of them does what you describe in winter time. In fact, if you let them idle for a while, they'll probably shoot almost a 1/2 gallon of water out each pipe when you take off. It sounds weird when they've been idling for a while and the water builds up. Sounds like the tailpipe is under water.

 

One more vote for condensation in the tailpipes. Depending on the temps and humidity you can get quite a bit of water out the tailpipe. It seems to me if it was coolant there would be a definite smell of antifreeze.

 

You can pull the spark plugs and rotate the engine over slowly by hand to see if any coolant is in the cylinders after it sits overnight. I'm guessing it may be like the others have said though, condensation.
My 68 289 coupe puts out quite a bit of condensation until it's completely warmed up and it's a new rebuild also. There will be small puddles on the garage floor directly under the tailpipes. It disappears after warm up.

 

Thats why many newer fords have drain holes in the mufflers.
Check your oil color and coolant level if both are fine its condensation.
You can also check with the engine hot and running remove a valve cover breather or pcv and check for water vapor pumping out. Check under the the oil fill cap for water intrusion. If its oily and dark brown it should be good.
If its milky white in color then you have a leak

 

Mine does the same thing every weekend. Cool mornings/warm humid afternoons, whispy faint white smoke and clear/soot puddle under each pipe.I just warm up the car and wipe up the puddle and ride away. :wave:

 

Same here, my coupe always has done that. I always have to clean out the tip of the exhaust pipe when detailing the car at a show.

 

Hi my name is molly I have a 1966 289 mustang and I don't know what wrong with it .it it's hard for me because I'm a woman and I always getting ripped off.its hard to trust anybody to work in my car cuz they told me it's something and it's not I'm taking it for something and they tell me something else anyhow my radiator one of the pumps was leaking and I think water went in the motor I'm not too sure how can I tell. What do I have to do to find out can you please help me tell me what to do

 

Molly, without experience, plenty of men have trouble diagnosing engine problems too, so this is not a "woman" thing! Lots of people here are willing to help you out. Can you tell us why you think water went in the engine? If you can describe where you see it leaking, things that your car is doing, and last but not least, was the oil all weird looking, like it had mayonnaise in it?

If the water pump is leaking coolant, that's a sure sign it needs to be replaced - but sometimes these engines can spring leaks in places beside the water pump too. Maybe we can help narrow it down?

Welcome to VMF!

 

Hmmmm,,,,,
Perhaps if you give us your general location maybe some of our members can recommend a repair shop local to you that they have had good experiences with.