coolant in exhaust

dawnovsky

dawnovsky

Well-known member
Hi,

while still trying to address issue i ve met with my engine built, i have notice water (coolant) coming out the exhaust today.
I think this is a common sign of leak related to cylinder #1 passenger side head bolt.
I have used red RTV on tread, but it might not be enought.
Plug don't show sign of moisture, and there's no white smoke on the exhaust just droplet coming out the muffler.
Engine was hot and had run for 20 minutes before.

first idea is to remove the famous Cyl#1 head bolt, trully clean it and reinstall with proper amount of sealant . (Red RTV or blue stuff, don't know witch one is better)
gasket is composite type from CI and is new :bang:
i hope i will not have to remove head again to install new head gasket :bang:

thanks for advice.
 
I hope you are using the Felpro composite gasket and not the Corteco...I had issues with a Corteco and am now using Felpro.
 
It's not just regular water that is a byproduct of normal combustion (drip here'n there)?
Or a big billowy cloud of white smoke?
It DOES have the coolant in it?
How can U tell (smell only?)?
:|
 
Do you see the coolant level in the rad going down?
Maybe it's just condensation as Chad said, that's pretty typical.
 
8) i agree with the others, if you have no other indications of a coolant leak, it sounds like normal condensation.
 
i can see droplet coming from the exhaust tips.
i cant really tell if it's plain water or coolant once it is mixed with soot from the exhaust.
i have to add coolant yesterday, but as the engine have not run much since new head gasket it could be normal. i have notice low level after a long wait in city traffic jam inducing higher than usual temp. realize radiator cap was dead at the same time and have it replace.
good be condensation as the car haven't run for a few days.
in another hand, i have notice water after a 30 minutes drive.

i ll try to give the car another run today and see if there is still droplet in the exhaust.

gasket is composite type from CI so probably felpro.


regards
 
"soot from exhaust"
need to tune carb (rebuild? I hope not) or sompin (choke problem?) to clear this up for multiple reasons inc this diagnosis of "H2o in exhaust"
:nono:

"add coolant/low level"
1) may B this is just due to an air bubble in the system. It's hard to purge the sys when 1st filling to avoid this w/o modern equip. 2) it may be due to the problem U suspect so keep ur eye on it.

"higher temps"
hope U got a temp gage (true readings) rather than a pointer that just shows general relativity. Actual temp is a good thing to know, easy to retrofit w/proper gage.

"dead cap"
hey, this could be the only real problem you had/have.

So any of these U can address can assure things cont well. U have some excellent skills and knowledge (& a great vehicle). I'm just helpin sos you'll send me onea those OZ X-flow heads for my '69 250.
8^0
no really - continue to check in so I/we can rest relieved. You're so close now!!!
 
chad":2xmjf809 said:
"soot from exhaust"
need to tune carb (rebuild? I hope not) or sompin (choke problem?) to clear this up for multiple reasons inc this diagnosis of "H2o in exhaust"
:nono:

"add coolant/low level"
1) may B this is just due to an air bubble in the system. It's hard to purge the sys when 1st filling to avoid this w/o modern equip. 2) it may be due to the problem U suspect so keep ur eye on it.

"higher temps"
hope U got a temp gage (true readings) rather than a pointer that just shows general relativity. Actual temp is a good thing to know, easy to retrofit w/proper gage.

"dead cap"
hey, this could be the only real problem you had/have.

So any of these U can address can assure things cont well. U have some excellent skills and knowledge (& a great vehicle). I'm just helpin sos you'll send me onea those OZ X-flow heads for my '69 250.
8^0
no really - continue to check in so I/we can rest relieved. You're so close now!!!
Click to expand...



i have install a new cap two days ago.
Not orginal for mustang but said to be for 60-69 ford falcon AU so i guess it would be fine.

temp gauge is mustang original, in other word, just a needle swinging left and right depending the direction you're turning to.
Still the sensor is new, so reading should be accurate. It's a scot drake thing for V8. it has been sold to me as a replacement for the 250-2v, but i won't bet on it. at least it is fitting the hole nicely;
the car got close to too hot 2 days ago, most probbly because of air in the system. It then have been behaving normally.
I install a flex a lite 6 blade 17" fan that was lying on my desk since a while. It will help to stay on the safe side.
drive the car for 20 minutes today. no overheat, seems like no water coming out.
temp gauge read 1/2. outside temps 28/30°C and kinda humid.
i ll check again for water later .

just another question regarding head gasket.
Is there anychance head gasket can be install in reverse direction and not noticed (I think there is no oil press when a 6 Cyl gasket is installed the wrong way)
Old ford v8 are tricky with head gasket as they can be install the wrong way, and work great(oil press, water temp) till last cylinder dyie from overheating. I hope it can not happen on 6.

Chad, i would have like to send you one of those Xflow head. Unfortunately i 'm not exactly in australia. I m near by, in New caledonia. As it's a fench territory we are much more into french renault and peugeot than into Ford stuff (not a single cross flow falcon on the road over here). It took me a while to locate a 2v head in australia, and pick it up with a private plane while i was there .I would not have even considere the swap if i have have to pay for shipping.
Xflow head are still common in australia and probably easiere to find than older 2v.
 
dawnovsky":2u4xbklb said:
just another question regarding head gasket.
Is there anychance head gasket can be install in reverse direction and not noticed (I think there is no oil press when a 6 Cyl gasket is installed the wrong way)
Old ford v8 are tricky with head gasket as they can be install the wrong way, and work great(oil press, water temp) till last cylinder dyie from overheating. I hope it can not happen on 6.
Click to expand...

Well, it is possible to install it backwards, but it's very noticable. As in, when you fill it up with coolant you'll notice your engine has become an externally cooled engine. Don't ask why I know this...but if you search the forums hard enough you'll found it.

Some water out of the exhaust is a normal byproduct of condensation in the exhaust. Usually if you have coolant in the exhaust from a leak you'll notice a large amount of white smoke. Some black soot is just fuel residue and is normal if you are running a little rich at idle (very common).
 
:) If there was coolant getting into the exhaust,BELIEVE me you would notice the NASTY smell.
I`m sure that you know the smell of coolant fresh in the container.Just imagine what it will smell like after it has been subjected to cylinder temps.URPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo
 
"...send you one of those Xflow head."

supposed 2 B a joke, they don't come across so good in writing (not able 2 C the wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

1/2 way on the simple gage sounds REAL good, I'm not as worried now...
assume it wrks right & shows true.

Cobra 6 is 1 of the 2 or 3 reliable sources here, trust him (another joke). Like myself he's in the wonderful commonwealth (just 3 in this country PA, & VA too) of Massachusetts. But the best one, just ask the others, right fellas?

Sounds lie you're on your feet now!?! Congrats, brother!!!
 
as Chad said, it seems to be ok now.
no massive coolant leak (nothing i can notice after 50 km drive yesterday.
I guess air trapped in the system and bad cap leads to coolant low level.
water out the pipe don't look green or smely so it's probably combustion by product. (still there was a lot of when starting cold engine).
too rich mixture be one of the reason. I should definitely find someone that can weld on aluminium to modify the coolant port under the manifold. one was to close from the shock tower to be used.
this will surely help carb n gas warm up after cold start and cooling after long run.

I ll continue monitoring coolant level closely just in case.

We you recommend retorquing head after a few hundreds of miles ?
it s a composite gasket torqued @ 75.

thanks for all the help

regards
 
new update...

i ve drive to work with the car today.
Tonight when living office, i had a chance to check exhaut on a concret floor.
gas leave a wet mark on the floor. some droplet were coming out a the muffler (turn down pipe).
2-3 minutes after it was over.
temperture today were up to 29 and humidity about 40%
i doubt there could have been that much condensation in only a few hours (TGIF).
what do you guys think ?
 
Asa":1o9zizyv said:
CobraSix":1o9zizyv said:
Don't ask why I know this...but if you search the forums hard enough you'll found it.
Click to expand...
I liked it better when you were Mr. Gasket.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't know why they got rid of that moniker...And to this day, it always reminds me that if something doesn't look quite right but still fits, it probably isn't right.

It's also when I learned to never let a V8 friend check your I6 work...
 
Doesn't sound abnormal. as has been stated before, if you had coolant leaking into your exhaust, you'd definitely know it. It's unmistakable.

The condensation inside your exhaust system is mostly just the byproduct of the combustion process and the cooling of the hot air afterwards.
 
CobraSix":1bjvynm5 said:
Careful...This post will change your opinion.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4133&hilit=head+gasket+backwards

yes...that's me.
Click to expand...

As one of Werner von Braun's associates said on a documentary: "Well, in the beginning, we had a lot of failures. But that is a good thing. If we were successful the first time out, we would have learned nothing."
 
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