Exhaust Leak?

**Formula Dave** · 03-28-2009, 08:56 AM

I have noticed quite a bit of white smoke/steam from my exhaust lately, primarily on cool damp days below 50 degrees.

I have also discovered I have an exhaust leak on the passenger side of my y pipe. I'm going to replace the y-pipe with an ORY this week so don't get on me about that. The Leak is on the weld on the hollowed out cat on the passenger side.

Can the exhaust leak be causing the smoke/steam? I did notice some fluid drops from the weld. My coolant level is fine, oil level is fine, transmission level fine, all fluids are clean and the color they should be.

**TransAm11973** · 03-28-2009, 09:52 AM

sounds mostly like condensation....does the "smoke" go away after it warms up.....the dripping from the hole in the weld just sounds like condensation as well.....you should be fine just get that leak taken care of

**Formula Dave** · 03-28-2009, 10:04 AM

on warm weather days the steam/smoke disappears. but on cold damp days if I idle for a bit, it seems to return.

I'll replace the ypipe and keep and eye on it.

**Orcus79** · 03-28-2009, 10:53 AM

Its just condensation, nothing to worry about really. a by product of combustion is moisture.

**pajeff02** · 03-28-2009, 10:55 AM

Water is a by-product of combustion -- until your exhaust system warms up the water vapor condenses on the cooler metal of your exhaust system and will drip from the tailpipe (or other holes) and will also result in the "white smoke" you see.

**SLP00blueSS** · 03-28-2009, 01:37 PM

also i noticed you said you had hollowed out cats. I noticed that when i removed my cats i had quite a bit more condensation on cold days cold starts but it goes away. shouldnt be a big deal just get the exhaust leak fixed