Steam

ponysarepretty

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#1

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Now that it is cold, i've noticed some cars seem to have a lot of steam come out of its tailpipes, while others have none. Why? I am assuming that all these cars aren't burning coolant as the steam dissapates extremely fast.

 

timeless2

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#2

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Water vapor (condensation) is a result of fuel combustion.

 

ponysarepretty

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4u2nv said:

Water vapor (condensation) is a result of fuel combustion.

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Yeah i know that, but why do some cars not have visible emission of water vapor?

 

timeless2

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#4

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ponysarepretty said:

Yeah i know that, but why do some cars not have visible emission of water vapor?

Click to expand...

This might help.

 

ponysarepretty

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not really if you ask me

 

F

FalconGuy016

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I don't want to think of a logical reason, but cars that just start up have visible steam in the cold. When it warms up, it stops.

 

triggz

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Like FalconGuy016 said, the cars with lots of steam havent been running long and arent up to full operating temp yet.

 

W

WillDuhhBeast

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#8

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triggz said:

Like FalconGuy016 said, the cars with lots of steam havent been running long and arent up to full operating temp yet.

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Yea, I agree with you guys.

After the car warms it stops, so maybe all the cars you see with the steam arent up to heat yet?

 

ponysarepretty

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hmmmmmmm how long is full operating temp?

 

timeless2

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ponysarepretty said:

not really if you ask me

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OK. If you understood the concept of fuel combustion and catalytic converters, you'd know why there is steam in exhaust.

 

ponysarepretty

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4u2nv said:

OK. If you understood the concept of fuel combustion and catalytic converters, you'd know why there is steam in exhaust.

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yes... i know there is steam, but why is it more visible on some cars than others?

 

Fast02

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I have heard that for every tank of gas (20gal) a gallon of water exits the exhaust.

 

triggz

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#13

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ponysarepretty said:

hmmmmmmm how long is full operating temp?

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About 10 miles of highway probably on average. Depends on the car and how hard its being driven. Stomping on the mustang is gonna make it heat up a lot faster than grandma idling her 4cyl to the grocery store.


A lot of traffic you see is probably cold motors..3-4hrs willy completely cool a motor. People just going into work, or going to lunch after sitting in the lot, or going home after at least sitting in the lot after lunch..

I believe the 1gallon water:20gallons gas output ratio, my car leaves big puddles with about 5 minutes of warming up. Probably 2-3oz.

 

03ghoststang

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#14

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i like it when it's cold then the steam comes out and looks cool specially if a car has cams you can see the pulses

 

hotmustang331

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#15

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I see ALOT of steam from my car in the winter...looks like a freegin freight train. All you see in the mirrow are two clouds of steam...when I had the cats, there wast much steam . I hate cats, so they stay off unless its being inspected. And on top of it, I have heard from an ENG. that cats cause the car to produce another type of emmission thats actually just as harmfull as the regular exhaust emmissions...but there is just not enough information on it yet, so its will stay for a while.

 

ponysarepretty

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Would my not having mufflers cause an similarcondition as the exhaust gases are evacuated faster?

 

40th GT

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#17

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ponysarepretty said:

Would my not having mufflers cause an similarcondition as the exhaust gases are evacuated faster?

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I suppose so.

What looks cool on these cold days is when even after I shut the car off, some smoke is still coming out the tailpipes. This was more noticeable when I switched to Packs from the stock catback.

 

DCjuggalo

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#18

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mine was still steamin tonite after a 2 hour drive it only does it when the car isnt moving (no cats, strait thru mufflers)

 

triggz

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#19

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40th GT said:

I suppose so.

What looks cool on these cold days is when even after I shut the car off, some smoke is still coming out the tailpipes. This was more noticeable when I switched to Packs from the stock catback.

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haha my buddy noticed that the other day on my car. looks like 2 smoking gun barrels

it would make a sweet-ass picture with a bullitt mustang.

 

sgarlic

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#20

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The only input I have is that turning the defroster on (although reducing your gas mileage slightly) will help your engine warm up quicker in really cold temps (extra load on the engine when the a/c clutch cycles).. 4 cylinders warm up much faster than V8's.. my old 4-cyl Beretta could be at full operating temp in 3-4 minutes of city driving.. both Mustangs took 20 or so.