Brian,

I don't remember all of the chemistry exactly, but this I do remember. One
of the natural by-products of combustion in a gasoline engine is water
vapor. You only see this at startup because things haven't warmed up yet;
the exhaust system is still cold, etc. You don't see this in the summer
because there is no cold air to cause the vaport to condense immediately
upon exiting the exhaust system.

Nothing to worry about.

Bruce

>From: WVVW <wvveedub@NETSCAPE.NET>
>Reply-To: WVVW <wvveedub@NETSCAPE.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Water from tailpipe
>Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 07:39:32 -0500
>
>I noticed a strange thing this weekend.  When I first fire up my van I see
>condensation coming from the tailpipe, both as steam and small droplets.
>The condensation does not smell like coolant.  After about 5 minutes or so,
>the condensation goes away and the exhaust fumes are bone dry.
>
>What gives?  I thought the obvious, that I may have a blown head gasket,
>but I don't seem to have any of the other indicators (i.e., sounds, engine
>running hot, coolant overflow, etc.)
>
>Brian
>85 7-passenger GL
>--
>
>
>
>
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