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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
96
GMC SIERRA 1500, Water from The Exhaust
Q: I have a '96 GMC SIERRA 1500 that I bought
in October of this year. Here is the problem; I notice water coming from
the exhaust pipe when the truck is idling, and I notice two small holes
in the muffler, which I patched myself. Does this water dripping from
the exhaust signal a problem? Your reply is deeply appreciated.
A: Do
the holes you're referring to look as if they were drilled into the muffler
and not rust holes? Are they located at the lowest point of the muffler?
If so, then unplug the holes you plugged in the muffler. Those holes are
drains for water to get out of the exhaust system. If the water is not
allowed to drain, it will rust the muffler out very quickly.
For
an engine to run properly, you need to mix the right amounts of gasoline,
which is a hydrocarbon (HC), with oxygen (O2). Adding a spark to this
mix will start a thermal chemical process, to put it simply, a fire starts.
The result of this process breaks and mixes the hydrocarbon (HC) and oxygen
(O2) molecules up. The result of this mix up is power from your engine
with carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) exiting the exhaust. Today's
engines and emissions controls are very efficient at converting the fuel
used during combustion into CO2 and H2O. A good running engine produces
water, that's why there are drains in the exhaust system and water from
tail pipe.
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