Cracked?

[les]

I'm starting to wonder if I have a cracked cylinder head, when I start up, the exhaust leaves a black stain on the garage floor and a bit of water. Used to think this was one of those things but since backing into the garage it marks my nice painted wall! Any alternative thoughts? I'll have the plugs out soon and see if water squirts out! Engine sounds well enough. Will need to check if this happens when the engine has had a good run.

[PSL184]

Sounds normal.

[beero]

Mine does as well. Paint your garage wall black, that'll solve it!

[rcharman]

Drive in forwards

[les]

--the wall will be black soon! As for going in forward, tried it and scraped the front wing!
Keep 'em coming!

[aupickup]

seems fairly normal les

[panky]

Try one of those down-turned tail pipe trims so then you'll get a nice black stripe on the floor

[ianmack]

Soot and water occur naturally in exhausts and blow out on cold starts. Unless there is serious loss of coolant don't worry.

[les]

Beginning to think that way, as all's well in every other respect. Thanks for replies, wise guy ones included!!

[amgrave]

Your garage matches mine now then
Same thing happens here.

[Budgie]

Same here and although my garage where my minor is kept is just a lockup I still put a sheet of cardboard up against the rear wall and it's rather sooty to say the least!

[les]

-----and no doubt matching many others garages it seems!

[panky]

My Commer camper usually lives in the garage, side exit exhaust and a nice big black sooty stripe across the fridge and chest freezer that live in there too

[amgrave]

Thought I would post this pic as it might cheer you up about your marked wall/cracked head [frame][/frame]

[les]

Well done, cheered me up no end!! I'll find something else to worry about now

[GBond]

Water condenses inside the tailpipe as it cools down which is what the car is spitting when you start it.

What I do on the motorcycle to avoid this is to stick a cork on the exhausts when they're warm after a run which also keeps the exhaust drier inside and helps with rust. Downside is I always forget to remove them before starting and then wonder why it's not firing up.

The pick-up has a stainless exhaust so I haven't tried the cork there, it does mark the walls like you describe.

[morris van]

My van leaves a black mark on the ground as the exhaust bends round at the end and guess what happened last week I did about half a miles mile up the road a lot of white smoke came from the exhaust and lost a lot of water coming from the back of head . A mechanic has taken the head off and its cracked so I have got another and dropping it over to him this afternoon.

[philthehill]

It has to be remembered that for every gallon of petrol put in the tank - very nearly a gallon of water exits the exhaust pipe after combustion.
To alleviate rust inside the silencer from the water generated by combustion many continental cars have / had a small hole at the lowest part of the silencer for the water to escape.

[dalebrignall]

mine does that when it starts dont worry about it just enjoy the car .

[morris van]

Got my van back today from having another head fitted. The old one had a big crack in it.