LS1, Exhaust leaking fuel from gaskets???

[vz57ssz]

Hey guys

A weird problem started today when I got the car home I noticed a puddle under the car where the cat bolts onto the Y pipe it looks like it is dropping fuel :S

Could this be due to an injector that is stuck open?, I know it isn't an issue with the cylinders not firing as their is no issues in idle or performance

I have uploaded a video Exhaust Leak...WTF (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D-TjGO91iw)

Any help would be appreciated.

[Woodchukka]

If an injector stuck open there would be other issues like idle and being both sides 2 injectors would have to have gone at once.

Some questions for you.

You say when you got the car home. Did you drive for a short or a long distance to get home? Did the car get to operating temperature? It may be condensation in the system.
You say it is fuel so I assume it smells like it? Condensation might also smell a bit like fuel.
How is your coolant level?
Is it blowing a black smoke from the exhaust like it is running very rich?

Regardless those gaskets need replacing if they leak.

[SSUte01]

If I'm viewing that vid correctly, there is no way raw fuel could be pissing out there on an otherwise normal sounding engine, especially not post cat. I certainly wouldn't expect that much water to be coming out there as the gaskets should seal, but water is a by-product of combustion, so unless I am looking at the vid incorrectly, I'd be guessing that its water. If it really is fuel, then something is terribly wrong.

Edit: Two in together

[vz57ssz]

Yeah it was at operating temp,
Coolant was still full
No black smoke from or fuel smell from rear of exhaust

hopefully its only the gaskets then?

if so the exhaust is not even a month old proves the workmanship of that shop.

[Toddler78]

Yeah it was at operating temp,
Coolant was still full
No black smoke from or fuel smell from rear of exhaust

hopefully its only the gaskets then?

if so the exhaust is not even a month old proves the workmanship of that shop.

dip your finger in the puddle and smell it. As the other guys my bet is on water condensating. Re the gaskets by the looks of it one if not two things are going on there. They havent obviously used a gasket silicone to seal and also I would doubt that those bolts are done up tight to allow for squish.

[Black VU SS ute]

water is a byproduct of the Cat's doing there job. it is fine

[whitels1ss]

I have never seen water dripping out like that before;)

[wally01]

I have never seen water dripping out like that before;)

Thats just condensation in the system ,on my VY SS it did the exact same thing as that video and that was when i put a cat back on it ,i wondered why there was these huge puddles under the car ,figured it was nothing to worry about ...

[Black VU SS ute]

if the gasket is leaking then it will dribble a little water out the joint, instead of the tail pipe.

[vz57ssz]

I checked again today and the gaskets are leaking, so I will be taking it back to have them changed once that shop opens back from holidays.

Also noticed after a bit of a drive and the car got to operating temp it wasn't leaking, seems to be more from cold.

[Woodchukka]

Yeah if there are no other symptoms other than that leak and it does it when it is cold then it is condensation for sure. Just get them to replace the gaskets as it is recent work.

[VYSHSV8]

That is common as all fark just condensation....
I don't even run gaskets gets rid of the condensation quicker haha
You will find that once the exhaust heats up you wouldn't probably even have an exhaust leak.
A lot of mufflers actually have a small hole in them from factory to drain water condensation from them


Sent from the middle of Farkin no-where

[zorro]

Also noticed after a bit of a drive and the car got to operating temp it wasn't leaking, seems to be more from cold.

Heat causes evaporation and also the metal to expand to close the gaps.

As Drew said no need unless you got an average exhaust that doesn't meet at the flanges properly

[vz57ssz]

Once warm there is no leaks at all, thanks for the help everyone.

Now I can stress a little less.

[Phillshz]

water is a byproduct of the Cat's doing there job. it is fine

Water/Condensation is a byproduct of the combustion process in an internal combustion engine, nothing to do with cats. Ever seen a cloud of steam from yours or other cars on cold mornings? It is why stainless steel exhaust systems are used instead of mild steel. Mild steel corrodes from the inside of the pipe/muffler out and not from road water (rain etc) Manufacturers moved to using the more expensive stainless over cheaper mild steel to prevent warranty issues/claims as warranty periods have become longer.

On a side note if you have ever stood beside/behind a old carby `70`s ford/holden with dual exhaust, they pump out a nice puddle of water from each pipe in no time. If you stand close enough you can feel the water droplets hit your leg.

Cheers Phill

[Phillshz]

water is a byproduct of the Cat's doing there job. it is fine

Water/Condensation is a byproduct of the combustion process in an internal combustion engine, nothing to do with cats. Ever seen a cloud of steam from yours or other cars on cold mornings? It is why stainless steel exhaust systems are used instead of mild steel. Mild steel corrodes from the inside of the pipe/muffler out and not from road water (rain etc) Manufacturers moved to using the more expensive stainless over cheaper mild steel to prevent warranty issues/claims as warranty periods have become longer.

On a side note if you have ever stood beside/behind a old carby `70`s ford/holden with dual exhaust, they pump out a nice puddle of water from each pipe in no time. If you stand close enough you can feel the water droplets hit your leg.

Cheers Phill