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My tailpipe has always been very rusty inside, and I always thought this was due to water getting blown up in it at the touchless car wash or up off the road when it rains. However, tonight while I was waxing the car, I was listening to Sirius and didn't want to run the battery down, so I ran the engine for 10 minutes after I'd run it on ACC for a while. While I was waxing the hatch, I happened to look down and notice a puddle forming under my tailpipe, and a decent sized little stream running inside the pipe as well, being pushed out by the exhaust.I suppose this is why my tailpipe is so rusty, huh? I just had the catalytic converter replaced under the TSB for '03 automatics, but it's been rusty for pretty much the last two years, so I guess this probably isn't a new thing, maybe something I just now noticed because I was standing back there.Anyone else have this happening? Rust in the tailpipe? Water from the exhaust? Is this normal or did they screw up my car when they did the TSB repairs?

I always thought it was normal. I assumed your car always pushes condensation out the exhaust. Happens to me all the time.

Some condensation is normal.... But how much is normal is another question, not sure on that one. I never had any problems with condensation that I deemed excessive, and no rusting problems with my tail pipe... (but right now, it's pitch black inside, there's my gas mileage... go figure. heh)I dunno - if it's rusting, I'm not so sure that's going to be a "normal" amount of condensation. I've got over twice the mileage and no rusting...

I had both my catalytic converter and exhaust assembly replaced last fall. The exhaust is rusty again. It was actually rusty before they changed it last fall. My exhaust tip isn't bad but the pipes behind the muffler etc are all brown. I suspect the tip is made of a better grade of stainless steel than the other pipes that you can't see. This is actually normal and it is not really due to the condensation. If you think about it, when you run your car, your exhaust heats up to high temperatures. Then it is allowed to cool down again when your car is turned off. These repeated heating and cooling cycles accelerate rust formation. It is made worse by road salt in winter.

Actually, those that use there cars for longer running times have less of a problem. Getting that exhaust sytem hot and back dry is a good thing. Short cycles aren't good for much in a car.

Think of it like a glass of ice water in the summer when it's humid. Cold, hot and humid = condensation. Vapor turns to water, it is normal for a car to drip some fluid out of the tailpipe when first started and for several minutes afterward. The fluid is condensation (water) that occurs. Sometimes, it can pick up some black soot from the tailpipe, which would give it a dark color.

Kari, what are your typical daily drives?I have seen water where you describe when a car is warming up. I put a lot of miles on my car every day, about a 90 minute one way commute, so mine gets pleny hot to evaporate any water in the system. I assumed that the water was condensed water vapor as a combustion by-product. You said you are getting "a decent sized little stream running inside the pipe" but that's hard to know if what you describe is normal. To me it, a decent sized little stream sounds like a lot of liquid, and maybe you ought to check your coolant level

Quote, originally posted by RoundUp »I had both my catalytic converter and exhaust assembly replaced last fall. The exhaust is rusty again. It was actually rusty before they changed it last fall. My exhaust tip isn't bad but the pipes behind the muffler etc are all brown. I suspect the tip is made of a better grade of stainless steel than the other pipes that you can't see. Kinda like this?

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The stream was more than an inch wide and deep enough for you to see it running...it was filling the curve of the pipe.I don't really have typical "daily drives"...when I was at school, most of it was about 20-30 minute interstate drives unless I was just running errands around town. Now, it's back to running errands around town mostly, with all drives under 25 minutes, unless I'm going to Johnson City, then it's interstate.The hot glue gun smell from the new parts finally went away, and it was most evident after I'd been out on the interstate.

First, somewhere in the region of 20% of gasoline engine exhaust is water vapor resulting from combustion. Condensed to liquid by short trip operation this is a lot of water! If the coolant level is normal and no clouds of sweet-smelling white exhaust trail behind when the vehicle is warmed up at temperatures well above freezing, then there is no problem.Also, the exhaust system material is commonly called "stainless steel", but more accurately is "corossion resisting". It is formulated to allow the scuzzy/rusty appearance in the above pix to develop in a few months, just from splash and atomospheric moisture, but it will not rot through in less than ~10 years.Bottom line: If the coolant level stays up, everything is normal.

It could also be lo quality gas. Not sure where you fill up, but I would probably stay away from the "Mom and Pop" stores and stick with Conoco or somebody like that. We have a convenience store around here called Casey's it is mostly in smaller towns and they have low quality gas. It is usually around 2 or 3 cents cheaper than everywhere else but they also have about twice as much water mixed in it seems like.

Got any QuikTrips up near you Kari? I've used them once or twice, and Kroger too. Both of them beat out my BP fix for the last three years! QT has the best mileage thus far, and fits into the Top Tier gasoline standards.If you have somewhere that has TopTier gasses near you, use it! It should be about the same cost as the stations around you, and it is definitely worthwhile.That does sound like an odd amount of water coming out... Check your coolant, and your oil.. see if changing your gas doesn't help it..

I was going to take a picture of the water today, but it didn't do it, naturally. Nope, no QuikTrips, and no Krogers with gas stations. I don't use a particular type of fuel, aside from just using the regular grade and not premium or anything like that, since I still get 30+mpg out of that. I haven't filled up since yesterday though, so that shouldn't have produced a change...weird.

Quote, originally posted by MJN2 »Kinda like this?My rust is way worse. The other day, I took a peek at it and it looked like the entire pipe behind the muffler was coated in rust. I am not so surprised because I live in an apartment building. The heating and cooling cycles would be exaggerated in winter.

Hmm, I think tomorrow I'll get some shots of the rusty tailpipe. It's pretty nasty looking in there. I'd like to know what I can do about it, if anything...

Quote, originally posted by Kari »The stream was more than an inch wide and deep enough for you to see it running...it was filling the curve of the pipe.That doesn't sound normal.