Is water in exhaust bad?

Car exhausts do normally emit some water
And if that happens, that can cause engine damage. However, as Advanced Auto Parts explains, it's totally normal for you to see a bit of water dripping from your car's exhaust. For a gasoline or diesel car to work, it has to ignite fuel in the presence of air.
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What happens if water goes in exhaust?

If your exhaust pipe is submerged, the exhaust gases flowing out will stop water running along it towards the engine. If you go too fast, your bow wave will come back at you, eventually flooding the engine.
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Should I put water in my exhaust?

Make sure you don't let water enter the exhaust system, as it will react with exhaust fumes and corrode the system if it is allowed to enter. Once you have driven your vehicle for another 20 to 30 minutes, you will be able to flush any water vapor from your exhaust system by producing exhaust.
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Why do people put water in their exhausts?

The exhaust water trick only changes the way the car sounds, and gives NO performance gains. A way better alternative would be saving up and getting an aftermarket exhaust instead. Not ONLY will you have a better sound, you get some performance gains as well.
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Can water in exhaust cause white smoke?

White smoke coming out of your exhaust suggests that coolant or water has inadvertently entered the combustion chamber. When it's burned within the block, it produces thick white smoke that exits through the exhaust.
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4 Causes of Water Coming Out of the Exhaust??|



How do you know if water got in your engine?

Pull the engine oil and transmission fluid dipsticks and differential plug. If the fluid appears milky, diluted, is no longer its original color or is beige in color, then it is likely the pans contain water.
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How long does it take for a car engine to dry out?

Perhaps the best remedy for a flooded engine is time. Simply open the hood of your car and let excessive fuel evaporate for as long as you can. After about 20 minutes try starting your car again without hitting the gas pedal.
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Is white smoke from exhaust normal?

White smoke can be nothing to be concerned about if it's thin, like vapor. This is probably the result of normal condensation buildup inside the exhaust system. This kind of smoke disappears quickly. However, thicker smoke is a big problem and can be caused by the engine burning coolant.
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Does white smoke always mean blown head gasket?

White smoke from your exhaust almost always indicates a blown head gasket, and just like there is coolant mixed with your engine oil, there will also be engine oil mixed with your coolant.
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What does grey smoke mean?

Blue or Grey Smoke

If the smoke from the exhaust pipe is either grey or bluish-tinged, it generally means that your engine is burning oil inside the combustion chamber. Burning oil could be due to a number of causes, from leaky valve seals to bad piston rings.
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Why is my car smoking but not overheating?

The most common answer to, “Why is my car smoking but not overheating?” is that there's a type of fluid that's landed on the engine. This can be motor oil, fuel, transmission fluid, coolant, or even condensation. It can cause your engine to smoke because it's burning off that fluid from the engine.
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Can you fix an engine that has water in it?

Crank the engine with the plugs out – be sure that all water sprays out of the engine. If there was water in the engine, spray a little oil in the cylinders and crank some more. Now replace the spark plugs and try to start it. If the engine runs, let it run a few minutes, shut it off, and check the oil again.
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What to do if water gets in engine?

Repairing a Flooded Car, Once Outside of Water
  1. Do Not Start the Car. This is key. ...
  2. Disconnect the Battery. ...
  3. Roll Down The Windows. ...
  4. Look For a High-Water Mark. ...
  5. If the water level is high, don't try to start the car. ...
  6. Check Engine Oil. ...
  7. Change the oil and oil filter. ...
  8. Check fuel system.
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Can a car start after water damage?

Water getting into your car's oil could result in many engine problems. The presence of water droplets on the dipstick means you could have a potential problem. This is why you never start your car after it's water damaged. You can change the oil in your vehicle or call a mechanic to do it for you.
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Will water ruin a car engine?

Water in the intake system ultimately gets into the cylinders, in which pistons compress air. But water doesn't compress, and the resulting pressure inside the engine can bend piston rods or crack the engine block. Either essentially ruins the engine. Transmission.
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Why does my car sound like it has water in it?

The most common cause is a clogged drain trapping water in the heating and cooling system. The water, formed by condensation, usually empties onto the ground. But a clogged drain can cause it to back up, leading to the sloshing sound and even dampness on the passenger-side floor.
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How do you know if your engine is damaged?

8 Signs and Symptoms of Engine Damage
  1. The Check Engine light turns on. ...
  2. Your car is making strange noises. ...
  3. The engine is running roughly or inconsistently. ...
  4. Your car produces oil patches. ...
  5. You can smell odours from inside the car. ...
  6. Your car is using more gas than normal. ...
  7. You experience a loss of engine power.
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Can I drive my car with white smoke?

White Smoke

It could be overheating, and if it is, you need to stop driving as soon as you can. You could end up seriously damaging your vehicle if you choose to just ignore it. If the smoke smells sweet, then there is an issue with your coolant.
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Why do cars throw white smoke?

White smoke from the exhaust: This could be steam caused by condensation in the exhaust pipe or a more serious issue caused by an engine coolant leak. Excessive amounts of white smoke could indicate head gasket failure.
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Is it safe to drive a smoking car?

If the smoke is from engine oil dripping onto a hot exhaust manifold, you could end up with an engine fire. Smoke is serious so the bottom line is unless you know exactly why it's smoking there is no other prudent course but to just not drive the vehicle until it's repaired.
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What color should your exhaust be?

Light or Thin White Exhaust Smoke

It is considered normal when the exhaust coming from your vehicle is light or thin white.
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Why is my tailpipe black?

Black exhaust smoke can appear when the vehicle is burning too much fuel. This could be caused by a clogged air filter, malfunctioning fuel injection system, a blocked manifold, or a variety of other issues.
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What does normal exhaust look like?

Your exhaust, generally, should be white in color. If it seems that your car is producing more exhaust than usual, you may have some normal condensation in your exhaust system. If this is the case, the smoke will dissipate fairly quickly.
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What does black smoke mean?

Black smoke is a result of the burning of heavy fuels or synthetic materials. This can mean that the fumes are particularly toxic and shouldn't be inhaled if you are exposed to them. However, most smoke can be toxic and dangerous to varying degrees.
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Is black smoke too rich?

Black smoke is an indication that your air-fuel mixture is running rich. Gas engines are designed to run with just the right combination of fuel and air to create the most efficient conditions for combustion when spark is introduced. When the fuel-air ratio skews to too much air, it is said to be lean.
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