What causes water to come out the tail pipe?

[Howard]

Originally posted by: element®
The right equation is this one:

burning octane:

C8H18 + O2 ==> aCO2 + bCO + cH2O + unburnt hydrocarbons
Where a, b, & c depend on the amaount of available oxygen.

The one posted earlier only occurs during complete combustion. This is the formula for incomplete combustion (car engine)

If you want to be so nitpicky, where's the carbon product?

 

[EMPshockwave82]

complete combustion produces CO2 and H20(vapor) so basically carbon-dioxide and steam... when the watever vapor condenses before it hits the end of the tailpipe then you get water dripping

 

[dethman]

car diarrhea.

 

[CryHavoc]

Modern exhaust systems use a catalytic converter which takes the raw exhaust, combines it with oxygen and converts most of the carbon monoxide to water vapor, which can condense and you will see water dripping out of a tailpipe. This is why most exhaust systems that are not stainless steel, rust out after several years.

 

[nan0bug]

What causes people to come here and ask questions they could find the answers for somewhere else if they only took the time?

 

[Linux23]

nuclear fusion?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Ynog
I would guess condensation on the inside of the exhaust pipe.

Yup, once the car is fully warmed up & the exhaust is hot you won't see it anymore.

Viper GTS

Not entirely true. It's still there, its just as a vapor.

Whenever you burn a hydrocarbon (and several other materials) you will get water. This is first year chem, folks. Everyone here that has been through (or started) highschool should know this.

I didn't say it wouldn't be there, I said you wouldn't see it anymore.



Viper GTS

No, but you agreed that it was condensation, which it ain't

Condensation is nothing but water vapor cooling to a visible liquid. The water vapor coming from the combustion chamber and catalytic converters condenses inside the exhaust piping and muffler. Once the metal sufficiently heats up, the water vapor passes through before cooling enough to condense against the metal, and the dripping stops.

Viper was 100% correct.