Oily Water Collecting Under Tailpipe

JM_ART

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My son and I started up the ‘68 New Yorker yesterday and I saw something I really didn’t want to see. There was an oily liquid coming out of the tail pipe, and smoke that was predominantly white in color.

Head gasket failure?

The car has been sitting in our garage basically since we bought it in late August. We’ve started it to move it twice since then. Initially I thought the second owner may have had her running to rich since it left an exhaust deposit on the garage floor last time we started her. The temps were in the 70s when we started it up once to move it, and 50s when we stared her up yesterday. So, it isn’t really as though it was really cold when we got her started.
 
On the factory mufflers, there were small holes near the rear case seam of the muffler body. A similar hole near the end of the tail pipe, too. Condensate drains.

When you see those puddles forming, rev the motor a time or two (or hold the rpm to "fast idle" for a short while) to move the accuulated "water" out of the exhaust system. The condensate will usually have a black color and a bit of an oily sheen to it, even with no known mechanical engine issues.

Hope that's what it is!

CBODY67
 
Can you go and drive the car and get it warmed up?

Idling it around the garage doesn’t get it truly warm. Water is a byproduct of combustion so to have it dripping out of the pipes is not unusual.
 
Yea, no big deal. My wagon blows black water from the pipes from time to time when I move it on short jaunts and there's lots of condensation from still cold pipes and hot exhaust.
 
Thanks for the responses fellas. I’m a bit leery of driving it around at this time, but it’s good to know this may be “normal.” The engine had been rebuilt, so I wouldn’t think it would be head gaskets, but you never know. Replacing head gaskets isn’t something I can just do in my garage because I’m not set up for it at all.
 
One of the worst things you can do to an exhaust system is to start it up and not let it run long enough to heat the pipes. What happens is all that moisture collects throughout the system and sits in there rusting because it never got hot enough to evaporate the water. I have been guilty of it myself but for the most part, I try to let it warm up to operating temperature before shutting down for that reason.
 
One of the worst things you can do to an exhaust system is to start it up and not let it run long enough to heat the pipes. What happens is all that moisture collects throughout the system and sits in there rusting because it never got hot enough to evaporate the water. I have been guilty of it myself but for the most part, I try to let it warm up to operating temperature before shutting down for that reason.
Thanks, that I know too well. Had to replace everything from the catalytic converter back on a ‘92 Dakota once because I was only driving it from my apartment to my PD and back for quite a while. Just a couple short miles. Lesson learned.

The exhaust on the New Yorker has to be replaced anyway. No telling whether it’s ever been replaced and I’m not one to guess.
 
Thanks for the responses fellas. I’m a bit leery of driving it around at this time, but it’s good to know this may be “normal.” The engine had been rebuilt, so I wouldn’t think it would be head gaskets, but you never know. Replacing head gaskets isn’t something I can just do in my garage because I’m not set up for it at all.
If you got basic hand tools you can do the job. The only thing special you'll need is a torque wrench for putting it back together. It is a lot of work. Just be mindful of what you're doing and take pictures.
 
If you got basic hand tools you can do the job. The only thing special you'll need is a torque wrench for putting it back together. It is a lot of work. Just be mindful of what you're doing and take pictures.
I have a torque wrench. What I don’t have is time. At least right now. :)
 
99% chance that nothing is wrong with the car.

go drive it for 1/2 hour the exhaust should be clean and clear.
 
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99% chance that nothing is wrong with the car.

go drive it for 1/2 hour the exhaust should be clean and clear.
Your car is just fine, this is the correct advice. Drive it for AT LEAST 1/2 hour.
 
Your car is just fine, this is the correct advice. Drive it for AT LEAST 1/2 hour.
Thanks guys. I guess a 20-30 min drive around the subdivision won’t harm anything. At least starting her up over the weekend verified the work done by my 14 year old. He’s pretty enthusiastic about the car, so I showed him how to remove the spark plugs, then gap and install the new ones, as well as new spark plug wires. She ran nice and smooth afterward. He was pretty proud of what he accomplished, so I guess I’ve been successful on that front.
 
^^^ What he said and post some pictures!
Haha... okay, will do. I’ve been wanting to take some anyway, and my son wants to give her a wash. So we may kill two birds with one stone there. I did attach a couple shots of my Chrysler-addicted son working on her from last weekend.:usflag:

5D67BA14-14C3-4C12-810F-4F1C41AC5F68.jpeg


E12713C9-A45D-409D-B0FD-5ADB6F3336B0.jpeg
 
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I guess a 20-30 min drive around the subdivision won’t harm anything.

Yes it will, that is most likely your problem, this 'around town' driving. A big car with a big block is engineered for the highways and needs to have it 'legs stretched' or as we would say in the old daze "Blow The Carbon Out". Find time to take it out on the highway when traffic is very light and run it up at 1/2-3/4 throttle (80/90mph) for a half hour each way then check your exhaust and or spark plugs.

The proper racers way to check spark plug color is to run flat out for 20+ minutes, push in clutch as you back off throttle and kill the engine and coast to a stop to do a plug read.

Good Luck!

.
 
Haha... okay, will do. I’ve been wanting to take some anyway, and my son wants to give her a wash. So we may kill two birds with one stone there.
I think it’s fabulous that your son is interested in the car. Feed him with a firehose of knowledge. Train him, trust him and let him lead!
 
Probably just simple condensation. Warm moist exhaust air hits cold steel pipe. Dewpoint.
 
I think it’s fabulous that your son is interested in the car. Feed him with a firehose of knowledge. Train him, trust him and let him lead!
Oh I’ve definitely created a monster... haha! He watches whenever I work on anything, asks lots of questions, and isn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty. He’s also taken videos of the car running to show off to his friends. After watching “Ford v. Ferrari” he became a “car guy.” Ha!
 
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