Olds 455. Engine has about 8,000 miles.
runs great. No problems.
it痴 just, every time I start up, rusty water sprays out on cold start only. (no anti-freeze, just water condensation ). Only at start up. Once engine warms up, all is normal.
I have had advice that I should drive over 25 miles before I put it away.
but it doesn稚 matter if I drive 100 miles or 10 miles, same outcome.

This has been going on for a while.
had the exhaust shop repair just in front of muffler a couple weeks ago, now exhaust leaking again.
I will put on a quality exhaust system now, but why does it accumulate water in the exhaust after I park it.
I don稚 want to spend money on a new exhaust without figuring out this dilemma.

I will say, I only run non-ethanol gas.

Thanks for your advice.

 

It痴 condensation that forms when the warm metal in the exhaust cools down. Mine does it as well and I live in the dry desert.

 

Well that is positive, at least I知 not alone.

That leads me to wonder, what is the normal lifetime for a quality Olds exhaust?

 

Depends on how you use the car. If it's driven frequently and always reaches full operating temperature the exhaust will last a long time. If it is used infrequently and not fully warmed up then condensation will accumulate and the exhaust won't get hot enough to burn it off = rust in the mufflers and low spots on pipes.

 

And, if you reside in an area where highways are heavily salted each winter, and you actually drive on those highways, you can expect exhaust systems to deteriorate far more rapidly.

 

Honestly, I usually drive it every couple weeks, and about 25 miles or more.
last time I drove about 90 miles, same thing.
Condensation.

Florida car, so time for a new exhaust.
I really like the sound of these mufflers, I値l have to go dig up my receipt to see what they are.

 

It also depends on the material the exhaust system is made of. Aluminized components last longer than the stock steel, while stainless may out last the car.

 

I must be getting old. I remember when that was normal on almost every car in the world

 

All IC engines exhaust H20. It's part of the chemical combustion process when burning fossil fuel.

 

Does it have a temp gauge, is it reaching full temp? If yes, as stated it's normal.

Good luck!!!

 

Thanks to all who answered.
I have come to the conclusion it痴 normal, but the pipes are rotting from the inside out, causing the nasty brown water spray.

on to a new exhaust,
Mike

 

Some mufflers have weep holes to allow the water out. Yours may be normal. If you don't hear an exhaust leak, you might not need mufflers/pipes.

 

This ^^^. In addition, a visual check of the exterior of the entire exhaust system should tell you what you need to know. If it seems sound, it probably is

 

All exhaust pipes and mufflers rot from the inside out. Rusty condensate is normal and a new exhaust system will do the same thing in a short while.

 

One gallon of gasoline, when burned, creates one gallon of water.

 

Sounds like a typical case of "fixing something that ain't broke".