Cold outside - Exhaust smoke - More than noramal?

[PCGUY112887]

Any of you guys with modified cars and straight through exhausts (no cats either) ever experience a bit more than "normal" smoke from the exhaust when it's cold out?

It's been getting colder here, this morning I could have swore I saw a bit of smoke come from my exhaust while sitting at the stoplight. That afternoon looked at idle nothing. Tonight (cold out again) I looked behind and there is a steady stream of white exhaust, not real bad but a bit more than you would see on say my moms Buick. Smelled it, just smells like raw exhaust.

Ideas? Do I worry too much?

[98malibu3.1]

It's just steam....don't sweat it. As long as it's not bluish white, then no worries.

[El_Diablo]

yeah... but does your moms buick have a cammed 3500 with headers and a straight exhaust?

[2.8RS]

Don't worry about it, its just condensation. My Camaro does it too when its warming up in the mornings when its cool.

[PCGUY112887]

What if it continues to do it even after the engine is warm?

[19Cutlass94]

When its cold out, itll always do this. Heres an example of why. In winter time you know how you ca see your breath?! Well its the same principle. Your breath is warmer than the outside air and so is the exhaust from the car. Thus you can see the exhaust as opposed to not seeing it in the summer.

[Azrael]

It's just the water in the gas and in the air being sucked in.

[Spankdamonkey]

Yeah, nothing to worry about there. My car does it all the time when it's cold out. I'm under the impression the amount of steam present on any given day may be accentuated by 1) relative humidity and 2) A cotton air filter (perhaps the material makes it easier for moisture to run through the system escaping as steam)? It seems to me all the 'modified' cars around here release steam when it's cold out, so the theory holds up in my mind at least

[Superdave]

my T/A was doing it yesterday.. but my Z24 smokes when it's warm out.. hard to tell the diff

[El_Diablo]

you do worry way to much.... not trying to be an ass but i still cant believe theres a thread about this... kinda funny, is it your first year in a cold climate?

[PCGUY112887]

No, I know exactly what it is and I've seen it plenty, just never on a modified car. The steam is excessive compared to stock cars, so I wanted to ensure it was normal.

I have to worry, this is still my baby I've never done a project like this before so I question everything

[El_Diablo]

well you have to realize you've changed the whole flow rate of the engine, it now moves more air and at a greater heat range most likely if you've gotten into tuning it at all so the water intake is going to be much greater

[IsaacHayes]

It's excessive because you don't have a cat or a restrictive muffler to catch all the droplets. Plus when you first start it up it will be rich and you will see the raw fuel coming out the back. Especially if the tune isn't 100% dead on.