water out the exhaust

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by hellpatrol, Jan 26, 2018.

  1. hellpatrol

    hellpatrol Light Load Member

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    Does anyone know why I would have puddles of water coming out of my exhaust? When I run once and a while it'll look like I'm rolling coal down the road when it's really cold out. When I sit, I see a puddle under the exhaust past the Y-pipe. It's water, not antifreeze,oil or fuel. I've had the bellow flex pipe replaced right past the elbow from the turbo and it was dry, no issues( had a hole in it so I replaced it).
    I did throw a code for the scr a while ago, but the mechanic said don't worry about it until it becomes a problem, i.e. throwing codes a lot, since it's $3,500 to replace plus with a new harness. When I see it smoke there is no rhyme or reason. Get on the throttle, off the throttle. puffs like a locomotive, or not at all. It really showed up with the cold weather and the smoke out the stacks..
    thanks
    2013 389 isx600
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
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  3. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Normal to have condensation in the exhaust due to natural moisture in the air. All trucks will make some water. Most exhaust system actually have small drain holes for water to get out. You will have massive smoke, which is basically water vapor until everything heats up. You probably have a build up of water in your air to air. Again, it is condensation build up.
     
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  4. spsauerland

    spsauerland Road Train Member

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    That is what is supposed to becoming out of properly running SCR truck. Nitrogen and water vapor.
     
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  5. Steel Dragon

    Steel Dragon Road Train Member

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  6. hellpatrol

    hellpatrol Light Load Member

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    In 30 minutes I trapped this much fluid in the bottle. This was only one of three places it was leaking. This amount is normal?? I'm parked along with 50 other trucks. I'm the only one smoking this much. I leave puddles on the ground. I find a ice berg stuck to the front of my fuel tank after driving an hour. I can't see THIS much fluid as being normal. Thanks fro the replies, but I don't believe it's normal.
    This would happen after running for about 5 hours, then shut down for a couple of hours. At start up it won't smoke, but in a couple of minutes the water will start weeping through joints in the exhaust past the Y-pipe. As it warmed up, the smoke would start.
     

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    Last edited: Jan 27, 2018
  7. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    My pick up leaves a puddle on the ground every morning before I leave for work. If the fluid is freezing, then it is water. If you have DEF, DEF is 68% water. 2013 ISX's do inject considerably more DEF than 2014 and later. If you feel it is not right, then you should get it checked out.
     
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  8. hellpatrol

    hellpatrol Light Load Member

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    I fill up on Def every 10 days with about 15 gallons. Is that about normal for everyone else, or am I using more than usual??
    Hard to say about the freezing, the puddles do get slushy, frozen, but I don't remember what the temps when this occurs.The fluid against the tank would freeze due to the considerable wind chill against the metal tank.
     
  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Watch the exhaust pipes on cars and pickups when they take off from stoplights in really cold weather. Its like a water fountain dripping out the exhaust for 3 or 4 seconds. And these are engines that are 1/5 the size of a standard truck engine.

    I believe there's a tool that can check DEF quality. Maybe a shop can test a sample from your truck to see if its water or DEF?
     
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  10. spsauerland

    spsauerland Road Train Member

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    Normal DEF usage is roughly 2%-4% of fuel used.
     
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  11. hellpatrol

    hellpatrol Light Load Member

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    I know that some fluid out the exhaust is normal. Let's assume that this IS past the acceptable level. It is past the acceptable level. Thank you spsauerland, that's what I need to know. I figured I'm using 3.3% def to fuel.
    So what else would be causing this? an issue with the SCR?
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2018
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