Hedgasket or not?

jordanfaf

2007 Clio 197 130k kms full main dealer history, Just put through NCT.

The car has a huge amount of steam/ water coming from the exhausts, its not paticularly cold out so it got me a bit worried about possible head gasket issues.

Engine is up to running temp, Coolant is clear and clean, havnt noticed a drop in levels since my service last month. and oil levels havnt dropped at all (havnt had a chance to check the oil cap for sludges yet) but this seem to me to be an abormal amount of steam and water!

I have had a bit of custom exhaust work done in the form of a resonator removal if that could have an effect on the amount of vapour getting through the system from combustion?

i have just gone through the NCT and failed it on tie rod end and ball joint, so no emissions problems or anything.

am i over reacting, is this much steam normal with a standard or modded exhaust system (as mine is), or should i look deeper for a problem?

Avns1s

If your coolant level and your oil level isn't dropping, your coolant is clear and theres no "mayonnaise" under the oil filler cap, I wouldn't worry about the head gasket.

Steam and water from the exhaust is perfectly normal, it's a by product of the combustion of petrol and it's particularly obvious after startup in cool weather.

Waterson

If you do a lot of stop start city driving, the steam could just be accumulated water from the cat that hasnt been blasted out by a good motorway thrashing

jordanfaf

yea commute through town every morning so thats probably the casue. thanks!

jimbis

That water is the main cause for destroying back boxes from the inside out aswell. A good hard drive does no harm every now and then.

Elderly people go through exhausts more than anyone because of their driving style.