I have a 99 F-150 with the 5.4 engine. I noticed today that after I started my truck and let it idle for a few minutes, I saw a small puddle of clear water that was dripping out of one of the seams in my muffler (stock exhaust system). Is this normal or does it mean that I need a new cat-back system? I understand that condensation is a result of having converters but I have never seen water leak out of a muffler before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

My 99 with a 4.6L does the same thing. If you look closer, it should appear to be coming from a little whole on the bottom of the tail end of the muffler. I asked about this once at my dealer and it's so the muffler gets the longest life possible out of it by not allowing condensation to accumulate. So i think yours is the same and it's normal.

Take a peek and see.

Good luck

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll check it out in the a.m.
(I was hoping for a good excuse to buy a cat back)
lol.

 

Then, your muffler is rusted out beyong repair, and due to the excessive condensation in the exhaust system, you also probably have degrading exhaust pipes which will need replacing in the near future. So my advice is to buy an aftermarket Cat-back exhuast system. Any will do, but you should replace your stock system as soon as possible.

How's that sound? LOL

Good luck guy.

 

Who needs a stinkin excuse?

As the system ages it will often get rustly. My seep on my '95 was dumping rusty water and staining the driveway, so I had to get a cat back!

 

The exhausts on Crown Vics leak water like the cars are piddlin'. Occasionally one will even develop a loud, periodic 'GLUG' sound that could have something to do with water in the exhaust (damned if I can think of what else it could be).

I was assured that this is normal.

Mike

 

Thanks fella's! I've got a baby on the way and my wife has become the ferocious dictator of the bank account! (my paychecks by the way!!!!) I'll just tell her that since water is leaking out, exhaust fumes are sure to be entering the cab of the truck. We surely can't have a newborn breathing in contaminated air!!! LOL.
Thanks for the humor guy's!

 

If there isn't a tiny drain hole already in the muffler at the bottom edge of the shell, looking from the rear, then you should drill one in there. All it takes is something like a small 1/16inch bit.

If you ever get a new catback system or muffler installed always drill a hole in your muffler on the end casing at the bottom of the shell.

Remember, exhaust systems rust out from the INSIDE. You need to get that "water" (actually water mixed with acids and other nasties) out of there.

Drilling the little hole doesn't change your exhaust sound or anything.

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Yup, it's a good excuse for a new exhaust...LOL... but I think your wife will probably say,"You're not replacing it until it's real loud and draggin on the ground".