Tailpipe : found white residue inside the tailpipe

[odie]

of our car while checking tire pressure . Is this anything to be concerned about ? Coolant ? The car just had a head gasket replaced under warranty . There's been salt on the roads as of lately . Not sure if it could get into the tailpipe . The residue goes about few inches back inside the bottom of the pipe . The coolant resorvoir seems to be going down . I marked the coolant level with a black SHARPIE when getting the car back after the fix . It has gone below the mark since then . When it reaches the low level that could very well point out a problem . Thanks .

 

[chubbs1]

I know this might be a little lame but can you notice a rise in your oil level? How long ago did you get the gasket replaced? It could be condensation in the tailpipe that remained after a short drive and was contaminated by road salt/debris. That would be a much better scenario. I was just thinking you may be able to pick up a rise in your oil sump if coolant was getting in. Mark that and keep your eye on it. You could do a UOA also.

 

[chubbs1]

I just thought of something else...too late to edit...winter gas switch may be a culprit also.

 

[demarpaint]

If the coolant level is dropping it could be one of two things.

1. They didn't properly bleed the system and as air exits the system it is replaced with coolant. Once all the air is out that will stop. It shouldn't take long, and I doubt any good shop would leave much air in the cooling system.

2. The head gasket is still leaking. Which is what I'm betting on considering your other symptom.

Bring it back and let them pressure test the system to be certain they did the repair properly. Or pay another shop to pressure test the system, a lot of people have a hard time admitting they made a mistake.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
If the coolant level is dropping it could be one of two things.

1. They didn't properly bleed the system and as air exits the system it is replaced with coolant. Once all the air is out that will stop. It shouldn't take long, and I doubt any good shop would leave much air in the cooling system.

2. The head gasket is still leaking. Which is what I'm betting on considering your other symptom.

Bring it back and let them pressure test the system to be certain they did the repair properly. Or pay another shop to pressure test the system, a lot of people have a hard time admitting they made a mistake.


I was going to mention your #1 too. It can take quite a while to get all the air out of the nooks and crannies of the water jackets. When I flushed the cooling system in my Elantra, it took a couple of weeks once the initial purging was done. As I would drive and check the overflow tank, it would creep down, I would top it it off and the process would repeat. This is with a properly working radiator cap too.

This process is shorter with the pressurized fill/surge tanks that are more common today, but still worth consideration.

This is why when I service a cooling system, I overfill it a bit... Because I know it'll come back down eventually.

 

[odie]

The head cylinder gasket was replaced in the beginning of SEPTEMBER .

 

[Papa Bear]

What make/model of vehicle are we talking about here ??...

 

[odie]

2008 YARIS .

 

[meangreen01]

You didn't lend your car to some shady looking Columbians, did you? Sorry, couldn't resist

Have you tried tasting it? Rub a little on your finger and touch your tongue and see if it tastes salty.

Otherwise, I'd go the dealer route since all that work was just done and could be related. I'd just want to avoid the embarrasing diagnosis of "it's road salt, you idiot".

 

[morris]

many years ago i read a story, in a magazine, remember those things? chrysler engineers was sent to a limo serves , big customer, they had trouble with engines overheating in the winter in new york city. found thet after a stat was changed the system was air locked. what happened was the co that made the stats so good air couldn't get around them. so the chrysler engines said to drill a 1/8 hole in the stat so the air can get out. honest guys its a true story

 

[odie]

" You didn't lend your car to some shady looking Columbians, did you? Sorry, couldn't resist ."

. Snorted it , no buzz

.

" Have you tried tasting it ? "

Taste ! Taste like dogcr*p . Smell ! Smell like dogcr*p . Is dogcr*p . Oldie , but goodie .

I cleaned out the tailpipe , we're getting lots of snow , all the roadsalt will make it difficult to monitor . Have to go with keeping tabs on the level of the resorvoir .