Hole in muffler and leaking a bit of liquid

[srv14624]

Hi. I just found out about a hole in my muffler. No big problem, ill just repair it with this special kind of tape thay can withstand high heat.

The leaking part is what im worried about. At first it was leaking what appeared to be water until i smelled it. It had a sweet smell but it was hardly noticable.

What is the problem here?
(1995 GM 146,000 miles, complete tune-up)

[SVT98t]

sounds like the head gasket may be on its way out. The sweet smell is coolant.
Check the oil using the dipstick. If it's frothy and kinda like a chocolate milk color, it's the head gasket.
You may luck out and have a intake manifold gasket broken.


Wait........ where is the leak coming from?
Is it from the muffler? Or somewhere else?

-ryan s.

[srv14624]

Found out its condensation. It seems quite a bit of water but yeah its condensation. My older friend owns a 1998 f-150 lightning and he has the same thing. Its from the muffler.

[Nathan in MI]

The sweet smell is still worrisome, though. You're sure it's not coolant? Any white smoke from the tailpipe, or, as Ryan mentioned, frothy-looking oil?

[79lincolnlover]

I know the valve seals from '92-'94 will eventually leak. Not sure about '95-'97 models...

[Nathan in MI]

Leaking valve seals would cause oil burning, not coolant burning.

[DriverSideImpact98]

The sweet smell is still worrisome, though. You're sure it's not coolant? Any white smoke from the tailpipe, or, as Ryan mentioned, frothy-looking oil?

I kinda get what he's saying though, on a healthy car sometimes the condensation almost does smell sort of sweet...like the best way to describe it... But yeah definitely keep and eye on your oil and watch for white smoke.

[SVT98t]

I know the valve seals from '92-'94 will eventually leak. Not sure about '95-'97 models...

Leaking valve seals would cause oil burning, not coolant burning.



HELL YEAH. That's what my 93 is doing. Blue cloud of death!!

[srv14624]

Its nothing now. Its back to normal. Thnx everyone.

[p71towny]

There should be a small hole in the muffler to drain the condensation out. Nothing to worry about. Clean the crap off around it and you will see it is a perfect hole. Dont tape it up.

[srv14624]

Thnx