Black soot on rear lid and bumper

[99whiteV8]

My 99 V8 gets a very fine layer of black soot on the rear deck and back bumper whenever I go out for a drive, be it 5 minutes or 5 hours.

I'm wondering if anyone else notices this, and what may be the cause. I can't imagine it's from the exhaust pipes b/c it gets all over the rear deck, not just the bumper. It's very fine soot but it concerns me.

Do I have a cracked manifold and am getting exhaust coming out of the two engine vents? Before I have a mechanic take a look I'm wondering if this is just normal.

[Splodge S4]

Theres been talk of this on the Esprit Forum, it seems lot do it but unless its really bad dont worry about it. Mine smokes when cruising at about 80 mph & then speeding up, dirty black smoke, (not oil blue) I cant see it when driving but people have mentioned it & like yours theres soot over the back , I just had a 'C' service & all is fine.

www.glcforum.com/ukesprit/forums/index.php?showtopic=1002

Hope this helps..

[NJGSX96]

They all do that, sir!

[timrdlotus]

It means your not going fast enough and the soot is catching up with you???

[DAVES_GT3]

yep
happens on mine too.
more noticable because its white probably.

also its worse if you have a de-cat pipe or a sports exhaust

[karmavore]

My deck stays clean but my light panel and bumper look like a politically incorrect vaudeville act.

My baby is white too...

Lucas.

[99whitev8]

I wonder if it has to do with the aerodynamics and location of the exhaust pipes or engine vents.... Perhaps also could there be some ionic thing going on here? Is the fiberglass/kevlar body attracting the soot particles?

Anyone here a chemist or physicist?