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Why Is Water Coming Out Of My Exhaust Pipe?

 
Nidhi Nangia
By Nidhi Nangia, Writer and researcher. January 23, 2017
Why Is Water Coming Out Of My Exhaust Pipe?

Water coming out of the exhaust pipe is a common problem most car owners will notice in their vehicle at some point during its life. If you own a car, you must have asked this question one time or the other that why is water coming out of my exhaust pipe. There are several reasons why this might be happening to your car. Sometimes, it can be just a common occurrence with no real concern, while at other times, it can be the symptom of a serious underlying problem. Read this oneHOWTO article to know the possible reasons for water coming out of your exhaust pipe.

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Contents
  1. Water condensation
  2. Cold weather
  3. Condensation in the hot engine
  4. Byproducts of the catalytic converter
  5. Water and smoke emissions

Water condensation

When you turn on your car’s engine, combustion takes place due to a mixture of air and fuel being ignited with carbon dioxide water being byproducts of this reaction. When the engine cools down, the exhaust gases come out of the car’s combustion chamber, due to which you see condensation water coming out of your exhaust pipe. If this is the reason of the water coming out of your exhaust pipe, it is perfectly normal and is nothing to worry about. This kind of leakage is usually seen in the mornings, but may come any time of the day if you turn on your car after several hours of parking. The engine must have cooled off and may have created condensation due to the combustion reaction.

Cold weather

If the temperature outside is very cold, it will solidify the moisture content inside the exhaust pipe. When you turn on the engine, this moisture turns into liquid and leaks out of the car’s exhaust.

Why Is Water Coming Out Of My Exhaust Pipe? - Cold weather

Condensation in the hot engine

When you turn on your engine, it heats up and heat is also produced in your exhaust system. If this is the reason for your problem, then you will notice water coming out of your tailpipe only when you start the engine. The vapor in your tail pipe will turn into water due to the heat produced and will subside on its own as you run your car a few miles. However, if the water continues dripping after several miles, then you need to be concerned about it and get it professionally checked.

Why Is Water Coming Out Of My Exhaust Pipe? - Condensation in the hot engine

Byproducts of the catalytic converter

Your car has a catalytic converter whose job it is to convert harmful emissions into less harmful ones before they come out of the exhaust pipe. This makes your vehicle friendly to the environment and to other human beings as well. Some of the by-products of this catalytic converter may lead to a small amount of water coming out of your exhaust pipe. This is a normal process and in fact a sign that your catalytic converter is working fine.

Why Is Water Coming Out Of My Exhaust Pipe? - Byproducts of the catalytic converter

Water and smoke emissions

If your exhaust pipe is emitting water, then pay close attention to it to see if it is producing black or grey smoke as well. Smell it and check if it smells like burning oil. If yes, then it may indicate a cracked piston or bad piston rings in your vehicle. You may need to get your car tuned regularly to avoid such problem. If the water coming out from your exhaust pipe smells like maple syrup, then this can indicate a more serious problem in the engine and you will have to get it checked immediately.

If you want to read similar articles to Why Is Water Coming Out Of My Exhaust Pipe?, we recommend you visit our Car Maintenance and Repair category.

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Why Is Water Coming Out Of My Exhaust Pipe?