Your car’s internal combustion engine emits exhaust gases as part of its normal operation. If these gases remain in the engine, it can be very dangerous. However, it is just as alarming when you see anything other than gases coming out of the exhaust, such as water. What are some of the causes of water coming out or dripping from the exhaust?
In some cases, water is considered a normal byproduct of surgery. However, there are other times when you should take leaking fluid seriously and get it checked. Let’s take a look at the possible causes:
The most common reason for water dripping from the exhaust is just normal water condensation. Smell or taste the water from the outlet and if it doesn’t smell or taste sweet, there’s probably nothing to worry about. If it smells sweet, it’s coolant.
These causes are the short list of the main causes of water leakage from the exhaust. Let’s take a closer look at the most common causes:
Water is leaking from the exhaust pipe Causes:
1. Water Condensation
The most obvious reason you see water coming out of the exhaust is condensation. This process is completely normal and occurs for several reasons.
During the combustion process, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapor are formed. As the gases leave the combustion chamber, the gases mix with the water molecules. As the engine cools, water condensation often becomes visible, especially on the exhaust pipe.
If the water drops stop after a few minutes, there is nothing to worry about. Otherwise you may have a bigger problem.
2. Condensation Catalyst
As with condensation coming from the engine, you may also be dealing with water vapor from the catalytic converter. Remember that the cat changes the chemical composition of the gases, creating more water molecules.
During the conversion, water vapor may escape from the exhaust pipe. As with the condensation above, this should clear within a few minutes and is considered a normal function of the exhaust system.
3. Head Gasket Defective
While the above reasons were not a cause for concern, a head gasket failure is. If the water coming out of your exhaust is due to a blown head gasket, you have a serious problem.
Bloated head gasket often comes with white smoke from the exhaust pipe and water droplets. You may also see air in your coolant reservoir or your engine may be overheating. Either way, you want the issue resolved quickly before needing a complete engine replacement.
RELATED: 5 Symptoms of a Cast Head Gasket
4. Faulty EGR Cooler
Some newer car engines, especially diesel engines, use an EGR cooler to cool the exhaust gases before entering the intake. The coolant cools the exhaust gases and this part can burst. If the EGR cooler ruptures, coolant can enter the exhaust and drip from the exhaust.
If the water coming out of the exhaust smells sweet, it could certainly be caused by a broken EGR cooler if your car is equipped with one.
5. Defective pistons or rings
Worn piston rings or a bad piston will only cause water to come out of the exhaust pipe if the head gasket is also blown or if there is already condensation in the exhaust. Also, faulty pistons and rings can cause other symptoms.
You may notice a sooty exhaust, oily residue from the exhaust, or blue smoke. Either way, you don’t want to keep riding with bad pistons or rings.
Cost to repair of Leaking from the Exhaust Pipe
If the water is due to normal condensation, there is nothing to fix. However, both a blown head gasket and faulty pistons or rings should be addressed immediately.
The cost to repair a blown head gasket is between $1,000 and $2,000, but not because of the parts. Instead, this repair is time consuming, leading to higher labor costs. Also, the cost to replace faulty pistons and rings is between $1,000 and $5,000, primarily due to its labor-intensive nature. If any of these situations are not resolved, a complete motor replacement is necessary.
