Is Water Coming Out Of Your Tailpipe While Running? Heres Why

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Water coming out of your tailpipe is not always a cause of concern, but there are times it’s a symptom of a serious problem. That’s why it pays to know when to disregard water running out of the tailpipe and when to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop.

3 Normal Reasons Why Water Runs Out of the Tailpipe

It’s normal for water to run out of the tailpipe due to condensation during combustion, catalytic converter water vapors, and engine heat. Let’s look at each reason in detail:

Water Condensation During Combustion

Combustion naturally produces water vapor, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. As the exhaust gas moves out of the tailpipe, carbon dioxide mixes with water, causing water to leak from the tailpipe.

This isn’t something to be alarmed about. The leak should stop as soon as your engine warms up. If the water drip doesn’t stop after a few minutes, you might be dealing with a complicated issue.

Catalytic Converter Operation

Your catalytic converter reduces the pollutants that your exhaust releases into the environment.

Your catalytic converter reduces the pollutants that your exhaust releases into the environment. As it turns toxic gas into less harmful emissions, it also creates water molecules. That’s why it’s normal for traces of water vapor to come out of your tailpipe.

There’s nothing wrong with your catalytic converter when this happens, and you can expect the water vapors to stop after a few minutes.

Engine Heat

You might notice water droplets coming out of your tailpipe during cold winter months. To operate in the cold, your engine generates a lot of heat. Condensation usually takes place because the temperature outside is low, resulting in water droplets coming out of your tailpipe.

The water droplets coming out of your tailpipe because of engine heat should stop coming out of the tailpipe after a few minutes. Otherwise, it’s time to take a trip to an auto repair shop.

2 Alarming Reasons Why Water Runs Out of the Tailpipe

Although it’s normal to see droplets of water on your tailpipe most of the time, there are some instances when it can mean something is wrong with your engine.

Bad Head Gasket

The head gasket seals your engine’s combustion chambers to avoid compression loss. However, like other engine components, it can fail due to several reasons, like engine overheating.

White smoke could come out of your tailpipe when the head gasket fails. Water droplets in the tailpipe are another symptom. You can read our article on the symptoms of a bad head gasket to learn more about the issue.

Faulty Pistons and Worn-out Piston Rings

Bad piston and piston rings won’t cause water to come out of your tailpipe on its own. They will if you have a blown head gasket. The moisture can also be due to residual condensation in the engine.

Although water on your tailpipe won’t be an issue, expect to deal with oily residue once your piston and piston rings are bad. These faulty components can cause excessive blow by, which means the combustion gases or pressure is now leaking into the crankcase.

What Does It Mean if Black Water Is Coming Out Of My Tailpipe?

It’s also normal to see black-colored moisture on your tailpipe. The water droplets from condensation might have mixed with carbon deposits.

Most of the time, there’s no need to take your ride to an auto repair shop unless there’s a lot of water coming out of your tailpipe or you notice black smoke—which can be a sign that your engine is running too rich.

What to Consider Before Going to a Mechanic

If water is coming out of your tailpipe, consider the following factors to determine if you’re dealing with something serious:

Smoke Color

Check if there’s unusual smoke coming out of your tailpipe. Observe its color and thickness. Blue smoke, for example, could mean that oil or other substance is mixed with the fuel inside your engine. It can also indicate a leak.

Smell

Pay attention to unusual smells coming out of your exhaust. For example, a sweet smell can indicate that your coolant is leaking.

Liquid’s Consistency

If the liquid is too greasy, it might be because it is mixed with oil or unburnt fuel. Take note of these things, and share all your observations with your mechanic.

How Much Will I Spend to Fix the Issue?

It’ll depend on the root cause of the problem. If it’s a blown head gasket, you might need to take your ride to an auto repair shop to have the gasket replaced.

Head gasket repair or replacement can set you back by $1000 to $2000.

Head gasket repair or replacement can set you back by $1000 to $2000. Although an aftermarket replacement part isn’t that expensive, labor costs can be high due to the complicated nature of the repair.

On the other hand, if it’s the piston or piston rings that need replacement, you’ll have to know how many pistons need replacement to estimate the exact repair cost. Expect to spend around $2000 on average.

Don’t think twice about taking your ride to a repair shop once you notice anything unusual. It’s better to identify an issue early on than ignore it and spend more on repairs in the future.

The post Is Water Coming Out Of Your Tailpipe While Running? Here’s Why appeared first on In The Garage with CarParts.com.

https://ift.tt/mVf0s16 https://ift.tt/UB42h0r https://notes.io//Tzb4 https://ift.tt/QU3vqK4 https://ift.tt/LtrAYZ8 https://ift.tt/kbnPoaR https://ift.tt/imhfrl7 https://ift.tt/nyuxqvr https://ift.tt/aIkLW74 https://ift.tt/rnWf582 https://ift.tt/9tZVwe0 https://ift.tt/tlmICgf https://ift.tt/zuYqaoT https://ift.tt/CzqbBHR https://notes.io//Tzxx https://ift.tt/2LVE1Mo https://ift.tt/7k16HfU https://ift.tt/uorF5Tk https://ift.tt/LxgPpWt https://ift.tt/RW9Jyvj https://ift.tt/47DFxhj https://ift.tt/ncZdbAz https://ift.tt/5MrmxbY https://ift.tt/cRqfFIN https://ift.tt/tyl4BTY https://ift.tt/L8I7GUj https://ift.tt/vn241FU https://notes.io//TzdJ https://ift.tt/ZT4g7vh https://ift.tt/4ULqCub https://ift.tt/LdlEfYk https://ift.tt/Tf9AlYk https://ift.tt/JOU14hI https://ift.tt/qx7uBS4 https://ift.tt/wHpZzRf https://ift.tt/92WarvZ https://ift.tt/8czhXmu https://ift.tt/uaAVRbP https://ift.tt/fsUZLFy https://ift.tt/zW0TOxH https://ift.tt/JKQaBcV https://notes.io//Tzdn https://ift.tt/h5qdRt9 https://ift.tt/Pu64ayb https://ift.tt/9Ltk6FN https://ift.tt/1gSsfn6 https://ift.tt/8NhnLl3 https://ift.tt/SZPQY4i https://ift.tt/0RBvcnZ https://ift.tt/TlQXp6c https://ift.tt/ihOvJVE https://ift.tt/sVB4ObA https://ift.tt/zUXdSx8 https://ift.tt/lD643yi https://ift.tt/0E8I1es https://notes.io//Tzdm https://ift.tt/vOQIpnM https://ift.tt/VGFRQ3i https://ift.tt/9Ltk6FN https://ift.tt/XtpcBTS https://ift.tt/dMaL6hQ https://ift.tt/YeZozav https://ift.tt/ej9TJxN https://ift.tt/wo3e4U0 https://ift.tt/dy9np3I https://ift.tt/oDGz8Ts https://ift.tt/JYRKSos https://ift.tt/ckmCbPT https://ift.tt/XrCNMYO https://notes.io//TzxT https://ift.tt/SBDP6uJ https://ift.tt/8TmMipj https://ift.tt/kzAOoiM https://ift.tt/aOtcfEK https://ift.tt/65Zkm2A https://ift.tt/P8w9Sqd https://ift.tt/zwxm7uV https://ift.tt/1Sx3sZF https://ift.tt/XLbFnWw https://ift.tt/5HWD0nG https://ift.tt/GrHaLdV https://ift.tt/b2VRXes https://ift.tt/vo12tDl https://notes.io//TzhL https://ift.tt/g0BiT6I https://ift.tt/S9GITuH https://ift.tt/aFz4cT2 https://ift.tt/6VtJ7GE https://ift.tt/SRv9LPO https://ift.tt/D9j3eG5 https://ift.tt/pbhYBvR https://ift.tt/3Lj7pNC https://ift.tt/Z6dly8h https://ift.tt/TBMP2UC https://ift.tt/tWBxqhH https://notes.io//Tzdb https://ift.tt/InR4q6X https://ift.tt/xpYL6Kw https://ift.tt/aCoDuQ2 https://ift.tt/DGNTWXC https://ift.tt/EkaIPqJ https://ift.tt/foaXHkp https://ift.tt/Kmp9MPi https://ift.tt/i8NZdpO https://ift.tt/kUB4lSX https://ift.tt/hyeCYkG https://ift.tt/pXk5PcB https://ift.tt/5mPLrMk https://ift.tt/aZId6ef https://notes.io//TzsQ https://ift.tt/528gFBT https://ift.tt/BcCpywo https://ift.tt/FjusW1T https://ift.tt/sWK9Ie3 https://ift.tt/N8dQFhg https://ift.tt/VEMDRxr https://ift.tt/yLW4u1o https://ift.tt/1ukESxQ https://ift.tt/SBCo2sg https://ift.tt/YdVZLqm https://ift.tt/9zpbnMC https://ift.tt/9VayQPK https://ift.tt/erMXQjo https://notes.io//Tzdq https://ift.tt/fjtPwV2 https://ift.tt/j0HVLbe https://ift.tt/EgOUq81 https://ift.tt/dphymEA https://ift.tt/bvyLZPm https://ift.tt/eg5QZu0 https://ift.tt/hZi3xjS https://ift.tt/EBHLdRa https://ift.tt/Y124DCn https://ift.tt/0zVf521 https://ift.tt/yIe5PC8 https://ift.tt/HEGIbdV https://ift.tt/j6cw89H https://notes.io//Tzja https://ift.tt/j2x9h6e https://ift.tt/NDQVeCm https://ift.tt/dSMC9br https://ift.tt/HQ3x7q9 https://ift.tt/h9YtRpb https://ift.tt/LVJOa63 https://ift.tt/Nlw3ZHY https://ift.tt/1HeBgsU https://ift.tt/5Z8bEHI https://ift.tt/vcUPNqH https://ift.tt/w4MNbXT https://ift.tt/cCVuDPp https://ift.tt/9Tjs1gG https://notes.io//TzdH https://ift.tt/dwzBsQq https://ift.tt/GKHuVgA https://ift.tt/zOtlJgW https://ift.tt/Xra6dZu https://ift.tt/KAorjad https://ift.tt/nrqZ1d3 https://ift.tt/peOgs0t https://ift.tt/Im8EiH5 https://ift.tt/BU2ckVP https://ift.tt/KOkMIz6 https://ift.tt/RUKVG04 https://ift.tt/XzQbpCI https://notes.io//TzpE https://ift.tt/Eph6CHZ https://ift.tt/X3IYwin https://ift.tt/KMhtug1 https://ift.tt/AcTqoSQ https://ift.tt/GlPOkm4 https://ift.tt/SI2NKit https://ift.tt/hMk7pJs https://ift.tt/fSeEzUw https://ift.tt/HAJswDE https://ift.tt/W5aNbmH https://ift.tt/JmcErxQ https://ift.tt/UvDZ4nt https://ift.tt/bPjhgTy https://notes.io//TzpN https://ift.tt/lt6BWN5 https://ift.tt/fqkczsx https://ift.tt/okLFaBp https://ift.tt/bpjByeu https://ift.tt/aefLT0I https://ift.tt/lE7pZDt https://ift.tt/huIAGlU https://ift.tt/cNaYBfP https://ift.tt/TXiBDUE https://ift.tt/If9TomL https://ift.tt/O2hGU6m https://ift.tt/BMnjtPZ https://ift.tt/y8ujCZF https://notes.io//Tzsb https://ift.tt/vFJfkLo https://ift.tt/UgGPlKb https://ift.tt/K8yuJ36 https://ift.tt/bisoetd https://ift.tt/ZB4ArTz https://ift.tt/DM8K3cg https://ift.tt/nozxuMJ https://ift.tt/ZtpsrBE https://ift.tt/r9f1gHW https://ift.tt/oIBW37M https://ift.tt/05GyEFe https://ift.tt/CqZ1HcT https://ift.tt/Qfu9lEJ https://notes.io//Tzat https://ift.tt/456lvNz https://ift.tt/6UtB5fd https://ift.tt/uNY0Ztn https://ift.tt/WwMao0u https://ift.tt/X1h0LOa https://ift.tt/2aKHJD3 https://ift.tt/vsyA7of https://ift.tt/yoUEB38 https://ift.tt/qv3j5iz https://ift.tt/D4mznic https://ift.tt/0jIo2ya https://ift.tt/BRpGcbz https://ift.tt/GukFwlb https://notes.io//TzpW https://ift.tt/OHtX1xB https://ift.tt/wbV0ivS https://ift.tt/PDm4za5 https://ift.tt/AcTqoSQ https://ift.tt/H7njUK9 https://ift.tt/TUX9GvW https://ift.tt/hqiIro1 https://ift.tt/bLZXVhP https://ift.tt/a9RBK3l https://ift.tt/hdnf3lP https://ift.tt/VrSl0mT