What Causes Water to Leak Under Your Car and How to Fix It
Is your car leaking water? Want to know how to find water leak in car? Well, water leaking under a car is usually not a major issue, but it does indicate a problem. Keep reading to know what might be causing the leak and how to fix water leak in car.
Common Causes of Water Leaking Under a Car
1. Air Conditioning Condensation
If you see water leaking from under your car when AC is on around the rear of the engine compartment, it’s likely going to be just AC condensation. When you run AC, moisture from the air condenses on the evaporator and drips under your car. This is normal and is nothing to worry about. Although no fix is needed since this is normal, if the leak is excessive, check for clogged AC drain lines.
2. Exhaust Condensation
Water vapor forms in the exhaust system when the engine is cold, creating small puddle under the tailpipe. Water around the exhaust suggests exhaust condensation. In most cases, exhaust condensation is also nothing to worry about, unless there are very large clouds of white condensation coming from the exhaust.
3. Radiator leak
A car water leak can come from the radiator due to corrosion or damage. A damaged radiator might lead to low coolant levels, impacting the engine’s performance. To avoid overheating it’s important to repair a radiator leak.
4. Fluid Leak
- Transmission fluid leak – Transmission fluid is typically red or brown and can leak from your car when parked. This type of leak can cause transmission failure if ignored, so you should check your transmission fluid levels and visit a garage for repairs.
- Brake fluid leak – Brake fluid leaks are hazardous thus need to be addressed immediately. If your car leaks brake fluid, it may compromise the braking system. A brake fluid leak typically appears near the wheels or brake lines.
- Windshield Washer Fluid Leak – The washer fluid reservoir or hoses may be cracked or leaking. So, check the reservoir and hoses for cracks and replace damaged parts.
5. Coolant Leak
If the fluid is the coolant leaking from the bottom of your car rather than water, it could point to a serious problem as your engine depends on coolant for its cooling system to work. Coolant leaks could be seen as brightly coloured puddles under the car and can be caused by a faulty radiator, hose, or gasket. A car leaking coolant can overheat causing serious engine damage. A leaking radiator, hose, or water pump could be allowing coolant, which contains water to escape. So check for colored fluid which is often green, orange, or pink. If found, get the cooling system repaired. When a car leaks coolant the coolant is usually green, blue or yellow and has a sweetish smell. Normal water will of course be clear and odourless.
The most common reasons for a car leaking coolant are radiator corrosion, a damaged coolant hose or a water pump with a leaky gasket. The most obvious sign will be a patch of liquid on the ground under your engine block or elsewhere. Get some paper and absorb the liquid and if it’s black or brown, it’s likely oil.
If your engine is located in the front of your vehicle, chances are any oil leak will appear on the ground underneath. With rear-engine cars, leaks will probably appear under the back area.
Driving your car with an oil leak poses risk to you and other road users too. Once oil reaches a high temperature it can become flammable which, when parts of your engine become very hot, can result in a fire. It’s not advisable to drive with an oil leak.
6. Clogged or Damaged Sunroof Drain Tubes
Sunroofs have small drain tubes that can get clogged, causing water to leak inside and drip under the car. Clean the drain tubes with compressed air or a thin wire.
7. Faulty Heater Core
The heater core, which circulates coolant to warm the cabin, could be leaking, leading to water pooling inside the car and dripping out.
If you notice foggy windows, a sweet smell, or wet carpets, the heater core may need replacement.
How to Diagnose the Leak ?
To be sure the car is not leaking another fluid, place a sheet of white paper where your car is leaking. No coloration indicates that there’s water leaking from under the car.
But If you notice a huge amount of water near your exhaust coupled with white smoke, you could have blown a gasket.
A lot of drivers suspect that water leaking from under cars near the front of the vehicle is windshield wiper fluid. This could be the case if the liquid is light green or light blue.
Here’s a colour guide to detect what leak is it:
- Blue: Windshield wiper fluid
- Green: Antifreeze (from radiator, hoses, or water pump) or windshield wiper fluid
- Yellow: Radiator coolant
- Pink or Red: Transmission fluid or power steering fluid
- Orange: Transmission fluid or radiator coolant
- Light Brown: Gear lubricant or new engine oil
- Dark Brown: Brake fluid or old engine oil
- Clear water? Likely A/C condensation or exhaust moisture.
- Blue? Could be windshield washer fluid.
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