Why is My Car Leaking Water?

Is your car leaking water? Usually, the causes for a car leaking water are not serious, especially if water is leaking from under your car. Generally, water leaks from under a car when the air conditioning system is on. Why is that? Air conditioning creates condensation when activated, which registers as a drip, AKA water leaking. This is harmless. Sometimes, water leaks from a car’s tailpipe. This is usually caused by a cold exhaust and is also no reason for alarm. That said, a car that appears to be leaking water can actually be a car leaking vital fluids, like coolant. This could be cause for more concern. Contact us at Ryan Buick GMC for more information!

Finding the Cause of Water Leaking from Your Car

Is water leaking from your car? Here’s what to check:

• If water leaks from under your car: Put a sheet of paper towel or printer paper under the leak. If the fluid is something other than water, you’ll be able to see the color appear on the paper. If it’s blue, green, or yellow, it’s most likely coolant/antifreeze, rather than water.
• If water leaks from your exhaust: If just a small amount of water is coming from your exhaust when starting, it’s no big deal. If, however, a lot of water leaks, a blown gasket could cause coolant to be burned along with the fuel. That will result in large amounts of water and often, white smoke, coming out of the exhaust pipe. This should be checked out ASAP at our service center. 
• If in doubt about if the leak is water: While coolant is usually easy to spot due to its color, you can always check the coolant level in your engine to be sure. Not sure how to do that? Contact us for answers to questions about common service tips!
• If water leaks inside your car: A cracked windshield wiper fluid reservoir could cause a leak near your front tires. But sometimes, water leaks inside your car, like in the passenger or driver’s side footwells. This can be caused by a sunroof with seals that require replacing or a windshield that required replacing.

What Fluid is Leaking from My Car?

Here’s a guide to learning more about if your car is leaking water or something else. The below colors usually correspond to certain vehicle fluids:

• Red – Transmission Fluid or Power Steering Fluid
• Orange – Transmission Fluid or Radiator Coolant
• Yellow – Radiator Coolant
• Green – Antifreeze from Water Pump, Hoses, or Radiator
• Blue – Windshield Wiper Fluid
• Dark Brown – Brake Fluid or Older Engine Oil
• Light Brown – Newer Engine Oil or Gear Lubricant
• Pink – Power Steering Fluid or Transmission Fluid

Service Your Car Leaks at Ryan Buick GMC!

We here at Ryan Buick GMC are happy to help you diagnose and troubleshoot car leaks, so you don’t have to ask “Why is water leaking from under or inside my car?” ever again! Instead, you can just schedule service in Minot and let the pros handle it all for you!