Why is My Car Leaking Water?

If you notice that your car is leaking water when parked in your driveway in Phoenix, there isn’t always an immediate need for concern. Cars’ air conditioning systems create condensation when activated, so it’s normal to see small puddles of water near the back of the engine compartment. In addition, water near the car’s tailpipe is typically exhaust condensation, which will go away once your muffler warms up. 

However, there are instances when water leaking from under your car can indicate more serious issues. Read on to find out some reasons why your car is leaking water. Then, please feel free to visit the service center at Mercedes-Benz of Chandler near Gilbert to get a quick inspection. 

Potential Reasons Why Your Car is Leaking Water 

When posing the question, “Why is my car leaking water?” keep in mind that there could be several reasons. Follow the steps below to figure out where the water is coming from, as well as the issue it could indicate. 

• Place a sheet of paper under the leak. If the fluid is anything other than water, the color will appear on the paper. If the color of the liquid is blue, green, or yellow, it’s probably coolant, not water.
• If there’s a large amount of water coming from your exhaust, a blown gasket may be causing coolant to be burned along with the fuel. This will result in lots of water and white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe.
• Although coolant is usually easy to spot because of its color, you can also check the level to make sure. If the coolant level is low, you’ll want to schedule a service appointment with our service center located near Tempe. 
• The leak could possibly be coming from a cracked windshield wiper fluid reservoir. This can be caused by using water in your windshield wiper fluid. The water freezes in the reservoir, expanding and causing the plastic container to crack. You will know if it’s windshield wiper fluid if it’s a light blue or light green color. Wiper fluid leaks can usually be found by the front tires.

How to Identify the Fluid Under Your Car

When you place the sheet of paper under your vehicle and the leaking fluid isn’t clear, then it’s not water. Read the list of colors below so you can identify what type of fluid is leaking from your automobile:

• 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

Get Your Mercedes-Benz Serviced at Mercedes-Benz of Chandler

Mercedes-Benz of Chandler is eager to help keep your Mercedes-Benz in pristine condition. Now that you have a better sense as to why there’s water leaking from under your car, contact us if you have any additional questions. Also, be sure to peruse our helpful service tips and tricks where we answer popular questions such as, “What does the light on my dashboard mean?”