How to Diagnose Water From an Auto Exhaust
It is normal for an exhaust system to drip some water, particularly at start-up and after idling for an extended period. Water is created due to condensation in the system when the engine is first started, and as a by-product of the chemical reactions in the catalytic converter. If you see a significant amount of fluid coming from your tailpipes, you can check to see if you are losing coolant, which can manifest as white smoke out of the tailpipe.
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Instructions
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Review your driving routine. Water gets generated from the catalytic converters, but also is created by condensation when the exhaust is cold. Short frequent drives during which the exhaust system does not get completely hot are a major cause of condensation. Try to make sure you take the occasional long drive to assure the exhaust system thoroughly heats up. Making sure you take frequent long drives helps keep your exhaust system from premature rusting.
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Check your rear muffler to see if there is a weep hole, and if it is obstructed. Some cars, such as the Ford Crown Victoria, have weep holes in the center bottom of the rear muffler, which are small drainage holes to allow water to vacate the exhaust system (to avoid rust). If the weep hole gets covered or obstructed, this can block water from draining from the muffler, which results in water coming from the tailpipe. You can use a small screwdriver to clear out the weep hole if it has become clogged.
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Check the coolant and oil levels. A general rule of thumb is if you see blue smoke from the tailpipe, it means you are burning oil, and if you see white, sweet smelling smoke, that means you are burning coolant. Check your engine bay for coolant leaks. If you discover none, track your coolant level for a couple of weeks to see if the engine is losing coolant.
If coolant is mixing into the exhaust, it will not go away after the engine warms up, and will be more noticeable with heavy throttle. In these cases this can indicate engine wear or damage as the coolant is mixing with the combustion process.
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References
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