Why Is My Car Leaking Water?

Don’t stress out too much if you find your car leaking water after a drive. This is because your vehicle’s air conditioning system creates condensation anytime it’s activated, and your car’s AC is like any other. Because of that, you’ll see small puddles of water near the back of the engine compartment after the AC has been running. And if you see water near the tailpipe, it’s usually exhaust condensation that goes away after your muffler warms up.

Sometimes there could be more serious problems associated with leaking fluids. If you walk to your car one day and think to yourself, “Something is leaking from under my car”, the Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills service center created this quick guide. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any or need to schedule a service appointment to have your vehicle inspected.

Car Leaking Water: What’s Causing It?

When you notice your car leaking water, follow these simple steps to see where it’s coming from:

• Place a sheet of paper under the leak. If the fluid is not water, then you’ll see the color show up on the paper. Keep in mind that coolant is blue, green, or yellow. Coolant can also have a sweet, vapor-like smell to it whereas water most likely has no smell to it.
• If it’s more than just a small amount of water that’s coming from your exhaust, it could be a blown gasket that’s causing the coolant to burn along with the fuel. This results in large amounts of water and white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe.
• Even though coolant is fairly easy to spot because of its color, you can always check the level to make sure. If the coolant is low, visit our service center near West Bloomfield as soon as possible.
• It’s also possible that the leak is coming from a cracked windshield wiper fluid reservoir, which is caused when using water in your windshield wiper fluid. The water freezes in the reservoir and will expand, causing the plastic container to crack. You can tell it’s windshield wiper fluid by its light blue or light green color. Wiper fluid leaks are normally found by the front tires.

If you feel that the cause is something other than condensation, don’t hesitate to make the short drive to Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills near Southfield to have one of our factory-trained technicians take a look at your vehicle.

What Fluid Is Leaking From My Car?

If, after placing the sheet of paper under your vehicle, you notice that the fluid isn’t clear, then we know that it’s not water. Below is your guide to learning what the problem is before scheduling your service appointment with our Bloomfield Hills service center:

• 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

It can be difficult sometimes to figure out what color the fluid is. If you have a good suspicion that what’s on your paper towel isn’t water, it’s best to bring in your vehicle for an inspection.

Get Premium Auto Service Near Birmingham!

At Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills, we strive to provide the highest quality of service as we make sure your vehicle continues performing at its best. Whether you’re looking for service tips like how often should you change your oil or need help finding Mercedes-Benz accessories to further enhance your vehicle, our team is here to help. Contact us with any questions today.