Liquid flowing from exhaust?

mikemac

Don't own a car-I've a motorbike so my knowledge of cars is fairly limited.

I was following a car for about 3km yesterday.
There was liquid(presuming water) dripping from the exhaust. What is this and what causes it?

Maybe it's perfectly normal-just interested to know
Oh and it was a perfectly sunny day so it wasn't rain from the car

Thanks

mike65

Normal! Its condensation in the system which burns off after a few miles.

Mike.

C_Breeze

Yeah, condesnsation, for sure. doesnt seem to happen on all cars though?

crosstownk

I'll third the condensation - It happens on all cars, but is much more noticeable in slow moving traffic. If you start a car and let it idle for while you will notice a pool of water below the exaust. If you then rev the car a small spray of soot blackened water will shoot out. It used the be a good source of amusement on the workshop floor

JHMEG

Some exhausts (mine for example) have a small hole in the backbox to allow condensation to run out. It's high enough tho for the back box to retain about half a litre, which comes p1ssing out if I jack up the car on the other side.