Water Coming from the Exhaust

AHOUSTON_8128

MEMBER
VOLVO S40

Make - Volvo
Model - S40 turbo
Year - 2001
Mileage - 110k
Engine - 1.9L 160 hp I4

When I go out to start my car in the morning after the tempertures have been below freezing, water begins to spray from the exhaust. After the engine is warm there is a least a 3 foot stain of water on the ground. From what I have noticed this only takes place in the morning or a night if the car has sat for a long period of time and the tempertures have dropped near freezing. Should I be concerned that there is a problem?

1 Reply

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,938 POSTS

Hi there,

If your car is not using coolant and is not overheating, don't worry. Water is a by product of the combustion cycle, when the engine & exhaust is cold the water vapor in the exhaust condenses back to a liquid and this is what you are seeing. As the engine, Cat and exhaust come up to operating temp, this water vapor is super heated steam and not visible under normal conditions.

Mark (mhpautos)