Why is Water Leaking From Under My Car?

If you’re wondering why your car is leaking water in Los Angeles, don’t worry, there are many causes for water leaking under a car with many being minor. There are common explanations for cars to leak water after they’ve been parked, and usually, there’s nothing to worry about. Sometimes, the air conditioner produces tons of condensation, especially on extremely hot days, and this water drains out near the back of the engine block. Another common cause for a car leaking water is exhaust condensation. With this, you’ll see pools of water near your vehicle’s tailpipe. 

Of course, when you see a leak, the biggest worry is always it isn’t water leaking from under the car. Learn more about the causes of a car leaking water with the service team at Kia Cerritos. Then, check out our service specials to ensure you’re getting the best price on your next oil change.

Car Leaking Water: Identifying the Cause

Have you noticed your car leaking water in Carson, or think that it might be another type of fluid? If you’ve ruled out condensation, follow these steps to determine the cause:

• Place a piece of white paper or cardboard under the leak to determine what color the fluid is. Identifying fluids off concrete is difficult to do.
• No color? It’s water and most likely nothing to worry about. However, if the color is blue, green, yellow, or other color, you might have a problem.
• If there’s a large amount of water coming from your exhaust along with white smoke, that is a sign you might have blown a gasket. A blown gasket makes coolant burn along with your fuel. 
• A strange color could also be a coolant leak. The fluid can be identified based on color, but checking various fluid levels will help find out which is leaking. Low fluids can cause severe damage to your vehicle, so you’ll want to make a service appointment soon.
• Another cause could be a cracked windshield wiper fluid reservoir. If water gets into that reservoir, it can freeze and crack, leaking fluid onto the ground. This fluid will be either light blue or green and will gather around your front tires.

As a general rule of thumb, if the cause of the leak is anything other than condensation, you’ll want to have your vehicle checked out.

Car Leaking Water: Color Guide

To determine if your car is leaking water or not in Orange County, color is a great indicator. After using a white paper or cardboard to see the color of the leak, use this comparison chart as a guide:

• Dark/Neutral
• Dark Brown – Brake Fluid or Older Engine Oil
• Light Brown – Newer Engine Oil or Gear Lubricant
• Warm Color
• Red – Transmission Fluid or Power Steering Fluid
• Orange – Transmission Fluid or Radiator Coolant
• Pink – Power Steering Fluid or Transmission Fluid
• Yellow – Radiator Coolant
• Cool Color
• Green – Antifreeze from Water Pump, Hoses, or Radiator, or Windshield Wiper Fluid
• Blue – Windshield Wiper Fluid

Trust the Service Team at Kia Cerritos

Looking for more service tips and tricks? Contact the service team at Kia Cerritos to learn more about car maintenance, whether you’re interested in when to get an oil change or tire rotation, we have you covered!