Expert: Kevin Pilotte - 11/15/2004

Question
I live in Trenton, NJ and own a 2002 chevy malibu. I was resently talking with a friend, about to drive off, then they told me I had a leak under my car. So I look at the liquid on the ground under the back of my car and noticed it was clear with no smell, water? I then looked and saw that there was a little water in the tail pipe. The next morning as my wife drove off I looked at the spot where the car was and there was that same little puddle, I suppose there was water in the pipe this time... can you help?

aslo on day i was drive and heard a loud "pop" sound? but I have no idea what is was, every runs fine?

Answer
What you are seeing is condensation forming in the exhaust system, normal. The catalitic converter changes the hot exhaust to "safer" gasses like CO2, H20, O2, etc. You will see water coming out of a hot exhaust, especially at lower speeds or at idle. Outdoor tempurature and humidity also will affect the quantity you see. Most of it evaporates prior to leaving the system, the rest condensates and gets spit out as water. Nothing to worry about, until the exhaust system rusts out over time. No idea about the "pop". Probably nothing to do with the water vapor you see.
Kevin