Why is there water dripping from the front of the car?
2 Answers
Water leakage from the front of the car may be due to windshield washer fluid or coolant leakage. In the front part of the car, if it is confirmed not to be engine oil, the only systems with liquid are the windshield washer and coolant systems. Generally, first check the windshield washer pump, pump connections, washer fluid reservoir, and reservoir connections, then inspect the pipelines. There are usually two possibilities for water leakage under the car chassis: one is exhaust pipe dripping, and the other is air conditioning condensation. Additional Information: 1. The car's air conditioning system has two sources of condensation water: evaporator condensation and low-pressure pipe condensation. The temperature of the evaporator is lowered due to the heat absorption of tetrafluoroethane, making it much lower than the temperature of the air blown in by the fan. 2. The higher the air temperature, the stronger its ability to carry water molecules, meaning higher humidity in hot weather. When water vapor encounters cold, it condenses into liquid water, so there will be a lot of water in the evaporator box. To prevent water accumulation, a drainage outlet is designed. 3. Due to the large amount of air intake in the evaporator box, there will be a lot of condensation water during idle speed. This is why you see water under the chassis after using the cold air conditioning at idle speed for a while.
My car often drips water under the front after parking, which is mostly due to condensation produced by the air conditioning system when cooling the air. When the AC is on, humid hot air flows over the cold evaporator coils, causing moisture to condense into water droplets that drip down, typically beneath the chassis near the front wheel area. This phenomenon is particularly noticeable in summer or high-humidity weather and is part of normal design—no need to worry. However, I pay attention to the characteristics of the drip: if it's clear water without any odor, it's fine. But if the liquid is green or red, or accompanied by steam and a pungent smell, it might indicate coolant leakage, requiring immediate inspection of the cooling system. I recommend having a technician check the pipes during regular maintenance to prevent potential issues from affecting driving safety.
