So I went outside to start my Cherokee to let it warm up. About a minute after I started to I was on my way back in when I noticed a river of water running down my drive way, and don't ya know it, it was from my jeep. If I got down and looked at it and saw water quickly dripping out of the bottom of my muffler. Now I assume I gonna need a new muffler, but where is the water coming from? Is it condensation? Or is my engine about to spontaneously combust? Thanks.

 

Ur catalytic converter changes some of the exhaust gas to water,its normal to see it drip from your tailpipe. If its coming out before that you have a bad weld/muffler/gasket.

 

Is it just water, or is there coolant, too?

The condensation created by the cold exhaust shouldn't be considered a "river of water"

 

A byproduct of combustion is water. You notice it more in winter when the motor is still cold cause it condensates in your exhaust before exiting. Usually the water sits in your muffler until the motor heats up and evaporates the water away as you drive.

Now if its coolant then you have a problem. I watch some guy in a yoda refill his coolant while there was the nile flowing out his tail pipe, not a good sign. You can tell if its coolant if you taste the water coming from the exhaust (like a puddle on the ground), If it tastes sweet then its coolant

 

Just smell it. I don't like tasting poisen.

You will indeed have condensation, but it should not be flowing like a river.

 

Alright I will taste/smell it next time, but my mechanic did say the muffler was starting to rust through, could it just be leaking through there?

 

Its not like your drinking it, just dip ur finger in it and put it on your tongue. Then spit it out and rinse your mouth out.

 

Well yea it can leak from there but thats the minor issue if you have coolant coming out of your exhaust

 

I'm curious to know how much water is leaking.

Does it look like someone dumped a 2 liter bottle out under your truck, or does it look like someone dumped an 8 oz coffee cup out?

 

Ok so let's say there is coolant coming out, what does that mean for my Cherokee and wallet? Oh and it doesn't happen all the time iv only noticed it twice since I got it (like 2 months ago), and I just went out and started it so I could taste my yummy muffler water and it didn't do it.

 

Like a one liter bottle, I can take a pic next time it happens

 

A liter of water is alot. I doubt its condensation.

If its got coolant in it, you are pushing coolant through your motor. Probably a bad HG or cracked head.

I've got no money quotes for you on either, sorry.

 

That's ok, I'm going to go have it checked out on Monday, and if it happens again before that I'll taste it.

 

have you checked your oil? Look to see if it looks like a milkshake on ur dip stick, that means coolant is in your oil.

Also look under your oil fill cap to find traces or the same milkshake color. A flashlight will help you look into your motor.

If its just a bad head gasket and your doing the work yourself, it would cost like $30 for the gaskets and a day (shop would charge >$600) . I would recommend checking the head while its off too and that cost would vary. I know a machinist that works out of his personal garage so he's much cheaper than anyone else around me.

 

Great I'm at work now (thank you iPhone) and my other worker gets here in 20 min, then I'll go check the oil and oil cap.