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Water leaking from the exhaust pipe of a car is caused by the catalytic converter and the condensation of water vapor, according to autoupkeep.com. This is normal and nothing to worry about.

Combustion

The combustion of gasoline produces carbon dioxide and water vapor, according to chemistryland.com. Oxygen reacts with hydrogen in gasoline to produce water vapor, which exits the engine through the exhaust manifold.

Exhaust System

The exhaust, which includes carbon monoxide, nitrous carbon dioxide, water vapor and unburned gasoline are processed by the catalytic converter, which changes the gasoline to more carbon dioxide and water and directs them into the muffler.

Other Facts

In hot weather, the water vapor is less likely to condense and drain, but in cold weather, water vapor will do exactly that and drip from the tailpipe. Over time, water in the exhaust system can cause corrosion.

If you have a social conscience (or just dont like paying huge fines and having your car impounded), then consider catalytic converters a necessity. Modern catalytic converters arent nearly as restrictive as older units and can help prevent dangerous pollutants from entering the air and groundwater.

The Law

The main reason why catalytic converters are necessary is that the law says so. Catalytic converters were originally a voluntary measure but became required equipment for all cars sold in America in mid-1986.

Carbon Monoxide

One of the main jobs of a catalytic converter is to convert the dangerous pollutant carbon monoxide into harmless carbon dioxide, which it does with nearly 99 percent efficiency.

Nitrogen Oxide

Considered a volatile organic compound (VOC), nitrogen oxide reacts with sunlight to form smog. Catalytic converters break this toxic chemical down into its component oxygen and nitrogen molecules, making for cleaner skies and longer lives.

Unburned Fuel

No engine burns all of the fuel that it ingests. Catalytic converters burn what little unburned gas the engine hasnt consumed to keep it from polluting groundwater upon exhalation.

Computer Issues

Removing a catalytic converter without installing a simulation sensor will cause a cars computer to malfunction, which will drop engine power by changing fuel and spark parameters until the catalytic converter is replaced.

While driving on slippery roads, drivers usually arent thinking about the decreasing value of their vehicle. Although road salt helps to increase the traction an automobile gets on wintry or wet roads, it can cause significant problems for a vehicle. However, car owners can use a variety of methods to decrease the effects road salt has on their car.

Paint Erosion

One common problem caused by road salt is car paint erosion. Although this may not happen over night, continued interaction with road salt can destroy the paint on a car over time. Modern automotive paint is better than it was decades ago; and improved primers and corrosion-resistant coatings decrease the impact road salt has on vehicles. Even with better paint, owners and their vehicles fall victim to the winter road warrior otherwise known as road salt. After a few winters, drivers may find they need a new paint job.

Corrosion

Another more serious problem caused by road salt is rusting. Although the paint serves as a protective layer for the metal of a vehicle, other areas of exposed metal, such as underneath the car, become victims of road salt. Over time, road salt can even eat through the vehicles paint and get to the metal underneath. Even though rust is not usually a safety factor, it can be quite expensive to fix. Once rust forms, it usually spreads. Because of this, its best to deal with rust before it occurs.

Structural Damage

What makes structural damage so severe and dangerous is that it occurs out of sight. Sometimes, the paint of a vehicle appears normal, but road salt has begun to eat away at the undercarriage of the vehicle. The undercarriage is at the highest risk level for road salt damage because it is constantly exposed to road salt -- being so close to the road -- and it does not feature a protective layer of paint, unless specially added. Structural damage, such as severe rusting, can be very expensive to fix and can cause safety hazards.

Prevention

The best way to prevent road salt damage is to wash the vehicle frequently. Washing a vehicle can remove salt from out-of-sight places. The undercarriage is especially important to wash because of frequent salt build-up. Parking a vehicle in a warm place, where the ice melts, can accelerate the damage caused by salt. To help prevent damage from road salt, a driver should wash her car about once a week. Waxing the car before winter comes will add a layer of protection as well.

Automotive cooling systems are complex beasts, not so much in form as in function. The cooling system is more than just a water hose to keep the engine cool, its a support system used to keep all of that hot, fast-moving metal working the way it should be.

Function and Design

A thermostat sits in the base of the hose that moves coolant from the engine to the radiator, and serves to restrict flow to the radiator when the engine is cold. Most thermostats use a wax-pellet design. Below a given temperature, the wax pellet remains a solid, keeping the thermostat valve shut and causing the coolant to recirculate inside of the engine instead of going to the radiator. Above its set temperature, the wax pellet melts and allows the valve to open.

Purpose

You dont technically "need" a thermostat; the engine will continue to run without it. A thermostats primary job is to get the engine up to temperature as quickly as possible and then limit flow to keep it at that temperature. Running without a thermostat will allow coolant to constantly circulate through the radiator, which can cause the engine to run far cooler than it should. While this might seem like a good thing at first glance, bear in mind that most engines are engineered to run best when theyre fairly hot.