Muffler leaking fluid

[hitlayers]

Hey peoples, My fiancees pathfinder has a very small puncture in her muffler and it appears to be leaking some fluid, smells like antifreeze but not sure, but the liquid definitely has a smell....What could it be?

[W O T]

Its water, its normal, just supposed to come out the tailpipe

[Pwnin O'Brien]

A bi-product of catalytic converters is water; the chemical reaction that takes place in the cats produces water, but that water is generally heated from the hot exhaust and turned into steam. That steam will make its way into the muffler(s) where it then cools drastically and turns back into water. Most OE mufflers will have a small hole in the exterior casing to prevent water from pooling in the muffler and rusting out.

This may not primarily be the issue, but this is best case scenario.

Now, if you actually smell coolant in this water, then this could mean that you have a leaky head gasket or cracked head/block. Check two things: check your oil and see if (after driving the vehicle around) there is any milky substance or white buildup under the oil cap. Also check your coolant level and see if it is dropping at all; you should also keep an eye on your temperature gauge to ensure it stays within normal operating temperature. If you are burning coolant, then you will also be able to smell it in the exhaust smoke coming from the pipe, another symptom is a white colored smoke coming from the tailpipe (at normal operating temperature).

[hitlayers]

Thanks fellas!