Are Cars Afraid of Being Flooded?
2 Answers
Afraid of being flooded. Cars have oil circuits, and the engine must not take in water, otherwise it will be damaged. The following are three situations of flooded cars: 1. Water level above the exhaust pipe: If the water only covers the exhaust pipe, promptly move the car away. Water covering the exhaust pipe will not be sucked back into the engine, and engine stalling is mainly due to water entering the engine's intake system, unrelated to the exhaust pipe being submerged. 2. Water level just reaching half the wheel height: If the water level just reaches half the wheel height, generally, the car will not leak; but if soaked for a long time and the sealing strips age, the car may leak. In such cases, drive the car to a 4S shop, remove the interior, clean and dry it. 3. Water level above half the wheel height: If the water level exceeds half the wheel height, the engine may take in water, and the interior may also leak; at this time, never start the engine to avoid burning out the engine or interior electronic components. Moreover, if the car is flooded and starting it causes damage, the insurance company will not compensate.
I used to drive trucks for long-distance hauls and witnessed many vehicles suffering from water damage. During that rainy season, I accidentally drove into deep water, causing water to enter the exhaust pipe and the engine to stall instantly. The entire cylinder block was ruined, and the repair cost me over ten thousand yuan. The main reasons included water entering the engine, seizing the pistons, and short circuits corroding the wiring. The risk increases significantly when the water level exceeds half the height of the wheel hub. Installing a snorkel can help somewhat, but prevention is key: avoid deep water during heavy rain, never attempt to start the car after flooding, and tow it directly for professional inspection. Regularly checking the chassis seals is also crucial, as water entering the transmission or electronic modules can lead to numerous issues later. Overall, cars fear flooding like their natural enemy—small oversights can lead to major losses.
