Can a Slightly Flooded Engine Recover on Its Own?
1 Answers
A small amount of water entering the engine is not a problem as long as the car can start. After starting, as the engine temperature rises, the moisture inside will gradually evaporate. Hazards of Engine Flooding: After driving through water, if water enters the cylinders through the intake manifold, the incompressibility of water will cause the piston's stroke to shorten, leading to bending or breaking of the engine connecting rods. In extreme cases, a broken connecting rod can pierce through the engine block. Reasons for Stalling Due to Water Ingestion: The reason a car stalls in water is that the distributor cap gets wet, causing the distributor to lose its normal ignition function. Additionally, the engine air filter element becomes soaked, increasing intake resistance and allowing water to enter the combustion chamber, preventing the spark plugs from igniting. Restarting the engine under these conditions can easily cause a hydro lock.