Can the car be turned off after driving through water without stalling?

[Wesley]

If the car did not stall while driving through water, it can be turned off after coming out of the water. Here are some precautions for driving through water: 1. Drive in a low gear: Use a low gear (for automatic transmission vehicles, shift into hill-climbing mode) and drive slowly and steadily through the waterlogged area while maintaining control of the steering. Be aware of any potholes or hidden obstacles beneath the water. 2. Do not restart the engine if it stalls: If the vehicle stalls in a waterlogged area, do not attempt to restart the engine. Stalling indicates that water has entered the cylinders. Restarting the engine can cause severe damage due to the incompressibility of water, potentially bending or breaking the piston connecting rod components, and in extreme cases, leading to complete engine failure.

[DelAliyah]

I've been through this! Last time half the street was flooded in a heavy rain, and I drove my SUV right through without stalling. After getting out of the water, don't turn off the engine immediately—there might still be water inside that needs to drain. Let the car idle for about ten minutes; you'll see white smoke pouring out of the exhaust pipe, which means it's draining the water. Use this time to quickly check if the air filter box is wet, pop the hood, and listen for any unusual sloshing sounds from the engine. If the car shakes like a vibrating phone at idle, chances are water got into the cylinders. In that case, it's better to call a tow truck than to turn off the engine. Also, remember to pull off any water weeds stuck to your license plate to avoid getting pulled over by the cops.

[LeMia]

If your car is still running after wading through water, consider yourself lucky, but don’t touch the ignition button just yet. A friend of mine learned this the hard way—he turned off the engine right after getting ashore to inspect it, only to end up with a major engine overhaul after restarting. What you should do now is let the engine idle to drain water from the exhaust pipe, shift to neutral, engage the handbrake, and park in a safe spot. Squat down and check if there are any plastic bags stuck in the wheel arches, and it’s best to pick out small stones lodged in the tire treads. Important reminder: Do NOT rev the engine! There might be water in the cylinders after wading, and sudden pressure could bend the connecting rods. Wait for about seven or eight minutes before turning off the engine and turning on the hazard lights. Only then can you safely check the dipstick for any milky fluid contamination.

[MacSabrina]

Firsthand experience tells you: Keep idling! Last month I drove my sedan through standing water. Although the air intake wasn't submerged, the entire undercarriage got soaked. After emerging from the water, I maintained idle for five minutes and clearly saw water mist spraying from the exhaust pipe. Don't just stand around during this time - walk around the car twice paying special attention to whether the headlights have water ingress or fogging. Don't panic if the brake discs squeal either, just pump the brakes a few times to grind off the water film. Finally, touch the wheel hubs - if one is particularly hot, the brake caliper might be stuck. Only turn off the engine after the exhaust stops emitting white vapor, and remember to open doors to dry the floor mats. A water-soaked car will definitely grow mold if not thoroughly dried within two days.

[VonAdalynn]

After the boat mode ends, the engine still needs to act as a water pump for five minutes. In my ten years of repairing cars, I've seen too many tragedies of stalling after wading through water, where the cost of repairing bent connecting rods is enough to replace two tires. I recommend you shift to P gear, pull the handbrake tight, turn on the air conditioner to defrost the front windshield while idling, and check the dashboard for any warning lights. Listen carefully for any hissing sound from the water pump area, which indicates sand particles in the sealing ring. Don't worry about the fuel cost; these ten minutes of idling can save lives. Wait until the RPM stabilizes before turning off the engine, then immediately lift the trunk mat. The spare tire well is the most prone to water accumulation; using a towel to soak it up can prevent the sheet metal from rusting through.

[Naomi]

Surviving water crossing without stalling is a close call, but the battle isn't over yet. Once I drove an old Jetta through water, intentionally kept it idling for seven or eight minutes after getting out, and ended up draining half a mineral water bottle's worth of water. While the engine is still warm, squat down and check the exhaust pipe outlet for water droplets. Pay special attention to the seal of the air filter box; peel it open to see if the paper filter has wet edges. Don't worry about rust on the brake discs; it'll wear off after driving a couple of kilometers. Remember to use a stick to clean out the gaps in the underbody guard—last week, I dug out two pounds of mud from mine. Wait until the car stops steaming, then slowly turn off the engine but don't pull the key out immediately. Check if the center console screen doesn't flicker or go black—that means the electrical system passed.