Can You Still Drive If Water Gets Inside the Car?

[DelManuel]

You should not drive if water gets inside the car. Here are the possible scenarios when water enters the vehicle: 1. Still drivable: If the air filter gets wet, the engine may draw in some water vapor along with air into the intake manifold. This water vapor mixes with gasoline and burns completely, causing minimal impact on the engine. 2. Minor water ingress into the engine: If a small amount of water enters the cylinders and mixes with the engine oil, the oil quality deteriorates. Oil contaminated with water increases wear on engine components, potentially leading to louder engine noise and increased vibrations in the future. 3. Most severe case: If the engine starts but stalls after a few seconds and cannot be restarted, this is the worst scenario. Since water cannot be compressed, its presence in the cylinders while the engine is running at high speed can cause catastrophic damage—bent valves and connecting rods, seized pistons, severe cylinder wall wear, and even a bent crankshaft.