Does Water in the Engine Cylinder Require an Overhaul?

[LincolnMarie]

When water enters the engine cylinder of a car, an overhaul is necessary. Here is a detailed introduction about automotive overhauls: Overview: An automotive overhaul refers to the comprehensive restoration of a vehicle's technical performance, either completely or nearly completely, through repair or replacement of auto parts. This process is conducted after a new car or a previously overhauled car has been driven a certain mileage or period of time, following diagnostic testing and technical evaluation. Additional Information: The overhaul process involves a series of necessary technical measures. These mainly include disassembly of the vehicle and its assemblies, cleaning of parts, inspection and classification of parts, repair of parts, matching and assembly, running-in and testing of assemblies, as well as final vehicle assembly and debugging.

[PenelopeMarie]

Last year, I drove through a deep puddle on a rainy day, and afterward, the engine didn’t sound right—it was shaking a bit. When I took it to the repair shop, the mechanic opened it up and found water in the cylinders. He explained that water is incompressible, and during the compression stroke, it could bend the connecting rods or crack the pistons. Fortunately, there wasn’t much water, and the engine hadn’t been started, so they just drained the water and changed the oil, saving me from a major overhaul. However, if there had been more water or if the engine had been running, internal parts could have been damaged, requiring a complete engine teardown and replacement of components like connecting rods and piston rings—costing thousands. The advice is to immediately turn off the engine and tow the car for inspection if water enters. Minor issues can be fixed with small repairs, but severe cases demand a full overhaul. Always watch out for puddle depth when driving and check the sealing strips before the rainy season to prevent water seepage and avoid a lot of trouble.

[BrantleyRose]

Once during heavy rain, I made a sharp turn into a deep water area, and my car immediately started smoking and stalled. Terrified, I had it towed to a repair shop where the technician diagnosed internal damage due to water entering the engine. He said a small amount of water could be drained and cleaned to restore functionality; but in my case, too much water had entered, causing high pressure during operation to deform the connecting rod and scratch the piston, necessitating a major overhaul and part replacements. Not only was the cost high, but I also had to wait several days for the repairs. Now I've learned my lesson: if the car stalls in water, call for a tow. The key after water ingress is not to start the engine to avoid further damage. Professional inspection determines whether a major repair is needed—based on the amount of water and whether the engine was running. For prevention, don't ignore the vehicle's wading depth and regularly maintain the cooling system to prevent leaks. These small habits can save a lot of money.

[SanHeidi]

From a repair perspective, engine water ingress is a dangerous sign. If water is detected, do not start the engine to prevent hydraulic lock damage. For minor water ingress, draining the water and changing the oil may suffice. However, if the engine was run after water entry, it often leads to bent connecting rods or piston damage, necessitating a major overhaul. The extent of damage depends on the submersion depth and engine type. Early inspection can avoid major repairs. For example, promptly tow and inspect the vehicle after wading. Prevention is better than regret: drive slowly in rain and park on higher ground.