How Deep Can a Car Drive Through Water?
2 Answers
For how deep a car can drive through water, it varies depending on the vehicle. Once the water depth exceeds the height of the exhaust pipe, the probability of the vehicle stalling increases. The exhaust outlet of an ordinary sedan is typically 20 to 30 centimeters from the ground, while for SUVs, it's 30 to 40 centimeters. Therefore, as long as the water level does not exceed two-thirds of the tire height, drivers can generally proceed with confidence. Below are relevant details: 1. Solution: If the car accidentally stalls due to water intake, do not attempt to restart it. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible and arrange for rescue services. 2. Hazards: If water enters the engine, it can lead to a lack of lubrication in the cylinder. Restarting the engine under such conditions can cause severe wear to the piston and cylinder, potentially resulting in engine failure. Moreover, the insurance company may refuse to cover the damages. However, if there is no erroneous attempt to restart the engine, the losses caused by the stalling due to water intake will be covered by the vehicle damage insurance.
I'm always extra cautious when encountering waterlogged roads, having personally experienced the ordeal of an engine hydro-lock overhaul. When driving through standing water, never exceed the exhaust pipe height - around 30cm is already dangerously deep. For sedans, staying within 20cm is safest, and you should be alert when water reaches the hubcap edge. The key is maintaining slow, steady speed - sudden depth increases or underwater potholes can be disastrous. Once during a heavy rainstorm I nearly got trapped, so now I always test the depth with a stick before attempting to cross. I keep a window breaker in my car too - if water rises above door handles, it's time to consider escape.
