How Deep Does Water Need to Be for the Engine to Take in Water?
1 Answers
Engine water intake can be divided into the following two scenarios: 1. If the vehicle is in a static state: that is, parked and submerged in water, if the engine is not started, water will not damage the engine as long as it does not reach the air intake of the engine's air intake system. The position of the air intake may vary slightly depending on the vehicle model and brand. Generally, the air intake height is slightly below the engine hood, and for some models, it may be slightly lower. If the water level does not reach this height and there are no signs of water in the air filter, the engine will not be harmed. 2. If the vehicle needs to drive through a waterlogged area: if the water level exceeds half of the tire height, there is a possibility of water intake. When water enters the engine air intake either statically or dynamically, it will flow into the cylinders, forming a mixture of air and water. While air can be compressed, water cannot. Therefore, when the crankshaft pushes the connecting rod to compress toward the piston, the water cannot be compressed, causing the connecting rod to bend under the pressure of the water. If the owner turns off the engine at this point and then attempts to restart the car, the immense counterforce can cause the bent connecting rod to rub against the cylinder block. Once the top of the engine block bends, there is a risk of fracture.
