How Deep of Water Can a Car Safely Drive Through?

[AubreyLynn]

For ordinary sedans, when the water level reaches above 20 centimeters (for SUVs with higher ground clearance, this threshold may increase to 30 centimeters), there is a risk of water entering the engine. This represents the maximum wading depth. Below is relevant information: 1. Engine Water Intake Pathways: There are two main ways water can enter the engine: First, due to the low position of the engine air intake inlet, water can be sucked into the engine during wading; Second, when the exhaust pipe outlet is below the waterline, water can be drawn into the engine through the exhaust. 2. Handling Methods: After water enters the engine, it will inevitably cause the engine to stall. Since water in the cylinders lacks lubricating properties, attempting to restart the engine blindly after stalling may lead to severe engine damage or complete failure due to cylinder scoring. The correct approach is to push the vehicle to a higher, water-free area, contact your insurance company, and then have the car towed to a repair shop for inspection of water damage.