How Long Can You Drive After Water Enters the Engine?
3 Answers
It is best not to drive after water enters the engine. Once water enters the engine, you should immediately turn off the engine, call for rescue, and wait for assistance. It is strictly prohibited to restart the engine or continue driving to avoid unnecessary damage. If secondary starting causes engine damage, the insurance company will not cover the claim. Below is an introduction to turbocharged engines: 1. Principle: A turbocharger is essentially an air compressor that increases intake air volume by compressing air. It utilizes the inertial force of exhaust gases expelled by the engine to drive a turbine in the turbine chamber, which in turn drives a coaxial impeller. The impeller compresses air delivered through the air filter pipe, pressurizing it before it enters the cylinders. 2. Power: As the engine speed increases, the exhaust gas expulsion speed and turbine speed also increase synchronously, allowing the impeller to compress more air into the cylinders. The increased air pressure and density enable more fuel to be burned, and by adjusting the fuel quantity and engine speed accordingly, the engine's output power can be increased.
Oh, this question reminds me of many cases. I've encountered similar situations several times. First of all, if water enters the engine, it's best not to drive because it can cause the engine to stall immediately or suffer severe damage. The principle is that when water enters the cylinder, it doesn't compress like air does, leading to a hydro-lock phenomenon. This can cause the piston connecting rod to bend or break, directly paralyzing the engine. How long you can drive varies from case to case: if only a little water has entered, you might barely manage to move a few dozen meters, but the risk is extremely high—especially the faster you drive, the more likely an accident becomes. If the water is deep enough to submerge the engine, it might stall as soon as you start it, making it impossible to move at all. My advice is that if you notice any abnormalities, such as strange noises or a drop in power, stop and turn off the engine immediately. Don't attempt to restart it, or the repair costs could run into tens of thousands of yuan. When driving through water, always go slowly, and make sure the water level doesn't exceed half the height of the tires. Regularly check the engine's sealing to prevent water ingress issues.
As someone who frequently works on cars myself, I find this situation quite common. How long you can drive after water enters the engine depends on the amount of water: if it's just a small splash from a puddle, you might manage a few minutes or a short distance, but with a large amount of water, the engine will stall instantly, leaving no chance to drive away. The key issue is that water can damage the lubrication system, causing dry friction between the pistons and cylinder walls, leading to cylinder scoring or connecting rod fractures—essentially destroying the engine within minutes. I've seen a friend's car break down after driving through water, managing less than a hundred meters before stalling, with repair costs exceeding eight thousand. So, my advice is: if you suspect water has entered the engine at any point, pull over immediately, turn off the engine, avoid restarting it, and call for a tow to a professional shop to check the seals and internal damage. Safety first—don't take chances, or the cost could be too high.
