How Long Does It Take to Repair a Water-Damaged Engine?

[DelRachel]

Repairing a water-damaged engine takes 3-5 hours. Introduction to Engines: An engine (Engine) is a machine capable of converting other forms of energy into mechanical energy, including internal combustion engines (reciprocating piston engines), external combustion engines (Stirling engines, steam engines, etc.), jet engines, electric motors, etc. For example, internal combustion engines typically convert chemical energy into mechanical energy. History of Engines: Engines can refer to both power-generating devices and the entire machine that includes the power unit (e.g., gasoline engines, aircraft engines). The engine first originated in the UK, so the concept of an engine also comes from English, with its original meaning referring to 'a mechanical device that generates power.'

[MorganRose]

Last time my car got flooded, it was a real hassle. The repair time for water in the engine is hard to estimate—it mainly depends on the extent of water ingress. Minor issues, like water in the spark plug area, just require cleaning and drying, which takes about two to three days. But if the engine sucked in water, stalled, and was restarted a second time, bending the connecting rods, then it’s really troublesome. The entire engine has to be disassembled for repairs—lucky if it takes a week, but if parts are severely damaged, it could take ten days to half a month. Make sure the mechanic checks every bearing and piston thoroughly, or residual rust will cause bigger headaches later. That time, I had to wait an extra five days due to long repair queues after the typhoon. The repair took way more time than fixing the exterior damage.

[ColtonFitz]

Repairing a water-damaged engine depends on the severity of the issue, with the core process being disassembly, cleaning, and drying. A simple rinse and cleanup might take three to four days, but correcting deeper issues like bent connecting rods or pistons could require several days. In severe cases where the cylinder block is worn or out-of-round, professional machining and repairs might take up to half a month. Personally, I prefer using OEM parts for replacements—though more expensive, they offer better performance compatibility and reliability. Aftermarket parts might require extra labor for adjustments. Always insist on thoroughly cleaning the crankcase and oil pan during repairs; skipping this step could lead to serious oil consumption issues later.

[VanJoel]

The duration of engine water ingress depends on the manner of ingress and the repair solution. If you stop the car before the engine stalls, it may only require cleaning the throttle body, replacing the air filter, and drying, which can be done in three days. However, if water enters while wading, causing the engine to stall and then attempting to restart, resulting in bent connecting rods and deformed pistons, the repair cycle becomes much longer. Disassembling the engine takes two days, straightening the connecting rods and pistons at least one day, cleaning internal water and rust another day, and reassembling and testing takes two more days. If parts are out of stock during this period, it further delays the process. It's advisable to have the shop check the three-way catalytic converter, as it is particularly prone to clogging after water ingress.

[BriellaDella]

The repair time for water ingress into the engine varies greatly and is mainly divided into three steps: diagnosis, disassembly and cleaning, and assembly testing. For vehicles with mild water ingress, draining the water and replacing the oil filter, followed by drying for two days, is sufficient. Moderate water ingress requires disassembling and cleaning the intake pipe and replacing the spark plugs, taking approximately three to five days. In cases of severe water ingress with connecting rod deformation, disassembling the engine's core components takes about a week, with an additional three to five days for correcting and replacing damaged valves and pistons, followed by two days for various tests. During the rainy season, repair shops are often fully booked, so an additional three to five days should be reserved for turnaround. When repairing, remember to also check the cooling system, as the water pump bearings are prone to water ingress and rusting.