How to Deal with Water in a Car Engine?
2 Answers
Hazards of water entering the engine: After the vehicle passes through water, water enters the cylinders through the intake manifold. Due to the incompressibility of water, the piston stroke will shorten, causing the engine connecting rods to bend or break. In extreme cases, broken connecting rods may fly out and penetrate the engine block. Here are the solutions: 1. If only a small amount of water enters the engine, such as water vapor mixed into the air filter, simply clean the water vapor from the air filter, throttle valve, and cylinders. 2. If more water enters the engine but does not affect normal driving, replace the engine oil and clean related engine components. 3. If a significant amount of water enters the engine and the vehicle cannot be driven, the engine needs to be replaced.
Once when driving through a deep puddle in the rain, my engine stalled due to water ingestion. I immediately pulled over and turned off the engine without attempting to restart it, as starting it with water in the cylinders could compress the water, bend the connecting rods, or even destroy the entire engine. I called a tow truck to take it to a repair shop, where the mechanic disassembled the engine to clean out the water and replaced some oxidized parts. It cost over 3,000 yuan, but thankfully there was no major damage. Since that lesson, I always check the water depth before driving through flooded areas—if it submerges more than half of the wheel hub, I take a detour. I also regularly inspect the air intake seals to prevent water ingress. Driving slowly through water reduces splashing into the system, and these precautions have saved me a lot on repairs. Safety should always come first.
