How to Deal with Water in a Car Engine?
4 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.
Engine water ingress requires extremely careful handling. As someone who believes in prevention first, here's my approach: The first step is to immediately stop the vehicle, turn off the engine, and remain calm. Avoid touching the ignition key to prevent secondary damage like hydro-lock or piston damage. Promptly call for roadside assistance to have the vehicle safely towed to a professional repair shop, ensuring all power sources are turned off during transit. During repairs, technicians will disassemble the engine to clean water passages and components, replacing any potentially rusted parts. For prevention: Always check weather warnings before driving and avoid waterlogged routes. Only proceed through water if the depth doesn't exceed 30cm under normal circumstances. Develop the habit of driving slowly through water and stopping to assess when necessary. These small techniques effectively reduce water ingress risks and ensure driving safety.
As someone who works with cars year-round, I emphasize not attempting to restart the engine after water ingress. Water entering the cylinders during compression can damage precision components like the crankshaft and connecting rods, leading to costly repairs. You should immediately turn off the engine and have the vehicle towed to a repair shop. We use compressed air to drain and dry the engine internals, then replace potentially damaged parts such as spark plugs or sensors. The source of water ingress is often due to driving through excessively deep water, allowing water to enter through the air filter. It's recommended to regularly inspect the intake system's seals during maintenance and avoid modifications that lower the waterproof design to reduce the risk of such incidents.
