How to Deal with Water in the Exhaust Pipe?
2 Answers
If you encounter water in the exhaust pipe and the engine stalls, do not attempt to force a restart. Instead, call for roadside assistance immediately. After a simple cleaning and drying process, the engine will resume normal operation. Insurance claims are usually straightforward in such cases. Drive fast on sand, but slow through water. When driving at high speed, the waves created by the tires can easily enter the exhaust pipe, causing the vehicle to stall. If water enters the exhaust pipe, remove the accumulated water as soon as possible to prevent impurities in the water from clogging the catalytic converter or damaging the oxygen sensor.
Oh no, when I found water in the exhaust pipe, my first reaction was not to start the car. Because if you rashly start the engine after water ingress, water may flow back through the exhaust pipe into the engine cylinders. During the compression stroke, water cannot be compressed, leading to 'hydrolock' which can damage the piston rods—this is a major repair-level failure. So I immediately turned off the engine, called a friend to help push the car to a dry area or arrange for a tow truck service to avoid secondary water exposure. At the repair shop, they used a professional air pump to drain the water and checked the catalytic converter and exhaust pipe joints to ensure there was no rust or blockage. When driving through water, always control your speed and ensure the water level does not exceed the height of the exhaust pipe, otherwise it can easily create hidden hazards.
