Is Engine Stalling Due to Water Intake Serious?

[Robin]

Engine stalling due to water intake is very serious. Here are the precautions to take after water enters the engine: 1. If the engine has been submerged in water, do not attempt to start it immediately. Starting the engine under such conditions can cause water to enter the combustion chamber, leading to bending of the engine connecting rod. 2. When the vehicle engine is running, if the road water level is higher than the engine's intake system, backflow can occur. Water may enter from the air filter to the intake pipe and then into the engine combustion chamber. 3. If the engine stalls, do not attempt to restart the vehicle. Immediately call your insurance company and a repair service to wait for assistance.

[MacJonathan]

I've been repairing cars for over 20 years, and water entering the engine causing a stall is a serious issue! Water forced into the pistons can't be compressed like air, directly bending the connecting rods. In severe cases, the connecting rods can puncture the cylinder block. Two years ago, a Touareg owner tried to restart the engine after stalling in water, resulting in over 40,000 yuan in engine repairs. Remember the key point: if the engine stalls in water, turn off the ignition immediately—don't even turn it to the ACC position, as the electronic system might automatically restart! And while waiting for rescue, don't foolishly sit in the car—rising water can cause electrical shorts, making it even more dangerous.

[CourtneyLee]

That day during the heavy rain, I was so scared my hands were shaking when crossing the flooded area, then suddenly the car made a 'gudong' sound and stalled. My husband yelled on the phone not to restart it! Later, the tow truck driver said water got sucked into the cylinders, bending the pistons like twisted hemp. The repair cost 23,000 yuan, and the insurance even refused to cover the damage from the second startup. Now whenever it rains, I get nervous seeing puddles. A sincere reminder to all sisters: when wading through water, use low gear and maintain a steady speed. If the water level exceeds half of the tire height, don't force your way through—calling a tow truck is much cheaper than repairing an engine.

[DiJasmine]

For off-road enthusiasts, upgrading the intake snorkel is a must-have modification. Stock vehicles are extremely vulnerable when wading through water. During last year's river crossing event, an unmodified Wrangler sucked in water and instantly bent eight valve rods. The pressure when water enters the combustion chamber can reach 30 tons—far more destructive than hitting the engine with a hammer. Off-road shops always keep fully sealed air filters in stock, but urban floodwater containing silt during heavy rains is even deadlier. During repairs, we found connecting rods with pits worn by sand abrasion, requiring replacement of the entire engine block.

[Moreira]

Last month's unit vehicle engine overhaul bill I handled: cleaning fee 6800, connecting rod replacement 3900, cylinder block repair 15500, not including disassembly and assembly labor costs. The most unfair was Xiao Wang's private car, which called for a tow truck after wading through water but had the repair shop perform ignition testing. The insurance company insisted on 'artificially expanding the loss' and only covered 70%. Everyone remember: the first priority for a water-submerged vehicle is to disconnect the battery negative terminal. Authorized dealerships have specialized drying equipment that can minimize the damage.