Is It a Big Problem If the Car Stalls in Water?
2 Answers
Stalling without restarting has no impact, but restarting after stalling in water can damage the engine. Below are the relevant explanations: 1. Reason for not restarting: After the vehicle wades through water, water enters the cylinders through the intake manifold. Due to the incompressibility of water, the piston's stroke will shorten, leading to bending or breaking of the engine connecting rods. Under extreme conditions, broken connecting rods can fly out and penetrate the engine block. 2. Reason for stalling: The car stalls in water because water entering the distributor cap causes the distributor to lose its normal ignition function. The engine's air filter element gets soaked, increasing intake resistance and allowing water to enter the combustion chamber, preventing the spark plugs from igniting. Restarting the engine under these conditions can easily cause a hydro lock.
Ouch, this question reminds me of my cousin's painful lesson recently! He drove his sedan through a waterlogged area where the water was almost covering the exhaust pipe, but he stubbornly pushed through. As a result, the engine gulped water and stalled. The worst part? The guy actually tried to restart it—boom, the connecting rods bent, and the repair cost over 40,000 yuan! My advice: if the water depth exceeds half the tire height, don’t take the risk. If the engine stalls, never restart it. Immediately open the doors to evacuate and call a professional tow truck. Water entering the exhaust system can blast through engine seals, and even submerged circuit boards can short out. Repairs can cost more than buying a used car!
