What are the consequences of restarting a car after it stalls in water?
3 Answers
Restarting a car after it stalls in water can damage the connecting rods, pistons, and engine cylinder block. Below is relevant information about cars stalling in water: 1. Consequences: When water enters the engine's intake, the engine will stall. If restarted, this can cause significant damage to the engine. This is because restarting relies entirely on the starter motor to operate the engine, which draws water inside. When the engine compresses air, it compresses the incompressible water, leading to damage in components like the piston rods and valves. 2. Maintenance: Degraded engine oil and clogged oil filters can occur. Lubricants of different grades will deteriorate during use. After a certain mileage, their performance will decline. To prevent such issues, change the oil regularly according to usage conditions and maintain an appropriate oil level, generally between the upper and lower marks on the dipstick.
That time I drove through floodwaters after heavy rain, the car stalled when submerged. Instinctively I tried to restart it, only to completely kill the vehicle. Water flooded straight into the engine - when the pistons tried to compress the incompressible water, the connecting rods bent and the cylinder block cracked. The repairs cost over 80,000 yuan, which broke my heart. Worse still, the electrical system short-circuited and smoked, rendering the car a total write-off. Since then I've learned my lesson: if the engine stalls in water, never touch the ignition - immediately cut the power. When driving through water, go slow and never exceed the wheel hub centerline. If disaster strikes, the first move is calling a tow truck to a professional shop for inspection. That's money well spent - never take reckless actions.
In my auto repair work, I've dealt with numerous such failures. The consequences of attempting a secondary start after a car stalls due to flooding are quite severe: water can be directly sucked into the cylinders, causing irreversible mechanical damage like bent connecting rods or seized pistons. On the electrical side, short circuits may blow fuses or even fry the ECU, making repairs costly and time-consuming. Additionally, for fuel-powered vehicles, water entering the exhaust system can trigger more issues. My advice is to immediately check if the air filter is wet after stalling and avoid attempting to restart, or repair costs could exceed tens of thousands. It's best to push the car to a safe location and wait for professional assistance—qualified technicians will use specialized tools for water drainage and testing.
