What Are the Consequences of Water Entering the Engine?

[DelJason]

Engine water ingress can lead to the following consequences: 1. Engine connecting rod deformation, resulting in shortened piston stroke and insufficient gas compression; 2. Piston rings losing elasticity or failing to seal, causing air leakage and compressed gas entering the crankcase; 3. Intake and exhaust valves failing to seal properly when closed, leading to compressed gas leakage into the intake and exhaust manifolds. Precautions after engine water ingress include: 1. Do not start the engine immediately; tow the vehicle to a safe location; 2. Tow the car to a repair shop for servicing; 3. Replace the engine oil and clean related engine components. Engine maintenance methods include: 1. Use high-quality engine oil; 2. Use qualified coolant; 3. Regularly clean the radiator scale; 4. Periodically remove carbon deposits from the car; 5. Replace the three filters on time; 6. Maintain reasonable engine speed.

[LeEdward]

I've seen too many tragic cases of waterlogged engines in repair shops. Water rushing into the cylinders can violently bend connecting rods and seize pistons, with severe cases even cracking engine blocks. When water compromises oil lubrication, rapid wear occurs on crankshafts and connecting rod bearings—metal shavings become visible within days. The bigger headache comes from corroded wiring harness connectors and short-circuited fried ECU modules, triggering every warning light. The worst scenario? Some owners attempt restarting submerged vehicles, voiding insurance coverage for these preventable damages. That's why you should never restart an engine after stalling in floodwater—unless you want to shoulder tens of thousands in repair bills yourself.

[DelSabrina]

Last week, my neighbor's car was towed back after attempting to force through a waterlogged pit during heavy rain, causing the engine to fail. Upon opening the cylinder, it was found that water had entered the combustion chamber, and the spark plug electrodes had rusted and turned green. The key issue is that water can seep down past the piston rings into the crankcase, instantly emulsifying the entire oil sump into a yogurt-like consistency, completely depriving the engine internals of lubrication. Turbocharged models fare even worse, as high-speed rotating turbine blades can deform or even shatter upon encountering water, with replacement costs for just the turbocharger reaching nearly twenty thousand yuan. Insurance claims for such incidents are stringent, with any attempt at a second ignition leading to outright denial of coverage.

[AlexanderDella]

Personal experience tells you how serious the consequences can be: Last year, I drove too aggressively through a puddle, causing the engine to ingest water. When towed to the repair shop, it was found that the connecting rod was deformed and had punctured the cylinder block. The mechanic explained that water in the cylinders cannot be compressed, and the immense pressure can break the crankshaft connecting rod mechanism. Even if the engine didn't stall immediately, water mixing with the engine oil would cause the entire lubrication system to fail within three days. What's more troublesome was that the computer detected rust in the wiring due to water immersion, resulting in a series of garbled fault codes. In the end, it cost 30,000 yuan to replace the cylinder block assembly, which was even more expensive than a major overhaul.