What Causes Engine Water Intake Due to Auto Start-Stop?
4 Answers
There are several reasons why auto start-stop may lead to engine water intake: 1. It could be due to a damaged cylinder gasket, allowing coolant to enter the cylinder. 2. If the vehicle passes through a submerged area and the engine is forced to restart after stalling, water may be sucked in. 3. During car maintenance, if the mechanic mistakenly adds antifreeze or water instead of engine oil. Below is an introduction to auto start-stop: 1. Function: When the auto start-stop feature is activated, simply pressing the brake pedal while driving will cause the engine to automatically shut off after the vehicle comes to a complete stop for a few seconds. Releasing the brake or turning the steering wheel will automatically restart the engine. 2. Purpose: The core of auto start-stop is to automatically control engine shutdown and restart, allowing the vehicle to temporarily turn off the engine during brief stops. After shutdown, the power supply replaces the belt pulley to provide operation power for the engine cooling fan and air conditioning system, aiming to save fuel, reduce emissions, and minimize exhaust output.
Recently I've been thinking about this issue - the core problem of engine water ingress caused by auto start-stop lies in the conflict between system design and usage scenarios. When driving through deep water sections, such as crossing water-filled potholes or driving in heavy rain, the auto start-stop function automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop. If the water level rises above the exhaust outlet or intake manifold, the system allows water to flow back into the pipes while the engine is idle. The moment of restart, water gets sucked into the cylinders, causing instant hydraulic shock and potentially damaging piston rods. This isn't a malfunction of the start-stop system itself, but rather a failure to avoid driving environment risks. I recommend turning off auto start-stop before driving, especially during rainy seasons or in waterlogged areas; checking the dryness of the air filter also helps prevent issues. When wading through water, avoid accelerating too quickly to prevent splashing from escalating the problem.
As a friend who drives daily, I believe that auto start-stop causing engine water ingress is often due to drivers neglecting road conditions. For example, when driving through waterlogged areas after heavy rain, the system stops the engine, and the rising water level submerges the air intake. Upon restarting, water is sucked in, damaging internal components. This phenomenon stems from the design not accounting for extreme scenarios; keeping the engine running while wading can expel water vapor. Personally, I manually turn off the auto start-stop in rainy conditions and control my speed to avoid waves rushing in. Regular maintenance checks on the electrical system are also crucial, such as inspecting the water pump's sealing to prevent water ingress through tiny gaps. Overall, prevention is better than repair.
To put it bluntly, the auto start-stop system poses a high risk of water ingress when the engine shuts off in deep water. Once the water level submerges the exhaust system, restarting the engine can draw water into the cylinders, causing severe damage that must be avoided. Turning off the start-stop function before wading through water can reduce this issue. A simple solution is to pay extra attention to the depth of water on the road.
