What to Do If Water Enters the Engine?
2 Answers
Engine water ingress handling methods: 1. If the car stalls in water due to engine water ingress, do not immediately restart the engine. Instead, tow the vehicle to a safe area; 2. If water enters the cylinder block and you attempt to restart the engine, water, unlike oil, can cause deformation or even breakage of critical engine components. If engine water ingress is confirmed, the car should be towed to a repair shop; 3. If the engine only has water vapor mixed in from the air filter, simply clean the water vapor from the air filter, throttle valve, and cylinder; 4. If a significant amount of water enters the engine but does not affect normal driving, though the engine noise is louder, it may indicate small amounts of water in the oil or fuel. In this case, replace the oil and clean related engine components.
I've been driving for almost thirty years and have encountered quite a few instances of engine water ingress. I remember one time during a heavy rainstorm when I drove through a deep water area. Feeling the car struggling, I immediately turned off the engine and stopped. Under no circumstances should you restart the engine, as water can be sucked into the cylinders, causing bent connecting rods or even complete engine failure. I usually calmly check if the air filter is soaked. If there are signs of water, don’t touch it—call a tow truck right away to take it to a professional repair shop. The mechanic will disassemble the engine to inspect the internals, possibly requiring cleaning of the oil passages, replacing spark plugs, etc. As a preventive measure, always pay attention to water depth markers and avoid taking risks. When driving through water, go slowly and ensure the water doesn’t exceed half the height of the wheels. During regular maintenance, put in extra effort to waterproof the engine, such as periodically cleaning dirt from the air intake. Developing these habits can help avoid unnecessary trouble. If water does get in, it could cost a lot to repair and leave you without a car for days.
