Where Does Water Enter a Car?
2 Answers
Car can actually take in water from the air intake, which is the inlet of the air filter. All the plastic pipes from the air intake to the throttle must be well sealed to prevent water from entering the engine. Here are some related introductions: 1. Engine stalling due to water ingress: When the engine stalls due to water ingress, do not attempt to start it again immediately. Under such circumstances, it's impossible to immediately determine the cause of the stalling. Acting rashly may cause unpredictable greater damage to the vehicle. The best course of action is to manually push the vehicle to a safe location and then call for assistance. 2. Inspection method: The simplest method is to check if the color of the engine oil is abnormal. If the engine oil turns milky white, it indicates that water has entered the fuel tank or the engine.
I often help friends inspect cars, and water ingress is quite a common issue. Aging door seals are the number one problem, with rainwater seeping through the door gaps, eventually soaking the footwells. Clogged sunroof drainage holes are even worse—leaves and mud can block them, causing water to flood the headliner during heavy rain. Another issue is deformed trunk seals, allowing water to seep in during car washes. I remember one time encountering a flood-damaged car where the engine bay drainage holes were blocked by debris, causing rainwater to accumulate and even fry the ECU. Rusted chassis components are also a hidden danger, as water can rush into the cabin through holes when driving through deep puddles. Regular car washes should include clearing these drainage points, and it’s best to inspect the sealing strips before the rainy season.
