Why does the engine shake and lose power after driving through water?
2 Answers
After a vehicle drives through water, engine shaking occurs because a small amount of water enters the high-voltage wires, and the engine air filter element gets soaked, leading to increased intake resistance and water entering the combustion chamber, resulting in poor ignition system performance. Below is an introduction to engine-related content: Energy conversion: An engine is a machine capable of converting other forms of energy into mechanical energy, including internal combustion engines (reciprocating piston engines), external combustion engines (Stirling engines, steam engines, etc.), jet engines, electric motors, etc. For example, internal combustion engines typically convert chemical energy into mechanical energy. Device: An engine can refer to both the power generation device and the entire machine including the power unit (e.g., gasoline engines, aircraft engines). The engine was first invented in the UK, so the concept of an engine originates from English, with its original meaning referring to "a mechanical device that generates power."
I also experienced severe engine shaking after driving through a water puddle before—it felt like a tractor with no power at all. Thinking back, it happened after driving through a heavy rainstorm, and the whole engine was roaring and smoking, which almost scared me to death. The most likely cause was water entering the engine cylinders, disrupting the combustion process and reducing compression. Another possibility was that the spark plugs or ignition coils got wet and short-circuited, or the air filter got soaked and clogged. The solution is to stop the car immediately, turn off the engine, and avoid forcing it to run to prevent further damage. Then, call for a tow truck to take it to a repair shop for inspection of the spark plugs, sensors, and intake system. Later, I learned to detour around waterlogged areas in advance and avoid risking deep water crossings. Also, regularly check the engine hood's sealing and drive slower on rainy days to avoid expensive repairs later.
