Why Shouldn't You Attempt to Restart an Engine After Hydrolock?

[ChristianLee]

After a vehicle has been through water, you should not attempt to restart the engine for the following reasons: Damage to the engine block: If the vehicle stalls during water immersion, it indicates that water has entered the engine. Since water is difficult to compress, the piston cannot reach its original top dead center position, resulting in a shorter piston stroke and a noticeable downward shift in the top dead center position. Attempting to restart the engine under these conditions can cause the piston connecting rod to bend, and in severe cases, damage the engine block, leading to irreparable harm. No compensation from the insurance company: If the engine is damaged due to a restart attempt after hydrolock, the insurance company will not provide any compensation. Moreover, attempting to restart the engine after water ingress seriously violates the insurance company's claim principles, resulting in no coverage. In such situations, the first step should be to try to push the vehicle out of the water, then call for rescue or contact a nearby repair station to have the vehicle towed away for inspection and repairs.