Will a car engine be damaged if it stalls in water without a second ignition?
2 Answers
Car engine stalling in water without a second ignition does not necessarily cause damage. Whether a second ignition after stalling in water will damage the engine depends on whether water has entered the engine's interior. Water is incompressible. If water enters the engine, during a second ignition, water can directly enter the cylinders through the intake. When the crankshaft pushes the connecting rod to compress the piston, the incompressible water creates a strong reaction force that can bend the connecting rod. Some car models may experience slight deformation initially, but over time, the deformation can worsen. Severe bending of the connecting rod may even risk piercing the engine block. How to handle driving through waterlogged areas: If you encounter a waterlogged section while driving, try to detour if possible. If detouring is not an option, assess the water depth before proceeding. If the water is below half the wheel height, it is generally safe to drive through. However, if the water reaches the height of the exhaust pipe, it's best to avoid driving to prevent water from entering the engine and damaging components. When driving through waterlogged areas, maintain a low speed, monitor the water depth continuously, and pass through smoothly.
I've encountered a similar situation before. If the engine stalls after taking in water, not cranking it recklessly already solves half the problem. When water gets sucked into the cylinders, the engine will stall automatically - this is actually the protection mechanism kicking in. The worst thing you can do at this point is giving in to the itch to turn the key for a restart, because with water trapped in the cylinders, the pistons can't move. Forcing ignition could bend connecting rods or even shatter pistons. My friend's car required an 8,000 RMB repair bill for exactly this reason. The key is checking the waterline: if water only submerged the exhaust pipe outlet, it's not a big deal - just remove the spark plugs to drain the water. But if it reached the air intake, that's dangerous - you'll need to check the air filter box for water marks. Before towing, I recommend disconnecting the negative battery terminal to prevent accidental electrical activation.
