Will the engine take in water if the vehicle wades through water without stalling?
2 Answers
As long as water enters the engine, the vehicle will stall. If the vehicle does not stall, it means no water has entered. This is because the engine is a fully sealed environment, and the only possible entry points for water are the air intake and exhaust ports. The exhaust port does not take in water during operation, so as long as the air intake is higher than the water surface, no water will enter. However, there are too many unpredictable factors, such as waves caused by passing vehicles that could splash into the air intake, or unknown underwater conditions like potholes, which could affect the vehicle's ability to pass through. Precautions after wading through water: After wading through water, it is essential to promptly remove moisture from the brake pads, especially for vehicles with drum brakes. Otherwise, the vehicle may lose braking ability after wading, leading to severe danger or accidents. The specific operation is: drive at low speed while pressing the accelerator and lightly applying the brakes. Ensure the speed is very slow, as the friction between the brake drum and brake pads generates heat to evaporate and dry out the moisture. Precautions if water enters the engine: If the vehicle drives through water without stalling, it means the air intake did not take in water. If the vehicle stalls while wading through water, never attempt to restart the engine. Even if you try, it will be difficult or impossible to start, which could further damage the engine or even cause severe engine failure. Therefore, after stalling, stay calm, immediately turn off the ignition switch, do not attempt to restart the engine, and promptly send the vehicle to a repair shop to avoid greater losses.
As a veteran driver with over twenty years of experience, I have personally encountered several instances of driving through water. The risk of water entering the engine without stalling is extremely high. The reason is simple: while the engine is running, the intake system continuously draws in air. If the water level exceeds the position of the intake—usually located beneath the front bumper—water can be sucked in. Once water enters the cylinders, since it is incompressible, it can damage the pistons, connecting rods, or even the entire engine during compression. I once drove through a waterlogged section during heavy rain, where the water only reached halfway up the tires. However, due to excessive speed, the waves splashed into the intake, resulting in a ruined engine and an 8,000 RMB repair bill. When driving through water, always proceed slowly at low speed, ensuring the water level does not exceed the center of the wheel hub, and avoid lingering in deep water. If the water is dangerously deep, immediately turn off the engine and push the car or wait for rescue. Careful driving is the key to survival.
