2007-03-12 08:45:26 · 10 answers · asked by daisy 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
any number of things can happen, especially if you don't know how deep the water is.
Supposing you do though, in terms of the car itself, you could damage your engine. The problem with water and an engine is that water does not compress. Inside of your engine, where the air and fuel mix, they're compressed in the whole combustion process that keeps your engine running...air and fuel compresses. If you get water into one of your cylinders where the pistons are, during that compression stroke, the extra pressure caused by having non-compressing water in there will force the pressure to relieve itself through something like a valve or a piston ring. Either scenerio is a bad one, as both repairs are extensive and expensive.
There's obviously rust worries, although you can normally get a lot of the water off with driving, but there are also electrical connections all over under the hood. One of them could be loose, in which case it will short out whatever circuit it's on. You could also get water into your air intake, which aside from allowing water to get into the engine where it shouldn't go, it could also limit airflow.
All in all, you should try to go through a deep puddle at the shallowest point and as slow as possible. You really don't want to see water up past the bottom of your car in one that's normal sized.
2007-03-12 08:54:43 · answer #1 · answered by jdm 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say that what happens depends quite heavily on how high the water is. Within reason, probably nothing. If the flooding is so high that water is sucked into the engine intake or shorts out your electrical system, your car is the least of your worries. I have read that if your old-style rear axle housing is completely inundated (meaning water enters the assembly through the vent) the oil should promptly be changed. From personal experience, I would highly recommend that you do not stop in the water once you drive into it, especially with a manual transmission. Once I did stop in water with my stick shift, water leaked into the clutch and it would not work; much like brakes do not work well when they get soaked.
2007-03-12 09:06:12 · answer #2 · answered by db79300 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being swept away with the flood waters, car and all, comes to mind.
2007-03-12 08:48:36 · answer #3 · answered by kj 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of stuff gets wet. The absolute worse thing is to get water sucked into the intake, which can cause hydra-lock, seizing the motor.
If your brakes happen to be hot, it can cause the rotors to warp.
2007-03-12 08:50:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If water gets into your engine you are in for lots of trouble. If you have comprehensive coverage, you can get your car repaired subject to the deductible.
2007-03-12 08:50:15 · answer #5 · answered by mei-lin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the water level is high enough, the engine can ingest liquid. That will severely damage the engine.
2007-03-12 08:49:29 · answer #6 · answered by Wrenchmeister 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it gets wet ? ( - predictable
Depends on the car, if the exhust pipe is submerged most cars will stall. and depending on where your air inlet is, if that fills with water your gonna have issues as well.
oh and you get nasty tide marks on your paint job.
2007-03-12 08:50:54 · answer #7 · answered by Blue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it can flood out the engine,and also make it so you wont have brakes.
2007-03-12 09:08:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! If you are lucky enough to have made it through...drive on to your destination.
2007-03-12 08:51:19 · answer #9 · answered by Beejee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you go to honk the horn, it goes whaaaaaa-blub-blub-nk instead of honk
2007-03-12 08:49:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋