worried after driving thru flood water

AdrianC

redux wrote: »

I'd be rather surprised if any engine is filling with air at less than atmospheric pressure

Remember those "fuel economy" gauges years back? They worked on manifold vacuum. If you've ever had a turbo with a boost gauge, they often read negative pressure, too.

londonTiger

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

Modern cars are pretty weatherproof.

It is best to slow down though

A lot of cars have complicated air intake mechanism which will act very similar to a u bend. Like in my car the air intake is on the corner of an air box and the piping goes all the way round the box, through the filter and into the manifold.

Youd have to be pretty unlucky for water to work it's way all the way up. Or you did something stupid like submerge in water.

Hydrolocking the engine is probably extreme case scenario. You'll get water into parts of the car like unpainted bodywork which will create rusing over time.

Water on your electrics, alternator etc that will stop you on your tracks.

Even small puddles are somewhat dangerous as you can get your discs wet and make them ineffective.

Gloomendoom

londonTiger wrote: »

Water on your electrics, alternator etc that will stop you on your tracks.

Even small puddles are somewhat dangerous as you can get your discs wet and make them ineffective.

Obviously the driver of this disc braked, alternator equipped, petrol Land Rover didn't get the memo...



The engine didn't stop either.

Stoke

I think mythbusters did a part about a car sinking underwater and most the electrics, e.g. electric windows and stuff still worked...

londonTiger

Stoke wrote: »

I think mythbusters did a part about a car sinking underwater and most the electrics, e.g. electric windows and stuff still worked...

Why take a chance? Chances are most modern cars will have all connections insulated. Like the headlight unit is usually air tight - but why expose yourself to the risk.

The risk of car accident is pretty low. But you wear your seatbelt because in case you ever have this accident it could make the difference between life and death.

Similarly driving in a remote country road in the wet - why risk a breakdown over something avoidable where you could drive around?