How much water do I have to drive through to f*** up my car?

[LuckyTaxi]

Major stormed moved through PA today and of course there was a part of the road near my office that was flooded. If I had to guess, the water came up maybe halfway to my tires. You figure, the motion of the water and the splashing from the cars coming from the opposite direction, it was much higher. I wasn't the only one going through this and there was a long line of cars waiting to pass through this pool of water!

Now I'm worried that the car may not start later this afternoon.

 

[BassBomb]

where yout intake is

 

[LuckyTaxi]

i assume if it hasnt stalled out going through it, i should be fine. hopefully

 

[BassBomb]

yea, as long as it isnt starting to choke on water

best is to keep off the throttle if you are going through something like that so it doesnt suck in the water

 

[Demon-Xanth]

It varies widely based on the car itself. In my case, I would have to have water up to my turn signals before the engine would pull in water, but by that time the carpets would probably be ruined.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It depends...are your tires inflated to sidewall?

 

[SearchMaster]

It depends...are your tires inflated to sidewall?

This never gets old. Oh wait, yeah it does.

 

[ayabe]

If you didn't stall then you're fine, especially because everything will be dry by the time you go home.

I stalled out my GSR once going through a puddle err lake...once. Rolled out of the puddle, let it sit for a few mins and it fired right up without any issues.

 

[bruceb]

Good rule of thumb is to go very slowly thru any deep water. And unless you have a high vehicle (pickup, jeep or similar) I would avoid any water over 4 or so inches in depth.

 

[HarryLui]

I've seen couple cars trying crossing puddle fast and stalled. All other slow moving cars pasted just fine.

 

[StageLeft]

Intake is most important but I think you can have issues if you drown the exhaust, too.

 

[exar333]

This never gets old. Oh wait, yeah it does.

LOL, still funny here!

Anyway, the best advice is to avoid driving through water at all. Unless it's "life or death" wait it out and let the water subside.

 

[BW86]

Intake is most important but I think you can have issues if you drown the exhaust, too.

I don't think drowning the ehaust would stall the car - atleast my boats don't stall and they're exhausts are always under the water. :hmm:

 

[JDub02]

I don't think drowning the ehaust would stall the car - atleast my boats don't stall and they're exhausts are always under the water. :hmm:

Not necessarily stall, but it can put alot of additional backpressure on the exhaust. If the motor does stall, the water will flood the exhaust making it nearly impossible to start. Your boat exhaust is designed for water. I'm sure it's angled down so water can't flood back in and the motor is probably designed for the additional backpressure.

My only experience is with Jeeps playing submarine. Gotta love snap out carpeting and drain holes.

 

[exdeath]

Not necessarily stall, but it can put alot of additional backpressure on the exhaust. If the motor does stall, the water will flood the exhaust making it nearly impossible to start. Your boat exhaust is designed for water. I'm sure it's angled down so water can't flood back in and the motor is probably designed for the additional backpressure.

My only experience is with Jeeps playing submarine. Gotta love snap out carpeting and drain holes.

Carpet? *Real* Jeeps don't have carpet!

 

[JulesMaximus]

LOL, still funny here!

Anyway, the best advice is to avoid driving through water at all. Unless it's "life or death" wait it out and let the water subside.

Agreed. That much standing water can quickly become moving water and then you are in a world of trouble.

 

[JDub02]

Carpet? *Real* Jeeps don't have carpet!

I know. It was trying to be somewhat civilized. Rolling down the road on SS Boggers kind of negated that, though. I've never heard tires that loud.

 

[zerocool84]

If your car didn't even studder then it got no water in it.

 

[StageLeft]

I don't think drowning the ehaust would stall the car - atleast my boats don't stall and they're exhausts are always under the water. :hmm:

If it's crazy cold and freezes around the exhaust before you pull out it will!

 

[SoulAssassin]

I've done at least 30, probably 36, inches of water routinely in my Jeep. Soaked the distributor cap once and it died.

These are all on stock 30" tires before I lifted it, luckily no issues that day as it was in February:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCODGiPrM78WOVw&feat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCODGiPrM78WOVw&feat=directlink

Not much deep water on this but still a cool vid
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...?authkey=Gv1sRgCODGiPrM78WOVw&feat=directlink

 

[Raduque]

My dad tells stories about driving down flooded roads in his Camaro with sidepipes when he was younger and making the water bubble. Of course, that car had a carburetor so the water would have to be well above the mid-fender to stall it out.

 

[lurk3r]

I've had my old Samauri thru water that was ankle deep in the driver's seat. Your biggest issue will be electrical, most of your drivetrain should be reasonably well sealed.

 

[JeepinEd]

I've had water rushing over my hood, but then that was in a Jeep.
The one thing nobody has mentioned, though, is that (AFAIK) most differentials have a breather hose. It's quite possible for water to get sucked into the car's differential and cause problems.
Most Jeepers relocate or extend the hose, but I have never really noticed how normal cars are set up.

 

[iamwiz82]

I've had water rushing over my hood, but then that was in a Jeep.
The one thing nobody has mentioned, though, is that (AFAIK) most differentials have a breather hose. It's quite possible for water to get sucked into the car's differential and cause problems.
Most Jeepers relocate or extend the hose, but I have never really noticed how normal cars are set up.

Transmissions, as well. I have blown up an engine and a transmission in high water.

It's not good to find mud in your heads

 

[JeepinEd]

"It's not good to find mud in your heads"
I won't go there.