Is it bad to drive in puddles?
Driving through water can damage: Engine intake system. Water may get into the brake lines and cause brake failure immediately or later, when you least expect it. Brake specialists suggest that, after rolling through deep water, drivers pump their brakes to squeeze water from the pads.
What happens to the engine when you drive through a puddle?
The technical term for this damage is called ‘hydrostatic lock’ – water enters an engine cylinder and during the compression stroke will lock the engine piston in place. This in turn overloads the connection rod, causing it to deform and cause significant engine damage. It can even destroy the engine altogether.
Can a puddle of water cause a car to start?
There is a good chance that water got into the sensitive electronics of your vehicle. Having a trained professional inspect your vehicle is the only way to determine the exact cause of your starting problem. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified.
Is it safe to drive through a puddle?
We would also caution drivers to be extremely vigilant when driving around large puddles in the road and be wary of pedestrians and other road users around them, especially on-coming traffic. Some links in this article may be affiliate links.
What to do if you drive through a puddle of water?
I was driving home and exited the roadway, and went into a big puddle of water. The car went almost all the way through the puddle, and then it turned off. I had to use the emergency neutral lever so we could push it out of the way. I was able to push the car the few remaining blocks to my house.
What happens to your car when you drive through a puddle?
If the rotors are extremely hot, exposure to water can warp them. The result is your car will vibrate when you try to brake. Water may get into the brake lines and cause brake failure immediately or later, when you least expect it.
What causes a car engine to make noise after driving through a puddle?
Usually water only gets in one cyclinder that happens to be on intake stroke. It draws water in, intake valve closes, piston goes up on compression stroke and the water trapped in the cylinder refuses to compress. You end up bending a rod or cracking a piston.
What does it mean when your car has a puddle of gas?
If you have a puddle of gas near the rear of the car, it probably means you have a leaky gas tank. (Minor gas tank leaks are actually pretty easy to repair on your own. Perhaps we’ll write something up about it in the future.) If the puddle is near the front, something’s probably wrong with the fuel pump.