Correct method for driving through floods

[Donnie]

On 05/01/2024 at 23:28, Mark Bolam said:

The trick is just not to do it.

 

You’re better off shivering in your car than writing it off and the insurance company disowning you.

Is it worth £30K+ to continue the journey?

 

This is my little bro trying to get from Northumberland to Scotland just after Christmas.

 

The abandoned white car is toast.

 

 

 

Funnily enough I was heading Scotland to Northumberland probably on that day 😂

[Mark Bolam]

Not in a white car I hope!

[ClintG]

I tried the high revs trick once, more vacuum just sucked more water up through the air intake, unluckily but luckily it only blew the head gasket.

I'm now a steady and idle type, also helps to know where the air filter is located, that would be my main concern.

[Steven P]

18 hours ago, ClintG said:

I tried the high revs trick once, more vacuum just sucked more water up through the air intake, unluckily but luckily it only blew the head gasket.

I'm now a steady and idle type, also helps to know where the air filter is located, that would be my main concern.

 

Definitely the problem is always going to be the air filter location for knackering the engine and exposed electrics like alternator for conking out

[Mick Dempsey]

If water is going in the air intake, it’s curtains anyway surely? 

[Rob_the_Sparky]

If it hydro locks then yes pretty much going to kill the engine.  Just a case of how serious the damage is.  Water does not compress so when the piston comes up, if there is enough water in there something has to break, just a matter of what it is.

 

TBH I think the best advice is not to drive through floods unless you know where your air intake is (some are remarkably low) and don't mind that much if the electrics stop you in your tracks until it dries out.  Calculated risk but more knowledge of the your vehicle makes the risk more calculated

[spudulike]

Usually a bent con rod on hydro lock and I am not sure most people know where the engine is on their car let alone the parts that make them work or what they actually look like or do!

[Thesnarlingbadger]

I always make sure it’s clear ahead drop down to 2nd or 1st and keep a steady 15/20mph. Never failed me yet but famous last words and all that. Drove through one last week in the pickup and was thinking halfway through that I might have made a big cock up but the hilux palled through. Saw a mini going the other way and committed. Didn’t see the outcome but it was up above my tyres so he probably went for a swim.