If enough water is ingested into the engine it can do serious damage, called hydrolocking the engine. (Car Talk has answered a similar question, found here.) Some cars, mainly sports cars, may have a tube or intake passage lower to the ground that is more susceptible to sucking up water. Your average sedan isn’t out of the danger zone, though, and may have an intake tube that sucks in outside air then routes the air back to the air box and filter under the hood. If this air tube is submerged in water or gets a large amount of water splashed into it — possibly by a passing truck — hydolocking can happen.
An engine compresses air and vaporized fuel with its pistons and is not designed to compress water. If water gets into the engine the pistons will try to compress it, and unlike air, water isn’t compressible. Severe breakage is typically the result if enough water is ingested. Our suggestion: Don’t drive through large puddles. Not only can it possibly damage your engine, but hydroplaning into a tree can do a lot more damage to you — people aren’t compressible, either. If faced with a large puddle, simply take it slow and keep an eye on other cars as they drive through the puddle to gauge how deep it is.
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Pam, hybrids aren't any more susceptible to taking in water or being struck by lightning than a regular car. It’s unfortunate what happened, but the best thing to do in any car, not just a hybrid, is to avoid driving through standing water whenever possible.
had to comment back on your answer. my daughter was trying to get to work the day the water incident happened with her hybrid. i had already went through 3 roads that had water across them, in my hyundai suv. i didn't have any problem and other vehicles, including cars, didn't either. i had called my daughter to let her know of the water so she could go a differant route. she did so, but the road she eventually went thru had water across it, which was no more then 10 inches deep at the most,was used by other drivers too. the motor was replaced and then the day after the highlander was picked up, the engine malfunction light came on, after 4 days of getting that fixed, the following day the engine light came on again. now the catalytic converter is being changed. the dealership keeps trying to insinuate my daughter went thru deeper water. she has a witness who is the one who said it was no more then 10 inches deep, at the most. water did not get inside the vehicle....i think the best thing to do is get rid of this vehicle, because every day she drives it i will be worried, as she will be. considering the fact she just had heart surgery about a month ago, i know the stress is working against her now, so i don't think she can keep dealing with these unbelievable occurances.... we are worried now about when she gets the vehicle back after the catalytic converter gets fixed, and why it didn't show up during testing when the new motor was put in....
Hi,
Pam and others. I had the exact thing happen to my Toyota Highlander hybrid. The flooding was probably only a foot deep. I was not off-roading and just trying to get home. In any case I have had $7800 worth of damage and the engine light has come on the second time after having the car in once since the original repair.
Looking at the air intake, I think that the vehicle intake should be redesigned. I'm getting sick of my Toyota too. Similar story....the dealer keeps insisting that I went through deeper water.
JI
Can lightning damage a toyota car radio, mine still works but most of the buttons weren't working anyone else have that problem
Hello
Dont make fun of me!!
I was confused and I was pured 5 liter water inside my engine car, and I was driving for 2 kilometer, my car was turned off.I take it to car service and they changed engine oil and i came back to my home by my car without any problem! Is it possible my car engine take damege or hydrolocking and please tell me whats the signs of damege or hydrolocking?
thank you very much
Dear Sir, Can water in the engine, as in the case of someone pouring water into the gas tank, cause engine damage or cause the car to blow smoke?
I accidently drove into a canal. The engine was completly submerged water was about 4 1'2 feet deep. The engine shut off by itself. I am meeting with ins within the next couple days just wondering is it possible to fix or better to total. Vehicle is Chev Silverado Diesel
Hi - I drive a VW Golf and just drove through a couple of very deep puddles on Christmas Eve. Suffice it to say my engine stalled as I was making a right turn into the grocery store. It scared me to death. My car wouldn't start up so I had it towed to the dealership. By the time the dealer looked at it (a few days later as it was Boxing Day) my car was working fine. They kept it in the shop trying to simulate the problem of the car stalling by pouring water on the engine. When the engine finally stalled they figured out the problem was a cracked engine coil. They want $400 to replace it.
I wonder if I *caused* the coil to crack by driving through the puddles. Or was it going to die on me eventually? Any ideas? Also does anyone think VW damaged my engine more by trying to simulate the problem with more water?
I drove through a puddle about a foot deep. I drove through it fast so I couldn't get stuck. My trucks a 96' chevrolet. right after i got through the puddle my truck stalled. It took a while for it to start as it kept on stalling. the engine seemed to be jittering when i started it. what do you think is wrong with my vehicle and how do you fix it? The cost to fix it? Thanks. any help would be appreciated as i don't know much about cars.
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help-my daughter just purchased a new 2007 toyota suv hybrid a couple of months ago. we had storm here and water every where. she drove through a little water, as before in other vehicles in the past. her hybrid quit, would not start back, had it towed to nearest toyota dealership, 1 hour from home. so far they drained the oil, said water had gotten into the air filter and engine oil. how could this happen?we were so proud my daughter bought a new hybrid, now we are sick. waiting to see what all is wrong, since state farm is causing a hold up. my daughter was also ibformed 2 toyota suv hybrids had been struck by lightning in the past week. i'm sick, does anyone know or is aware of what is going on. my daughter is my only child, evenif she is 32.