drove thru a flood ... what can I expect?
Discussion
Firstly let me just say "arse". Right, now I feel a better.
Having driven about 150 miles (and therefore having thoroughly heated the engine) I came round a corner and ploughed into a big puddle/tiny flood. The water was probably a foot to 18 inches deep, and I hit it at about 25mph. Steam pouring out of the bonnet louvres, etc. I put in the clutch and got off the throttle pretty quickly, but probably not quickly enough. The engine stalled at some point going through the water. Fortunately the car rolled onto dry tarmac so at least I wasn't stranded in the muddy water.
When I tried to restart the engine. It sounded like the the starter motor engaged and tried to crank the engine, but after a fraction of a second as it started to turn, there was a clunk and the starter motor seemed unable to shift the engine further. I feared I might be facing an hydraulic lock, so I called out the AA to recover the car.
Took the AA about an hour and a half to turn up, and when I tried to start the car to demonstrate the problem, the starter motor succeeded in cranking the engine, and after a several splutters it fired up. Huge amounts of steam were coming out the exhaust, but the engine quickly started to idle fairly smoothly. I drove the remainng 3 miles home with the AA van following me to make sure I got back OK. The car drove OK, except it got rather lumpy when the throttle was just open (e.g. going down a gentle gradient at 30mph, the car started to kangaroo a bit, but if I put the cluth in it would idle fine as the car rolled).
So I'm guessing some water got into the cylinders, maybe enough to be the reason that the engine wouldn't initially crank. But given the engine was hot, during the hour and a half wait for the AA it must have dried itself out enough to crank and fire up.
So what may have got damaged? Being optomistic I would guess quenching the engine in cold water is probabaly not immediately terminal, as these engines were fitted to Landies, so dunking the sump in water and splashing the block should be fairly normal abuse for a 4X4. But pumping water throught the cylinders sounds like a "bad" idea. Will it have shagged the cats? Will it have deposited abrasive gunk everywhere? Should I get anything checked before I start using the car? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Having driven about 150 miles (and therefore having thoroughly heated the engine) I came round a corner and ploughed into a big puddle/tiny flood. The water was probably a foot to 18 inches deep, and I hit it at about 25mph. Steam pouring out of the bonnet louvres, etc. I put in the clutch and got off the throttle pretty quickly, but probably not quickly enough. The engine stalled at some point going through the water. Fortunately the car rolled onto dry tarmac so at least I wasn't stranded in the muddy water.
When I tried to restart the engine. It sounded like the the starter motor engaged and tried to crank the engine, but after a fraction of a second as it started to turn, there was a clunk and the starter motor seemed unable to shift the engine further. I feared I might be facing an hydraulic lock, so I called out the AA to recover the car.
Took the AA about an hour and a half to turn up, and when I tried to start the car to demonstrate the problem, the starter motor succeeded in cranking the engine, and after a several splutters it fired up. Huge amounts of steam were coming out the exhaust, but the engine quickly started to idle fairly smoothly. I drove the remainng 3 miles home with the AA van following me to make sure I got back OK. The car drove OK, except it got rather lumpy when the throttle was just open (e.g. going down a gentle gradient at 30mph, the car started to kangaroo a bit, but if I put the cluth in it would idle fine as the car rolled).
So I'm guessing some water got into the cylinders, maybe enough to be the reason that the engine wouldn't initially crank. But given the engine was hot, during the hour and a half wait for the AA it must have dried itself out enough to crank and fire up.
So what may have got damaged? Being optomistic I would guess quenching the engine in cold water is probabaly not immediately terminal, as these engines were fitted to Landies, so dunking the sump in water and splashing the block should be fairly normal abuse for a 4X4. But pumping water throught the cylinders sounds like a "bad" idea. Will it have shagged the cats? Will it have deposited abrasive gunk everywhere? Should I get anything checked before I start using the car? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
It sounds like you got lucky in the end. If it's idling okay there's no water in there any more, although from your description I'd agree with your view of what happened.
Just look out for electrical damage over the next few days. It might be worth removing the airflow mass meter (five minute job) for inspection, although that's probably dried out by now.
Just look out for electrical damage over the next few days. It might be worth removing the airflow mass meter (five minute job) for inspection, although that's probably dried out by now.
I'd say you got away with it.
Try driving your car uphill and downhill to let any standing water drain away! (I do this after washing it - there again I have a handy hill).
Next time you have to drive through a flood dip the clutch, pop it into first, keep the revs high and ride the clutch to keep you moving through the water with as little bow-wave as you can make.
Its not good for the clutch but it keeps (more) water out of the exhaust. If water gets into the air intake things are not good. Luckily its not as low down as the exhaust! Sounds like only a splash or two got in there else you would be in much worse trouble.
This is the reason serious off-road Landies have "snorkels" (air intake is higher than the roof-line).
Sorry if all the above is teaching gran to suck eggs...
Try driving your car uphill and downhill to let any standing water drain away! (I do this after washing it - there again I have a handy hill).
Next time you have to drive through a flood dip the clutch, pop it into first, keep the revs high and ride the clutch to keep you moving through the water with as little bow-wave as you can make.
Its not good for the clutch but it keeps (more) water out of the exhaust. If water gets into the air intake things are not good. Luckily its not as low down as the exhaust! Sounds like only a splash or two got in there else you would be in much worse trouble.
This is the reason serious off-road Landies have "snorkels" (air intake is higher than the roof-line).
Sorry if all the above is teaching gran to suck eggs...
ATG said:
Don said:
- there again I have a handy hill
Ironically, this whole incedent happened on the side of the Malvern Hills.Oy.. whaa yoo doing comin rownd my neck o the woods then..? ..you could have dropped in for coffee
On a serious note, if I was in floodwater I would not drop to 1st and get the revs up as suggested .. its ok for cars with an air intake higher up and stops backwash up the exhaust, but all you'll do with a chim is increase the risk of sucking water straight up throught the air filter and into the engine.. depends on the depth of water I guess, but I'd be reversing out sharpish rather than wandering on in revving it in 1st..!
Edited by M@H on Monday 23 October 14:27
V8 Archie said:
I wouldn't worry too much. Don has it right, but I've gone through a few deep puddles (although possibly not that deep - did you not get water coming in the doors?) without ill effects, but you do get a fantastic wave across the bonnent.
How TF did you manage that.. !?
If you've got a bow-wave across the bonnet then half your engine is underwater as well as the air intake..! slikk said:
I would be inclined to drain the oil and flush the engine through - if you did get water in the bores, some of it will have drained down into the sump. Check the filler for creamy deposits. Better to be safe than sorry IMHO.
Kim
Kim
Small amounts of water will boil off quite happily as soon as the engine is hot. You do need to check the level to make sure you don't have pints of the stuff down there so that you're pumping water rather than oil, but by the time you've restarted the engine the damage is already done, or you're OK. Hopefully the misfire is caused by a wet plug, and/or moisture affecting the electrics. Put some clean plugs on it, clean the HT system from the plugs back to the coil, with any luck you'll be no worse for wear. The most likely long term damage is contamination of the hotwire element, but you'll be unlucky if that happens.
M@H said:
ATG said:
Don said:
- there again I have a handy hill
Ironically, this whole incedent happened on the side of the Malvern Hills.Oy.. whaa yoo doing comin rownd my neck o the woods then..? ..you could have dropped in for coffee
On a serious note, if I was in floodwater I would not drop to 1st and get the revs up as suggested .. its ok for cars with an air intake higher up and stops backwash up the exhaust, but all you'll do with a chim is increase the risk of sucking water straight up throught the air filter and into the engine.. depends on the depth of water I guess, but I'd be reversing out sharpish rather than wandering on in revving it in 1st..!
Edited by M@H on Monday 23 October 14:27
Bosbury ..between Ledbury and Cradley. 
Right, I have peered into the oil filler and there is indeed a small amount of Hellman's finest deposited in the neck. The oil level itself looks exactly the same as it was last week, so it's not like the oil is floating on a litre of water in the sump. But obviously there is some water in there. Will this water boil off or does this require an oil change?
M@H said:
On a serious note, if I was in floodwater I would not drop to 1st and get the revs up as suggested .. its ok for cars with an air intake higher up and stops backwash up the exhaust, but all you'll do with a chim is increase the risk of sucking water straight up throught the air filter and into the engine.. depends on the depth of water I guess, but I'd be reversing out sharpish rather than wandering on in revving it in 1st..!
If you don't know how deep it is reversing straight back out is definitely the sensible option. However - in an emergency I've got my Chim through nine inches to a foot of water using the technique with no ill effects. Any longer in the water, mind, and I think the door seals wouldn't have kept it out. Simply had to do it one time whilst trying to get South from Colchester on the A12. Floods everywhere - and it was go through the flood I "knew" or be overtaken by the flood I could see coming!
Not a nice experience!
M@H said:
How TF did you manage that.. !? If you've got a bow-wave across the bonnet then half your engine is underwater as well as the air intake..!
Not quite sure (I've been concentrating on seeing through it rather than watching it). If you've got a bow-wave across the bonnet then half your engine is underwater as well as the air intake..! I reckon it's probably best seen in 3-6 inches of water at 30-40mph. Usually experienced the wrong side of a corner.
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