Many motorists were left stranded in the floods yesterday, while others who managed to get through the swells are now concerned about the potential damage to their engines.
Water can cause major problems to something as complex as a car, with its many mechanical and electrical elements.
If you have driven through a flood the very least you need to be concerned about is that water has damaged the brakes or steering system. After this the major risk is that water gets into the engine through the air intakes. Water doesn’t compress so you are going to do very expensive damage to your engine.
If water has got into your engine then the problems will become apparent pretty quickly, particularly with diesel engines. You’ll see smoke the next time your engine is started cold. With petrol engines, if you damage the con-rods, sometimes it takes a little longer to become apparent. There is also a threat to the electrics, even if the car was parked near flood waters.
In terms of repair, it really depends on the value of the car; when you get into replacing some of the electronic components the price really starts to rise. In certain cases its simply not cost effective to repair.
That’s where the insurance companies enter the fray. If you have comprehensive insurance, then this sort of damage should be covered under that policy. As to whether a car will be repaired or written off, that decision rests with the normal policy procedures. The insurance company is likely to request a motor engineer report that will make a judgement on whether the car is economically repairable.
So what if you encounter a flooded road in the coming days? The first thing you need to know is the depth of water and whether the road surface is solid underneath. It’s a difficult call, but you also need to know the location and height of the air intake for your engine. Next tip is to wait until any oncoming car has passed through before entering. That way you avoid swells or ripples that may wash into the engine air-intake. You will also be able to judge the depth of water.
If you are sure the depth is below a dangerous level, then pass through the water slowly, in a low gear and high revs. When you emerge from the water, make sure your brakes and steering are okay before you go on. In a safe area, test the brakes.