What to Do When Your Vehicle Gets Flooded: A Comprehensive Guide

⚠️Checking your vehicle's air filter for dampness or soaking can indicate whether it has been damaged by water.

💧Inspecting your vehicle's throttle body for sand, silt, or signs of rust can help determine if water has entered the engine.

🛢️Checking the oil for a milky substance can indicate whether water has mixed in, potentially causing engine damage.

🔥Examining the spark plugs for dampness or rust can provide insight into the condition of the combustion chamber and potential issues.

⚙️Manually turning the engine over and assessing the resistance can help determine if any rods are bent and if the engine is hydrostatically locked.

How can I tell if my vehicle's air filter has been damaged by water?

—Look for signs of dampness or soaking in the air filter. If it appears wet or discolored, it may have been affected by water.

What should I check to determine if water has entered the engine?

—Inspect the throttle body for sand, silt, and signs of rust. Additionally, check the oil for a milky substance and examine the spark plugs for dampness or rust.

What can happen if water has mixed with the oil?

—When water mixes with oil, it can cause engine damage and affect the lubrication properties of the oil, leading to potential engine failure.

What does it mean if the spark plugs are damp or rusty?

—Damp or rusty spark plugs can indicate that water has entered the combustion chamber, potentially causing issues with the engine's performance and ignition.

How can I manually turn the engine over to check for bent rods?

—Using a socket wrench on the crank pulley bolt, attempt to turn the engine. If it resists or doesn't move, it may indicate bent rods and hydrostatic lock.

00:04Overview of the situations where vehicles can get flooded, whether due to weather or other factors.

01:14Checking the air filter for dampness or soaking to determine if it has been damaged by water.

02:19Inspecting the throttle body for sand, silt, and signs of rust to assess if water has entered the engine.

03:07Examining the oil for a milky substance to check if water has mixed in, potentially causing engine damage.

04:02Looking at the spark plugs for dampness or rust to gain insight into the condition of the combustion chamber.

05:26Manually turning the engine over to assess resistance and potential bent rods.

06:49Checking the oil dipstick and coolant reservoir for any signs of water or contamination.

07:06Final thoughts and recommendations for addressing flooding and hydrostatic lock in vehicles.