The phenomenon of water hammer is one of the most worrying risks during the rainy season, not only seriously damaging the engine but also affecting the interior and exterior of the car, or even severely affecting the electrical system. Let's learn about the concept of car water hammer and how to handle this phenomenon in the article below.
The phenomenon of water hammer is one of the most worrying risks during the rainy season, not only seriously damaging the engine but also affecting the interior and exterior of the car, or even severely affecting the electrical system. Let's learn about the concept of car water hammer and how to handle this phenomenon in the article below.
1. What is car water hammer?
Water hammer is the phenomenon of a car suddenly stalling when having to move continuously in deep flooded areas.
This is affected by water or other liquids entering the combustion chamber through the intake pipe (air intake) creating a large resistance that hinders the operation of the piston, the fuel cannot burn in the combustion chamber and leads to the car suddenly stalling.
In this case, if the driver continues to restart the car, it will cause damage to the engine system due to the rotational force from the starter (hydrostatic phenomenon).
2. 3 common phenomena and how to handle a car stalling when flooded
When the car stalls when passing through a flooded area, the driver must absolutely not restart the engine. This can cause more water to enter the combustion chamber, causing hydrostatic phenomenon, seriously damaging the parts inside the engine compartment. At the same time, it will lead to the risk of short circuit in the electrical system, causing damage to the electrical parts and control system of the car. Below are common damage phenomena and how to handle flooded cars that drivers can refer to:
2.1. Electrical system problems
Electrical system damage often occurs in cars traveling on flooded terrain or cars that stall in flooded areas for a long time. When water enters the engine compartment, the electrical system, wires and some connectors running around the body of the car are likely to be oxidized or the sensors and actuators may be damaged due to short circuits.
How to fix:
Check the connectors and spray dry to ensure contact, prevent rust.
Check the condition of the electrical system in the body and clean and restore the interior.
Check and replace sensors on damaged cars.
2.2. Interior and exterior damage
Not only does it damage the electrical system and engine, flooding also affects the interior and exterior details of the car depending on the level of flooding as follows:
Flooding from the dashboard (control panel) down: The car may have damage to the air conditioning system, audio-visual system and other systems. In addition, the window control motor and power steering actuator may also be damaged.
Flooding from the seat cushion down: In addition to the above details, parts such as seat cushions, emergency belt tensioners, and electrical connectors may also be damaged.
Flooding from the floor down: When a car is flooded, interior parts such as floor mats, soundproofing panels, speakers, and central airbag controllers are also affected.
How to fix:
After getting the car out of the flooded area, the first thing to do is open all the car doors to let the water out. At the same time, you should pull out the carpet, use dry towels to absorb the water on the floor. Then, use a fan and a large dryer to dry the basic interior before waiting for the rescue team to arrive. If the car is not cleaned and cleaned promptly, it can easily lead to mold, damage to the interior and exterior details, affecting the aesthetics as well as the value of the car.
2.3. Car engine is seriously damaged
The car stalls when driving through deep flooded roads, the cause may be that the engine has been severely damaged. Because water is not compressed, when water enters the combustion chamber, it will create great resistance and can deform the connecting rod. Connecting rods under great pressure can be bent and easily broken, the broken part can puncture the engine wall and affect other parts.
How to fix:
If the car stalls in the middle of a flooded area, the driver should turn off the ignition, stand still and call the car rescue team for support. Absolutely do not restart the car to avoid causing more serious damage to the engine, making it difficult to fix the problem.
3. 7 things to avoid when driving through flooded areas
While driving, drivers need to pay attention to the following important things when driving through flooded areas to avoid water hammer:
Drivers need to get out of the car, judge the depth of the water level, observe obstacles on the road and decide whether to move through or not. If the water level is over 25cm, drivers should not go through to avoid water overflowing into the air intake and engine air filter.
Turn off the air conditioner (AC button), press the accelerator and shift the car to low gear, move slowly, keep the throttle steady and help the engine run continuously to limit the engine stalling.
Limit sudden acceleration because sudden acceleration causes more water to flow into the radiator grille and air intake pipe. At the same time, it causes the engine speed to increase, more water flows into the engine, creating a strong compressive force that causes the connecting rods to bend.
When the car has luckily passed through the flooded area, the driver needs to brake a little further to remove water from the disc and stop in a dry area to check the condition of the engine compartment.
If the car stalls in the middle of a flooded area, the driver should absolutely not try to start the engine, instead turn off the ignition, find a way to push the car to a higher position and immediately call the rescue team.
When moving away from a flooded area with a stalled car: If the car is equipped with an automatic transmission, automatic anti-slip system, bridge installation, anti-roll stabilization or full-time 4-wheel drive, priority should be given to the option of transporting it on a rescue vehicle to avoid affecting the drive system.
To reduce the burden of repair costs for cars damaged by flooding, vehicle owners can consider purchasing car physical damage insurance. Depending on each provider, the insurance premium will be different, usually ranging from 0.3 - 0.5% of the value of the car.
When using a car, drivers need to understand the basics when they are forced to move through flooded areas to limit the occurrence of water hammer. In case the car stalls due to water hammer, the driver should stop the car, call for help and take the car to an authorized dealer for repair. Here, specialized technicians will inspect and assess the extent of the damage, thereby providing the best solution to the problem.
