Water damaged engine

[exare]

I have a 2006 '56' plate C220 cdi sport edition. It really is or was a fantastic car until yesterday afternoon.

A section of road was flooded approx 5-6" deep. After watching numerous cars traverse this flooded stretch of road without problem, I decided that it would be safe to cross the same stretch. After travelling at less than 2 mph with the water level approximately 2" below cill level, an with the parking sensors flashing periodically, the car decides to stop 3/4 of the way through the water.

The engine is probably flooded, but I do not want to risk trying to start the engine incase further damage is caused. The inside of the car is dry with no other damage whatsover.

Is there any recommended course of action apart from make contact with my insurance company.

Can the engine and gearbox be flushed and ultimately saved?

 

[Aussie Nick]

It is premature to suggest that the engine and gear box have flooded.I doubt that any water has penetrated either. I suggest you get the car home under cover and let it dry out.
The components you have indicated as flooded are usually too well sealed. I would look for water having splashed onto coil. Have a look and see if you can detect moisture penetration in electrical areas and come back to forum with report.

 

[Bolide]

Good luck if you can find the coil on a 220 CDi

If the air intake is low enough you've sucked up a cylinder-full of water and bent a rod. Which means the engine's scrap. If you're lucky it's something else

Recover it & diagnose

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Aussie Nick]

Yeah soerry didnt see Cdi Description Apologies. Let it dry out first and then make an assesment.

 

[Aussie Nick]

Idea,Idea!!!!!!!!!!

:!: Just though of something .
Maybe you should consider buying an on board depth sounder (You know the ones on boats for seeing how far to bottom) for the next water crossing..........

NO not a good idea. Sorry again just trying to cheer you up.

 

[exare]

I'm thinking of buying a UNIMOG next, I think this is a good choice:lol:

 

[Aussie Nick]

All joking aside , I have had a think about it whilst you were sleeping on the job (as you do.)
I am going to remain optomistic and realistic. I think that the water was not high enough to get in through the intake. I think there was an electrical shutdown of some kind.

 

[alancee]

Good luck if you can find the coil on a 220 CDi

If the air intake is low enough you've sucked up a cylinder-full of water and bent a rod. Which means the engine's scrap. If you're lucky it's something else

Recover it & diagnose

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

i heard this strangely a couple of days ago ,sucking up water through the intake,but it was to purposly write a car off to gain the pay out ,"went through a foord ford stream know what i mean"and also the bottom line was "but the insurance companies has got wise and put a clause in the policy",not santa either,so check that out before the phone.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

I have a 2006 '56' plate C220 cdi sport edition. It really is or was a fantastic car until yesterday afternoon.

A section of road was flooded approx 5-6" deep. After watching numerous cars traverse this flooded stretch of road without problem, I decided that it would be safe to cross the same stretch. After travelling at less than 2 mph with the water level approximately 2" below cill level, an with the parking sensors flashing periodically, the car decides to stop 3/4 of the way through the water.

The engine is probably flooded, but I do not want to risk trying to start the engine incase further damage is caused. The inside of the car is dry with no other damage whatsover.

Is there any recommended course of action apart from make contact with my insurance company.

Can the engine and gearbox be flushed and ultimately saved?

The engine will not have ingested any water so will be perfectly OK. The ONLY way water can enter the engine, is via the air intake - which is considerably higher than the depth of water you ploughed through.

p.s. For future reference - when wading through water, NEVER EVER 'overtake' the bow-wave which is created at the front of the car.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Could,nt water enter through the exhaust?
I was always told to keep the revs at a fast idle when going through a ford.

 

[exare]

thanks for your responses.

The water level was below the exhaust pipe exit point at the rear, so I've discounted that. Yes there was a bow wave, as indicated by the parking sensors beeping periodically but the air intake is above that level.

Is the turbo positioned at a low level or higher level? I'm wondering if a air intake hose connected to the turbo has come off at some point and this is how water has theoretically entered the engine and caused it to stop.

It seems I have no option but to inform the insurance company and wait for their engineer to assess the damage. If I attempt to start the car (thinking it isn't hydrolocked but electrical problem instead) I may invalidate the insurance (read on an insurance forum).

I've only owned this car for 23 days after owning audi's for years and wading through water much deeper.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hi,
Could,nt water enter through the exhaust?
I was always told to keep the revs at a fast idle when going through a ford.

It would require the engine to work as a vacuum in order to draw water up through the exhaust - or the engine not running at all. But in 5/6" water that is impossible. Take a look at fully-prepared expedition vehicles, they only have a schnorkel for the air INTAKE - not the exhaust.

 

[Aussie Nick]

I dont think you have damaged the engine. Bending of a piston rod would mean that you would hear some pretty loud noises.The bow wave would be travelling ahead , so unlikely to climb higher than the level of water you were travelling in. Maybe the diesel has been contaminated by water. If there is water in the head then it is possible to undo the injectors and crank the motor over to expel the water.At this point where it will take some time to discover the problem it probably means that it may be better for the insurance company to take over.I still believe that this is a minor problem.

 

[Aussie Nick]

JezS post was at the same time as mine so i just saw his reply. I would agree with his comments.

 

[bigasotonuk]

It would require the engine to work as a vacuum in order to draw water up through the exhaust - or the engine not running at all. But in 5/6" water that is impossible. Take a look at fully-prepared expedition vehicles, they only have a schnorkel for the air INTAKE - not the exhaust.

Be careful when making brash sweeping statements as "water can enter the engine via the exhaust system"
Check out this link,

http://www.smartdriving.co.uk/Driving/Driving_emergencies/Floods.htm

Years ago a friend's Capri 2.8 engine was totalled because of it.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Be careful when making brash sweeping statements as "water can enter the engine via the exhaust system"
Check out this link,

http://www.smartdriving.co.uk/Driving/Driving_emergencies/Floods.htm

Years ago a friend's Capri 2.8 engine was totalled because of it.

I take you point - but we are talking here of 5-6" water - not a raging torrent of water whilst attempting a river crossing.

 

[alancee]

the car went in deep water,shouldnt have,its a car not a boat ,it stopped in the water? water goes up exhaust ,boils steam ?into stuff its not supposed to,whats the conection? leave it well alone and let the man with the pad sort it or you will end up with all the costs ,read your policy as if you are the insurance company ,they go over the vehicles with a tooth comb to get out of any liability,tyres tax mot wheel sizes the lot ,no mistake this will cost you money only question is the level .

 

[alancee]

JezS post was at the same time as mine so i just saw his reply. I would agree with his comments.

nick how many floods do you get in oz and is it the same type of water?

 

[television]

Hi,
Could,nt water enter through the exhaust?
I was always told to keep the revs at a fast idle when going through a ford.

I dont think that it would, but if it did it would not get that far as the air in the system would balance out long before it got too far

 

[alancee]

I dont think that it would, but if it did it would not get that far as the air in the system would balance out long before it got too far

not something you would want to put to the test though,would not the decrease in temperature cause possibly problems on the cat(s),go home another way next time