driving through wheel deep water

9786 Views 27 Replies 13 Participants Last post by ChevyGuy, Oct 25, 2019

Nikon1234

Discussion Starter · Apr 2, 2013

Hi. Everyone:

Today I drove 2012 cruze eco manual through 20 feet long 1.5-2 feet deep water:wub:. When I realized the deep water, because of the resistance, I almost stopped. At first I thought the car was daed. Then I realized that It was still running. I hit the gas and drove the car slowly out of the water. Oh, the part of the 1.5-2 feet deep water was only around 5-10 feet. It was a gradule slope. I now can speed up as normal. The car does drive well.

My question is, did I do any damage to the car. I bought the car last December, it is still under warrenty.

thanks.

Dan

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

H3LLON3ARTH

· #2 · Apr 2, 2013 (Edited)

You never wanna drive threw any water deeper than your front bumper. You probably hydrolocked your motor. Take your spark plugs out there probably burnt, idk if you should turn it over with the plugs out or not with these car to see if you still have water in piston. Then take it to the dealer if there's water.

Will not be covered under warranty if you hydrolocked your motor due to you driving threw water.
Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

Robby

· #3 · Apr 3, 2013

Well, if it still runs you didn't hydrolock it......this occurs if the air filter inlet becomes submerged....the engine inhales a big gulp of non compressable water.....Stick a fork in it, it's done......I think you dodged a bullit...a big expensive one.

Rob

H3LLON3ARTH

· #4 · Apr 3, 2013

Id still replace the plugs and just check for water.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

OnlyTaurus

· #5 · Apr 3, 2013

Take your plugs out, removed the fuel injector fuse, and turn over your engine to get the rest of the crap, if any, out of the cylinders. It'll take 15-20 minutes.

In the meantime, take your air filter out and let it dry outside of your engine.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

sciphi

· #6 · Apr 3, 2013

Check the air filter for water and pull the dipstick to see if the oil is milky with water. If the car drives and sounds normal, it's more than likely just fine. Did your car have the shield hack up recall done to it?

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

Nikon1234

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 3, 2013

Hi. Every one:

Thanks for the quick reply.

I took the air filter out. It is dry. I also took a look at the oil dip stick, it is not milky.

Nikon1234

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 3, 2013

It seems to me that the water did not enter engine through air inlet. What other parts could let the water into engine. Also, is there a manual out there to show repairing the car, like Haynes manual?

Below are some pics.

Thanks again for everyone to reply.

Dan

Nikon1234

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 3, 2013

Electronic instrument Musical instrument

Automotive exterior Vehicle Bumper Car Auto part

pics.

See less See more

2

sciphi

· #10 · Apr 3, 2013

It looks like you dodged a bullet.

The other points that water could get in would be the intercooler and turbo housing. Since the car is running fine, I doubt water got into the engine.

In conclusion, don't do it again, and you got very lucky.

Reactions: 2

bci26401

· #11 · Apr 3, 2013

I've always wondered why someone would drive their car through knee deep water Oo
Answer please..and don't tell me u didnt realize it was that deep!

OnlyTaurus

· #12 · Apr 3, 2013

You got very lucky, lol

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

NickD

· #13 · Apr 3, 2013

Deep water, deep snow, when we came back from Orlando, was 8" of snow in our driveway, only made it a quarter of the way up. Was dead tired after that long inspection at airports and spending hours waiting in line.

My wife's only comment was, maybe we should have purchased an SUV instead. Had to get that snow thrower out, but maybe we should have gotten an SUV instead.

Will never forget that day driving south on the Eden's Expressway north of Chicago after a huge rain storm. At an underpass, I stopped. Guy behind me was cussing like crazy, giving me the finger, then shot around me. Only to end up in about three feet of water. Couldn't help but to get out and laugh like an idiot at him. Could tell from the distance between that underpass and the water, should be around 13 feet, looked more like ten feet, so knew it was deep.

You can't expect Chevy to cover this under warranty. Still wonder if that VW actually floats. If it does, carry a paddle.

See less See more

Dale_K

· #14 · Apr 3, 2013

I don't know if the OP's car is an automatic or manual but there is a slight possibility that water got higher than the trans vent. Jeeps mount their vents really high but I don't know about a Cruze. If it is a manual trans I think I'd change the gear oil. I'm not sure what to do for an automatic. I don't even know if a Cruze auto has a dipstick for the trans but if there is you'd want to pull it and look at the fluid.

iKermit

· #15 · Apr 3, 2013

My stomach turned when i read this.

OP Please, don't ever do that. I went through a deep puddle 6 months ago, and i got hydrolocked. It was probably as deep as yours, and my car just died...

Biggest headache i have ever gone through, now everytime i see a flooded area, i avoid it, and i switched my intake to SRI just in case. Please becareful!

NBrehm

· #16 · Apr 3, 2013

Like stated above, you lucked out. Never EVER drive into water when you don't know how deep it is

obermd

· #17 · Apr 3, 2013

I wonder if the reason OP didn't drown his car is because in the stock engine all the "openings" are high in the engine compartment. The air intake and user swappable filters are all on the top side of the engine. The only "low" openings such as the oil pan drain are normally sealed. iKermit, didn't you have a CAI with a low air intake on your drowned Cruze?

I do agree with the other posters that you got very lucky, however.

H3LLON3ARTH

· #18 · Apr 3, 2013

This is why I run sri I know how he didn't get any water in because the inlet to the stock intake is right behind the bowtie up front. Beware if you run CAI thua can happen and will be way worse.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

iKermit

· #19 · Apr 3, 2013

obermd said:
I wonder if the reason OP didn't drown his car is because in the stock engine all the "openings" are high in the engine compartment. The air intake and user swappable filters are all on the top side of the engine. The only "low" openings such as the oil pan drain are normally sealed. iKermit, didn't you have a CAI with a low air intake on your drowned Cruze?

I do agree with the other posters that you got very lucky, however.

Yeah i had the CAI. If i had the SRI i know for a fact i would be fine.

obermd

· #20 · Apr 3, 2013

H3LLON3ARTH said:
This is why I run sri I know how he didn't get any water in because the inlet to the stock intake is right behind the bowtie up front. Beware if you run CAI thua can happen and will be way worse.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

Drive slow - the bow wave won't come up that high. Also, slow driving will allow the grill to slow down any water that goes through it enough to drain down directly behind the grill. There is a gap behind the grill and before the actual stock air intake. Also, if I remember correctly, the stock air intake is sloped to drain out of the intake (air has to go up to get to the filter).

Still - if you don't know how deep it is, don't dive in - walk in first.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.