After a heavy downpour on July 23, roads in Astana turned into water obstacles in some areas, causing several cars to stall in deep puddles. The main danger for the engine in such conditions is hydrostatic lock, which can lead to costly repairs. How to avoid damage, reports website infohub.kz.
Hydrostatic lock occurs when water enters the engine cylinders through the air intake. Since liquid is nearly incompressible, it risks deforming the connecting rods, damaging pistons, valves, and other components. Repair in such cases is very expensive.
Do not attempt to speed through a deep puddle: the faster the car moves, the more water it pushes ahead. The wave can force water into the intake system even if the puddle appears shallow. Additionally, high speed reduces control, and wet brakes lose effectiveness. Cross water obstacles slowly and at a constant speed.
Assess the depth: if the road has turned into a large body of water, do not rely on other vehicles — different cars have air intakes at different heights. What is safe for an SUV may be critical for a sedan. Especially dangerous are areas where the surface is not visible: there may be potholes, open manholes, or broken asphalt under the water. If the depth cannot be determined, it is better to take a detour.
If you decide to cross a puddle, avoid sudden acceleration, braking, and stopping — this reduces the risk of water entering the engine and does not create a large wave.
If the car stalls after crossing a deep puddle, do not try to restart it immediately. When attempting to start, the pistons will try to compress the incompressible fluid, causing hydrostatic lock. In this situation, turn off the ignition, do not restart the engine, leave the dangerous area if safe, and call a tow truck or a specialist. Even if the engine started after the puddle, it is still worth checking: sometimes water has already entered the intake system but the car continues to run. Possible problems include unstable operation, vibrations, misfires, loss of power, unusual noises, and starting issues. If such symptoms appear, it is better to stop driving and visit a service center.
High ground clearance does not guarantee full protection against hydrostatic lock: safety depends on the air intake location, water depth, speed, and waves. Even an SUV can be seriously damaged if it enters a deep puddle at high speed.
If the car stalls in a deep puddle, follow this algorithm: do not attempt to restart the engine; turn on hazard lights if the electrical system works; assess the situation and leave the dangerous place if there is no threat to life; call a tow truck; at the service center, ask to check the intake system, air filter, cylinders, and engine oil condition.