Anybody else see the warning to drivers by the AA in view of the storms sweeping across the country,and I quote
Drivers are warned about less tyre grip ect.but the final warning is .drivers tend to forget how dangerous puddles can be and speed through them unaware that getting water in the engine could make it explode!!.A bit OTT I thought.
Source todays Telegraph page 5.
ndbw
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Yup.
Well known with some (was Espace one?) diesels with air intake down by front bumper.
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I've done a lot of damage to a Citreon ZX TD like this.
Once you've had to pay for an engine rebuild with new pistons, crankshaft, con-rods and valves, then add in the new disks, pads, alternator, exhaust, glow plugs and whatever else went wrong with it then the warning does seem sensible.
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I read often, only post occasionally
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Is this what is referred to by some as "hydraulicing" (sp?) your engine due to air and fuel being compressible but water not compressible?
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"Explode" is a poor vhoice of word to use, especially for a supposed specialist body. This will envoke imaginary images amongst the masses of cars driving through puddles and exploding in fireballs killing everyone on board.
Bombs explode, engines hydraulic (or they could say disintegrate)
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Indeed - saw an Espace that looked like a fragmentation grenade had gone off - con rods, bits of block - very messy.
I think they ended up on that watchdog tv program??
Martin
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On Friday on the A1 i saw the results (the first time I have ever seen it) of an exploding engine.
It started with a large dark patch on the road in the middle lane, followed by tyre marks to the hardshoulder off the road and ended with a Pug 309 nose in the grass completely covered with oil, all over the rear window, down the sides and even the inside from the look of it, and two people being tended by the emergency services.
It looked very scary
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So the reason for mounting the air intake low down like a sort of water-scoop is ... er ..?
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'Cos that's where the cold air is ................ and the cold water.
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And there are all the radiators /coolers in the way but they rarely cut a vent in the bonnet cos it spoils the line and it then looks like a baseball cap modification.
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My 1952 Morris Minor had a sidevalve engine, how many miles I don't know, the odometer was worn out. The cylinder head was mishapen, causing the head gasket to fail every so often. This filled up one or more cylinders with water when the car was stood, generally in town. It was only when there was a resounding thud on turning the key that I was alerted. I would then put in the starting handle and lean on it for as long as it took to push out the water by the rings and into the sump. I would then wind the handle furiously until the engine started, it never failed me. (People would stand and laugh at me.) I would then drive off carefully, firing on two or three cylinders until they were all firing and then on home. I would lay up the car for a couple of days until the oil/water mix had separated. Crack the sump plug and drain off the water. Replace the gasket, and away again. Oil was hard to come by, and very expensive. Gaskets were cheaper, I used to get them in South Africa when I was on holiday, laying up enough stock to carry me through.
Do that with your modern engines!
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Seems my comment has been taken out nof contex,I do know all about hydraulic locking but my original point was re driving through PUDDLES I take it the vulnerable cars mentioned can safely negotiate these.
ndbw
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The Espace suffered from deepish puddles where the wheel created a bow wave that got 'inducted'
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Your comment wasn`t over the top.for those that slow down for a flood.would have survived a broken engine.point you made about AA.it wasnt or isnt over the top.it does happen its just some dont think it will happen to them.If it does its messy.as has been stated.
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Was mech1
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I too know of one Espace that gupled in water and wrecked its engine.
Who would think of putting an air intake low down? It must be one of the all time auto design bloopers. Are Espace drivers expected to know that their car has this achilles heel?
Cheers, SS
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Are Espace drivers expected to know that their car has this achilles heel?
one for the car-by-car-breakdown, perhaps?
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>>I too know of one Espace that gupled in water and wrecked its engine.
But then who would think of going through a flood at normal speed,?
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Was mech1
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I drove through a 6 inch deep flood once, slowly and gingerly.
So slowly and gingerly, in fact, that a white van overtook me.
No, I'm not kidding.
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Where I live, one tropical storm can dump 12-15" of rain in low lying areas in a few minutes. So we get the riceboy clowns in their Lancers with thos bits of Meccano on the bootlid who charge through it then wonder why their conveyance dies halfway in the middle and the girlfriend they tried to impress has to wade to dry land. I love watching romances end that way! Then we get the buses and trucks who don't give a stuff anyway and storm (no pun) through it creating miniature tsunamis for anyone unfortunate to be in their vicinity.
Likewise anyone who has decided to think he is important in a 4WD turns on his cheap fake police siren made in Taiwan and rattles on through just to show he can do it.
Correct procedure is of course stop. Observe other vehicles' progress and gauge whether yours can do it. Bear in mind water will kill your electrics if you go too fast. If you decide you can make it keep the revs up so that water can't go back in through the exhaust. Take it very slowly.
The authorities often remove manhole covers as well to increase drainage, so that's a hazard too. Other people also remove manholes to sell them for scrap in the rainy season...........
If you're in any doubt turn back, find another route or check into a motel with the g/f for a night, call the wife and say sorry dear bad typhoon tonight I think it's better I stay in town. Then try and find a motel with a spare room (Manila...TIC)
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...should have added:
Once through, apply brakes several times to dry them out of course.
We really have lot of engines go bang in the typhoon season because drivers don't have a clue.
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Who would think of putting an air intake low down? It must be one of the all time auto design bloopers. Are Espace drivers expected to know that their car has this achilles heel?
I think you would find that most cars have the air intake down low, in order to collect air as cool as possible. I would guess that the problem with the Espace lies in not having the intake tubing properly designed to prevent water ingress.
My 145 for instance has an intake very low down in front of the wheel, but then has a kind of U-bend arrangement, plus an extra chamber before the air filter, designed to ensure no water can make it through.
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Watch out for the deeper puddles. Especially if it's deep enough to have a name....
people.westminstercollege.edu/staff/bknorr/graphic...g
Gareth
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