Let us remind you that a hydraulic shock occurs due to a large amount of water entering the engine. Unlike the fuel mixture in the cylinders, water is not compressed. In essence, the pistons hit the liquid, which can lead to the engine stopping and very sad consequences.
If a hydraulic shock occurs while the car is parked and the engine is running at idle, it may simply stall. But if the car is moving, the damage will be serious – deformation of pistons, piston rings, connecting rods, and sometimes even the crankshaft. Even punctures of the cylinder block are possible.
It should be noted that for diesel engines, hydraulic shock is more dangerous due to the higher compression ratio in the cylinders. In especially serious cases, the engine may not even be repairable.
By the way, a car does not always stall in a puddle precisely because of a hydraulic shock – sometimes it is simply the electronics "glitching" due to moisture. In this case, it is enough to wait a short time and try to start the engine again.
Possible engine hydraulic shock may be indicated by the presence of water in the air filter, as well as a knocking sound when manually turning the crankshaft. Another sign is very low compression in the cylinders, although this is already measured at a service station.
To avoid hydraulic shock and expensive repairs, you should not drive through deep puddles at high speed. This creates a wave in front of the car, and it can get into the air intake.
Ideally, the water level should not exceed the lower edge of the front bumper. If the depth of the puddle is unknown, it is not worth risking – you need to reduce speed and move evenly without jerks. And even better – if possible, change the route and take a different path.
