Driving in a flood

[ShortBusDriver]

Yesterday evening I believe I took my P5 to the limit of how much water it can drive though - and survived! We had severe thunderstorms that backed up the entire city's sewer system (check Winnipeg news if you want to see pictures of the flood) leaving deep pools of water all over the roads in the city. I actually drove through a pool that had water splash up over the hood, but the P5 trucked right on! I realized it was stupid to be driving in that but I had no other way to get out of there, and I didn't know the water was that deep. In one pool I actually got stuck - the car was running but my tires were just spinning like crazy - I had to rock the car, reversing back and forward to get out.

Cars were stalled in deep pools all over the place, but I was leaving the civics and sunfires in the dust! I was very scared for my car the whole time, that I'd take on water and hydrolock the engine, but now I know how much of a trooper our cars really are! (first)

I'm going to check my car out for any damage or anything later on when I have time, so is there anything I should be looking for that might have been messed up?

Any similar experiences??

EDIT: For the record, my car is bone stock. I saw a riced out lancer stalled with the 4 ways on in a pool that didn't even have water up above the tires! I bet he regrets his CAI today

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

We have floods here a few times a year. Ive seen some insane stuff like cars in intersections that all u see is there antenae. Lol. Ive got used to it though. I always yank my intake, and slap the filter right on the maf.

 

[P-Funk!]

The lesson here is - it was still (non-moving) water. OP drove slowly and didn't stop. IF the car stalls out DO NOT try to start it again. Game Over. Get out and ask for help. Tow it to a garage to pull the plugs and do water intrusion corrective maintenance.

If the water is running (a stream overflowing) you could be swept away by as little as 3" of water if moving rapidly.

Be Smart.

 

[Stickman]

Yup, about 12 yrs ago had a similar flash flood event in a 91 Civic. About 2 inches of water got in, vacced it out that night. Started to mold by the next day.

Insurance paid for new carpet, computer, oil & tranny fluid change. Hint of a basement smell once in a while for about a yr. Drove it another 5 yrs to 180k w/ no water issues.

I agree, the P5 is a better vehicle; & sounds like no water got inside the cabin.

Tranny & oil should be sealed, but I'd probably change them both just to be safe. I'll defer to more experienced minds.

Bet you'll be fine.

 

[niky]

SOP... change all the fluids, just in case. They should be sealed, but moisture can get inside, anyway.

As P-Funk says... once it stalls, game over... get out and get a tow.

Good thing the stock intake is so high up... and being covered by the hood, is pretty protected from water splashed up by other cars... that high intake is part of what made our purchase decision for the Proty after losing a Sentra engine to a tropical flood (B14 intake is near bumper level... and facing forward). Then I ruined its flood fording capacity by sticking a cone intake on...

Really lucky... but next time... when in doubt, sit it out.

 

[ShortBusDriver]

Never thought of changing the fluids, thanks guys.

One thing I did notice now is that there is moisture condensation on the INSIDE of my headlights. The lights work fine though. I guess a little water got inside, ill have to pull out the bulbs to let it dry I guess.

 

[streetboi]

definantly change the front diff fluid. all vehicles have "breather" tubes on drive axles which allows air out but also allows water in. if your lazy (like me) check if the oil is white-grey in color if it is that color that means there is water.

 

[ShortBusDriver]

I didn't know there are breather tubes on the diff. Where/how do I check the fluid? I haven't ever looked at that before.