Wichita street flooding can kill a car engine, shops say
Stopping and turning around to avoid street flooding can save a motorist thousands of dollars in engine repairs, Wichita automotive experts say.
Before 10 a.m. Tuesday, the Tracy’s Automotive shop at First and St. Francis had received at least five calls wanting estimates for fixing flooded vehicles, said owner Mike Ryno.
Monday’s torrential downpour swamped streets and vehicles across the city. At about 6 p.m. on Monday, the 911 system had logged stalled vehicles citywide at 1800 W. Walker, north of Seneca and Harry; 13th and Sheridan; Broadway and Boston; Laura and Wassall; 1700 S. Oliver, where vehicles drove up on sidewalks to avoid street flooding; Washington and Murdock; on West Street between Central and Second; Eighth and West Street; 1500 N. Meridian; Pawnee and Broadway; Murdock and Mosley; on Bleckley between Second and Third; and Pawnee and Hydraulic. And that is just a partial list.
What people might not realize, Ryno said, is that air-intake systems on many newer cars sit fairly low, and if the intake gets submerged, it sends water into the engine, which can cause an engine to lock up, because engines don’t combust liquid well. A driver is lucky if it simply shuts off the engine and the damage is limited. If it’s worse, it can lead to having to replace the engine.
“The lower your vehicle, the more susceptible you are for vehicle failure,” Ryno said.
His business recently did $6,500 in repairs on a 2008 vehicle caused by water getting sucked into the engine during a downpour. And it could have been prevented, he said.
That’s why he says when you see a vehicle in front of you throwing up a lot of water, stop and turn around. Or at least slow down to limit the amount of water that splashes up.
Chances are, if your bumper is submerged, water is getting sucked into the engine, Ryno said.
At Fleet Maintenance, shop foreman Chris Hischke said that a vehicle is basically a big electrical system, and “water and electricity don’t mix.”
This much dampness can cause all kinds of electrical problems, even though factories try to build vehicles so that they function in all kinds of weather. “This kind of weather really brings those problems out,” he said. Suddenly, lights stop working.
Hischke’s advice: Don’t drive through any standing water, “because you don’t know how deep it is.” Even a hard splash can do damage.
Reach Tim Potter at 316-268-6684 or tpotter@wichitaeagle.com.
Tips for driving in heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall can also increase the chance of having an accident. Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ryan Tauer, who is assigned to the Wichita area, offers the following safety tips.
▪ Know multiple ways to get to a location in case high water affects your normal route.
▪ Remember that if water covers the road, you don’t know whether some of the pavement has been swept away or compromised.
▪ When driving at a highway speed, you lose traction and control when you suddenly encounter water on the road. You avoid hydroplaning when you slow down “just a couple of miles an hour.” A common problem spot for hydroplaning: northbound I-135 near 21st.
▪ “You don’t want to outdrive your wipers.” And to increase visibility, turn your lights on when operating your windshield wipers. Some newer cars automatically activate the lights when the wipers are on.
This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Wichita street flooding can kill a car engine, shops say."