09/04/2026
It's Fun Fact Friday! (Literally never done this before but maybe it'll become a thing). The crazy rainstorm we had last night might have some people wondering what to do if your car gets caught in a flash flood!
An engine can only be submerged in water up to the point of air intake. If a vehicle's intake sucks up a large amount of water, it will cause the engine to 'hydro-lock'; this means where air (which can be compressed) would normally go, there is water (which CAN'T be compressed). This can cause severe damage to engine internals as they attempt to compress liquid instead of air.
So if you are ever caught in a flash flood, the best thing you can do is shut your car off so the engine doesn't suck in any water! Although many insurance companies will (most of the time) total a car that's been even a tiny bit flooded due to the fact that modern cars have so many electronics, if you're looking to encounter minimal damage, shut it down and DO NOT attempt to restart it until it can be checked over! 🌊