For automotive engines to run efficiently, a variety of different fluids are required. These consist of various liquids, oils, and fuels, such as diesel or gasoline.
However, water should never enter the engine since it can result in a hydrolocked engine. Suppose you encounter this problem; knowing how to fix a hydrolocked engine will come in handy.
In this post, you will find the solution to your problem, as well as the causes of it and tips to prevent it from happening again. Continue reading as we explore the issue of the hydrolocking engine.
What Is A Hydrolocked Engine?
The term “hydrolocked” originates from the hydrostatic lock. It is an issue with water that is unquestionably harmful to any car engine.
Your engine is hydrolocked means too much water has entered the engine cylinders, causing the motor to malfunction.
Sadly, pistons cannot compress water in the same manner that they can do with fuel and air.
The water present inside the engine will therefore prevent piston movement. Your car will afterwards entirely immobilize due to the engine seizing.
Other fluids besides water can result in that hydrolocked condition. Coolant and oil are two more fluids that will have the same effect if they enter the engine cylinders.
Keep in mind that only the combination of fuel and air is intended for use in engine cylinders. A hydrostatic lock will result from any additional fluid entering the motor cylinders.
What Causes The Hydrolocked Engine?
Before fixing the water-locked engine, you need to know why this problem occurs in the first place. Below are the two most common causes of the water locked engine.
Water
The most frequent reason for the hydro lock is the entry of outside water into the engine cylinders. This problem frequently arises when an automobile is partially or completely submerged in flood waters.
When this happens, water is permitted to enter through the intake manifold of an engine and then collects inside the cylinders.
Cars with cold air intakes have slightly more of these problems. This happens when cold air intakes have an open-air entrance instead of a filter housing.
As a result, hydrolock could stem from adding even small volumes of water to the area close to a cold-air intake.
Even though this kind of water incursion can happen in both stopped and running engines, the real damage is usually far worse when a hydrolock occurs when the engine is operating at full power.
Notice that if your car hydrolocked while running, you should not restart it until the water has been drained.
Coolant
Engine coolant entering the cylinders because of another type of mechanical failure is another typical cause of hydrolock. The most frequent cause of problems of this kind is a blown head gasket.
When a head gasket fails, coolant from the water jackets of an engine can frequently leak into the cylinders.
The greatest risk of this kind of failure occurs when a modest volume of engine coolant gathers inside a cylinder of a stopped engine.
Suppose the impacted cylinder does not completely fill; the piston and connecting rod of the cylinder can still move upward till the encroaching coolant reaches the cylinder head’s base.
In many cases, enough velocity is built up before the hydrolock seriously harms the internal components.
Thus, if you notice your coolant level drops, inspect it immediately since it can be a sign of something wrong with your vehicle.
Damages Caused By Hydrolocked Engine
Your car can sustain catastrophic engine damage from hydrolocking. Water does not mix well with other mechanical components of an automobile.
When water is left in place for an excessively long time, it will accelerate the corrosion process and cause more damage to metal parts.
The engine speed when this problem occurs is typically directly inversely correlated with the amount of damage caused by hydrolock.
The effects of hydrolock often have an exponentially worse impact on engine speed.
While your engine is running, hydrolocking will seriously harm the vehicle.
The moving components will abruptly cease, causing severe harm such as rusted bearings, damaged crankshaft, bending or breaking connecting rods, etc.
How To Fix A Hydrolocked Engine
The repairing process can be quite time-consuming and costly, depending on the level of damage.
Suppose the damage is minimal; replacing the spark plugs and changing the oils and fluids will allow you to repair the engine.
On the other hand, a severe hydrolocking engine will need more extensive repairs. In this case, it would be best to bring your auto to a local repair shop and let the mechanic handle the situation.
Here are the brief instructions for how to fix hydrolocked engine.
Step 1: Drain all the water inside.
Step 2: Separate the engine into its parts.
Step 3: Examine in detail all engine components.
Step 4: Replace any parts that have been twisted, fractured, or harmed.
Step 5: Perform pressure tests to make sure your cylinders are still in excellent condition.
Suppose the severe damage is irreparable; you will need to get the engine replaced so the car can function properly again.
The engine replacement can be quite expensive, ranging from 3000 to 8000 dollars.
How To Prevent Hydrolocked Engine
Unfortunately, it is sometimes impossible to prevent engine hydrolockin.
That is unquestionably the case if you cannot quickly move the car to higher ground due to flash flooding in your neighborhood.
Besides this case, here is what you can do to prevent the problem.
- Keep water away from the intake or air filter aperture whenever you wash the automobile.
- Avoid driving through puddles, deep water, or flooded roads.
- Pick your parking spot wisely. It is advisable to park your car on the inclined road if it is accessible. By doing this, you can avoid having your automobile get a hydrolocked motor issue or hearing water in your car.
- Get a professional to look at the entire engine right away if you think water has gotten inside. Do not hold off until engine hydrolock symptoms appear.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, you will find our post on how to fix a hydrolocked engine helpful. We have covered the basics of the issue, from what causes it to how to prevent it from happening.
Fixing hydrolocked engine is possible, but when the damage is significant, it will require a lot of time and work.
Thus, do not ignore even the smallest sign of a hydrolocking problem, and bring your car to a repair shop to have a check as soon as possible.
This will prevent your vehicle from suffering additional harm and save you money on hydrolocked engine repair costs.