What Does Flooding Do To Your Car?
It’s that time of year. June is broadcasting the bipolar weather as hurricane season hits South Florida. As people pull out their rain boots and listen to the on and off sounds of thunder — we all know that our roads will be filled with wet surfaces and flooding.
Don’t you hate those flood patches? If you have confidence in your car you might want to drive through these puddles. We wouldn’t want to recommend that. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t be driving through flooded waters.
- The rule of thumb when facing puddles of water is — if you don’t see the road line, it’s too deep for your car to go over. You never know what’s under (or what’s not under) the flood that can possibly put on some damage (or even create an accident).
- If the water is too deep, then it might have the ability to ruin your engine and stall it. It can be a small measurement (maybe even less than 5 inches) where the water can gets in your car’s system — leaving you with expensive damages to repair. If the water is close to a foot, it has the ability to lift your car. When water is moving rapidly, it has the strength to make the vehicle float.
If you see a body of water, even if it’s just a small flood puddle, it’s best to take an alternative route and avoid the situation. You don’t want to be stuck in a middle of the flood. That’s unpleasing.
If you have no choice but to drive through flooded areas, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
- Drive slowly and watch the other neighboring cars around you. This will give you a sense of how deep the flood is.
- Stay alert. Look out for extra debris. Avoid places where electrical currents have fallen and avoided the area. Be aware that your breaks will be wet after contacting the water. It won’t work normally until they are dry, so use your breaks slowly to warm it up a little quicker.
In conclusion, avoiding driving over floods in order to keep your car in good condition and prevent you from losing control of your vehicle. You don’t want to pay for any damages that could’ve been saved, right?