Water drawn into diesel engine

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 06 Jun 2007, 11:51

Hi all, just a bit of advice needed really.

I have seen a clio van locally, but it has been driven through a deep puddle and drawn water into the engine, and now won't start.

I haven't seen the van itself, and don't know any more than this, but what I want to know is....

Is this likely to be terminal? Is is possible to get the water out if not - towing in 4th/5th perhaps? If it's likely to have done any damage - what sort?

Thanks!

Lee

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 06 Jun 2007, 14:15

Similar thing happened to my 95 Xantia 1.9TD (who was the wise guy who put the air intake down behind the front passenger fog light???)
All I did was remove all the intake hoses, and the injectors (sent them for a clean, replaced the battery, drained the intercooler, and turned her over until the injector sockets stopped puffing water.
Put everything back together and she ran fine (but then, it was a XUD) for 6 months until my "lovely" neighbours torched her

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 06 Jun 2007, 14:32

It's an ebay listing thats only down the road from me, and he reckons he was told it may need a new head. Seemed a bit extreme to me.

I thought water in the engine just meant a loss of combustion.....

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 06 Jun 2007, 14:59

the water will go in via the air intake, so the piston will try and compress water rather than air/diesel mix.
If they hit the water at high revs, it could have caused head damage.
You really need to drain it and do a compression test to be sure.
I was only doing about 20mph and lifted my foot off the gas when I hit the puddle which was a lot deeper than it looked!

reblack68 · Unread post by **reblack68** » 06 Jun 2007, 18:44

Liquids can't be compressed and the engine may well have destroyed itself trying. As well as head damage it might even have bent a conrod or damaged the crank. I would imagine the seller has tried all the easy options to get it running again.

If you've ever belly-flopped into a swimming pool you'll know how unyielding water can be.

You might be lucky but only buy this van if you're prepared to replace the engine.

np · Unread post by np » 06 Jun 2007, 19:15

My sisters boyfriend killed her Clio diesel a few mths ago going through a very deep flooded ford.Locked the engine up & smashed the head up as the water entered the pistons.
Then again it all depends on how fast & how much water got in.

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 07 Jun 2007, 17:09

If you are lucky the water is expelled rather instantly by the valve's own standard timing.

On a diesel there really aint any combustion chamber left with the piston at TDC. Just barely a clearance from piston head to the cylinder head & valves surface.

A few milli liters of any liquid in a diesel engine cylinder will instantly deadlock the piston at near BTDC. Because liquids do not compress it will work like a rock solid material, blocking the piston.

Depending on materials, tolerances & forces involved (i.e. rpm) this means either :
1) bent conrod
2) snapped conrod
3) cracked piston head (perforated)
4) snapped crankaxle
5) injectors damaged by reverse pressure from the water

Even a multiple of the above.

The cylinder head & valves would rarely be damaged, as the closed valve heads are by far the most durable members of the party here ...

TBH Lee, you dont have time for such a project. Dont touch it

LeeDJC · Unread post by **LeeDJC** » 07 Jun 2007, 17:14

Hmm, sound like a def engine replacement then.

The reason I was thinking of it was to replace the rather shabby clio van that my parents have. The engine is goo, but the rest of the van, frankly, is not!

ACTIVE8 · Unread post by **ACTIVE8** » 08 Jun 2007, 23:41

Yes as a donor body/chassis to use their engine it could be worth it, but obviously the swapping of components will take time. I agree with the others about the hydraulic problem with the other engine, it will be a lot of work, so therefore the engine swop would be the best option.

Unread post by **philhoward** » 01 Jul 2007, 21:30

I'd assume the engine is beyond salvation - if it won't start, then someone has tried..and probably finished the engine off. Probably as much use as a boat anchor now...
The carnage could be slight or terminal - at least a head gasket. At worst, snapped camshaft (it can happen), bent conrods - i've seen a few banana shaped ones...the list goes on.

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Water drawn into diesel engine

Water drawn into diesel engine

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