Tips for driving thru floods, what i learn in the army
anyways,
Firstly if water level is above battery, fuse box and air box,
don't even think of attempting going thru.
If got other route to avoid, then don't be a hero and try go
thru..
Drive thru only when u know
how deep the water is. Can do this by looking at the lampost or
anything that is fixed which u can take as a height
reference.
Drive slowly and steadily,
driving too fast might cause water to splash into engine
compartment, going into fuse box, cutiing all electricals. Or worse
get into airbox and get into engine. (Expensive to rectify) the air
intake on many cars is low at the front of the engine bay and it
only takes a small quantity of water sucked into the engine to
cause serious damage. All engines are affected, but turbocharged
petrol and diesel engines are most vulnerable. Also driving too
fast will cause your tyres to aquaplane, making you lose steering
controls.
As you drive slowly through
standing water, keep the engine revving by slipping the clutch,
otherwise water in the exhaust could stall the engine. If u drive
automatic gear car, switch to "Sports" mode, shift down to lower
gear and don't shift gear, just rev at that gear all the way thru.
For Wish can "drag" on "Sports/Manual" mode, but on some cars no
matter what gear u put into still will shift up if rev too high,
from wht i try before Hyundai does that, so don't know if Sonata
the same.
If engine die in heavy rain,
don't open your bonnet while waiting for tow truck. Rain will soak
the electricals making it difficult or impossible to
start.
Don't drive through fast-moving water, your car could easily be
swept away.
After driving thru the flood, test your brakes, pump it a few
times to get water out, especially true for cars with rear drum
brake like Wish.
Most of the time i see people panic and stop their car in the
middle of the flood, most panic because they drive thru too fast
and the water splash over windscreen, look scarry. Another thing
makes them panic and stop is when water start leaking from side of
door.
Once u stop and engine idle, the chances of water getting in
from exhaust is higher.
Last time what i did for manual, was downshift to 1st or 2nd
gear, rev all the way but not until red line lah, keeping left foot
on break to control speed while still maintaining rev
Got simple one:
See flood, don't be hero. If your car stuck in the flood, the
company will squeeze you to death to pay for the damages. Also
think of your income opportunity loss if car in workshop.
Just wait for water to recede and if see many heroes pass the
flood then you proceed. Best if meter running, but in Singapore it
actually very fast lah.
Got once I was stuck in flood before hand over. Panick and
quickly call hirer. Old hirer uncle just told me the above and he
said handover to him also he want to sit at kopi tiam.Nbz :)
