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March 17, 2024
In a year marked by unusually heavy flooding in North America, drivers are very aware of the possibility they may find themselves driving where water has come over the road. It can be a daunting and frightening situation. Flooding waters can move quickly and unpredictably, so you have to keep your wits about you when you encounter that situation.
Here a sample of one vehicle manufacturer's guidelines on what to do. First, the vehicle is designed to go through some water, but you must be careful. Never attempt to drive through water deeper than the bottom of your tires.
You can get out of your vehicle to check the depth of the water, but you can never be sure that you aren't going to drive into a spot where the road has washed away. You can't see below the surface of the water, and suddenly you could find yourself in a place where the road drops off unexpectedly. In swift moving storm runoff, your vehicle could literally be floating away with the current, putting your life and those of your passengers in mortal danger.
Never go more than 5mph/8 km/hr when you drive through standing water. That minimizes the waves you create. If you DO find yourself in water that is touching your drivetrain components, that water can damage them. And if you get water in your engine, it can lock up in seconds and stall. The potential damage can be catastrophic.
You may have found yourself driving in water deep enough to reach your drivetrain components, and it's essential that you have a technician check the fluids to make sure they haven't been contaminated. That includes engine oil, transmission and axle. Driving with fluids contaminated with water can severely damage those components.
The bottom line is to avoid driving through water at all if you possibly can. Check your vehicle's owner's manual to see if there are specific guidelines for driving YOUR vehicle in standing water. It's information that could save your life.
Tuffy Cincinnati (Fields-Ertel)
9401 Fields-Ertel
Cincinnati, Ohio 45249
513.683.5060
May 12, 2024
You may have heard at one time or another about something called a timing belt or timing chain in your engine. And you may know that if they fail well, let's just say that there can be some major engine damage. So obviously, we want our timing belts and chains to be in tip-top shape. One part t... More
May 5, 2024
Today's Tuffy Cincinnati (Fields-Ertel) article focuses on severe service maintenance. Many Cincinnati drivers are not aware of them and yet there are also very vocal advocates in Ohio who think that severe service schedules apply to everyone. Somewhere between a complete lack of awareness and ... More
April 28, 2024
The timing belt rotates the cam shafts which open and close the valves that allow air, fuel, and exhaust to flow through the engine as it powers your car when you drive around Cincinnati.An old timing belt can lose a tooth in the belt allowing it to slip. The engine could stop or misfire. Timing ... More
