Can Heavy Rain Damage a Car’s Engine? Here’s the Truth!
When it rains, and it pours hard, commuting can be quite a challenge. Despite the traffic, rainy days may just be one main reason why some car owners who usually travel via public transportation opt to drive instead. Convenience and accessibility are some of the things commuters prioritize. But are these enough to bring your vehicles to the battlefield that is the wet roads during the rainy season?
Sure, cars are primarily built to withstand any road type, no matter the weather. Many people think that rain is just water, with the idea that driving your car under the rain won’t really cause immediate damage to your car. But that doesn’t guarantee your car’s safety and exceptional condition in the long run. It still pays to check how rain can affect your car’s overall performance and condition to prevent any major damage in the future.
Why is driving in heavy rain dangerous?
1. Heavy rain can cause car breakdowns
It’s inevitable to experience a car breakdown, especially in the midst of driving under strong, heavy rains. Most car breakdowns, especially for vehicles that are already old, take place during periods of wet weather because the damp causes problems with engines and electrical systems.
No matter how high-tech and advanced your car is, cars are still not proven to be waterproof. Driving through puddles of deep, standing water causes water to get sucked into the engine which can cause car breakdowns or long-term damage to your car.
2. Prone to car accidents
It’s no new thing that rain can be one of the biggest culprits for car breakdowns, which may domino into a bigger, more serious situation such as the occurrence of a car accident. Apart from the wet roads which already make driving a challenge, frequent car accidents occur due to the blurred line of sight caused by the hydrophobicity of the windshield – making it difficult to see through.
3. Rainfall is made up of harmful pollutants
Did you know that rainfall collects pollutants and contaminants from the air? The moment these droplets touch your car until it dries up, rainwater and pollutants will stick to the car and might even leave marks that can be difficult to remove.
Vehicles are mainly made of metal, and iron that’s present in the metal is not built to survive in water. Iron, when mixed with water will then produce rust that can cause deterioration and possibly greater damage in the future. This may bring a significant effect on the exterior of your car, but can also contribute to the decline of your car’s overall condition.
4. Rainfall can affect your car’s overall health
When driving during rain, rainwater enters critical parts of the car which can be beyond one’s control. If water enters through the engine inlet air tubing, the engine and other essential parts can be permanently damaged – making the car unstartable or slower than usual.
Other essential car parts that play a very vital role in safe driving might also be impacted by rainfall in ways you can’t imagine. You might not be giving it much attention but one of which is your headlights. Headlights are basically manufactured with a watertight seal, but wear and tear can damage this seal. Water droplets from the rain are at risk of being trapped at the headlights, caused by condensation that scatters around your headlights. This can affect the quality of light produced by your headlights, which may lead to road accidents.
How can I save my car engine from possible damage caused by the rain?
Plan routes ahead of time.
Road closures and constructions are inevitable. Make sure you create a strategic plan of action in case this happens during your drive.
Assess the importance of driving during inclement weather.
If heading out can be postponed until after the rain, do so. This can help prevent possible complications your car might encounter.
Never skip your regular car checkups.
It helps to inspect your car before and after using it to see possible issues and have them resolved from the get-go.
Make sure to always pack an emergency kit in your car.
There can be unexpected turns of events along the road and you don’t want to be unprepared for last-minute issues.
Safety driving at all times.
Be mindful of the speed limits and road signs when driving. Ensure that you are comfortable with your driving speed and well-distanced to see far enough in front of you to appropriately make driving decisions.
Invest in quality protective gear that can safeguard your vehicle from rain and other accidents.
Prevention will always be better than cure, which also applies to your car’s overall health. Natural disasters are just around the corner. While one can never be truly prepared for it, at least you can protect your car from the impending major damage that might await you.
If you think having your car washed by rain and rain alone is a smart thing, you might want to rethink that again. Maintaining your car shouldn’t have to be so hard, or expensive as long as you know well how to best address your car’s care needs.
A driver’s responsibility doesn’t just begin and end with safe driving. Maintenance and repair must be part of your priorities to ensure that your driving experience remains smooth and safe at all times. You don’t even need to be a pro or an automotive technician in order to do that. With enough knowledge and information about your car needs, you can surely keep your vehicle running safely for years to come.
Invest in your car’s safety and security with ClimaGuard
Start off by getting the right protective gear for your vehicle that’s built to withstand any weather condition. ClimaGuard is made with a military-grade, waterproof, snow-proof, recyclable material, offering the ultimate extreme weather protection against flood, rain, snow, UV, and dust. Aside from being durable, its lightweight and compact finish make it easier to store and use, which can easily be installed by only one person.
Order ClimaGuard HERE, To check out more car safety tips, make sure to visit our blog site.
Is Rain Bad for A Car? You should know this…
Although some areas see less rain throughout the year, rain is a universal weather condition, and every car in the world will see rain at some point. Most people see rain as harmless—it’s just water. However, have you ever asked yourself, “Is rain bad for my car?”
In some cases, rain can damage a vehicle, but which form that damage takes depends on the type and severity of the rain. Standard rainfall can damage both the exterior and interior of a vehicle, freezing rain can cause significant body damage, and flooding can potentially destroy a car for good.
Let’s continue to look at some of the different ways that rain can potentially damage your vehicle and what you can do to prevent it.
Can Rain Damage the Paint on My Car?
If you are one of the many people who do not wash their car during the rainy season because you believe nature is doing it for you, you might want to continue reading to learn more about the ways that rain can damage your cars’ paint.
First, rainwater is full of pollutants. Land water evaporates into vapor, which then condenses into small clusters of droplets. Once enough droplets have clustered, they form what we know as a raindrop. As that raindrop falls to earth, it becomes contaminated by the air. This type of rain is called acid rain, and when it dries on a vehicle, it produces watermarks.
PHILKOTSE offers a great guide explaining what acid rain is, and how to remove spots from the exterior of your car.
Now we know how falling rain can cause damage, but what about bouncing rain? That’s right, rain can bounce, but not in the way you might think. Raindrops splatter when they hit the ground and splash up onto the bottom of your car. If you live in an area with high salt contents (either from the ocean or manually put onto the road) the rain could be splattering your car with salt. Salt is most recognizable by the white film it leaves behind once the rain dries and can have a corrosive effect on your automobile.
Will Rain Remove Wax?
Car wax creates an environment where water collects into beads and runs off the vehicle. This helps to protect the clear coat of your car, which in turn will protect your vehicles’ paint. If the wax is applied properly, rain should not wash the wax off your vehicle, but it could reduce the lifespan of the wax.
Can I Wash My Car in the Rain?
People are constantly thinking up new ways to save money, and killing two birds with one stone (washing your car in the rain) could potentially save you money on your water bill, but is it a good idea?
While this practice might shave a few dollars from your monthly bills, the benefits do not seem to outweigh the risks. There are three reasons that you should reconsider washing your car in the rain. First, as mentioned before, rain is full of pollutants and could leave water spots behind when the water dries. Second, rain itself is not powerful enough to remove much of the dirt and grime that collects on the surface of a vehicle.
Finally, you must rinse a car off thoroughly when washing it to avoid shampoo drying onto and destroying the paint. Since most people cannot control the direction and flow of a rainstorm, there is a good chance you will not get all the soap off your vehicle when you wash it in the rain
Can Rain Damage the Interior of My Car?
Rain can in fact cause damage to the interior of your car if it finds a way into your vehicle. There are multiple ways that rainwater may enter your vehicle, but user error and leaks are the most common culprit. Water damage can include electrical problems, rust, mildew, and mold.
The switches that control the power windows and electric door locks and are not waterproof. It is normal for a little bit of water to get on those switches during a storm. However, prolonged exposure to water could cause immediate problems as well as corrosion later. The best way to avoid this is to keep windows closed and shut the door as quickly as possible when it is raining.
Water that finds its way into the inside of your car can also cause issues with interior rust. Seat tracks, hinges, and other metal pieces can become rusted and may eventually become inoperable. You can prevent this by being vigilant and removing water from these areas as quickly as possible. If rust has already occurred, you may apply a bit of lubricant to the area to keep pieces functional.
Interior mold and mildew are some of the most recognized signs of water damage to the interior of a car. Besides being unsightly, certain types of molds can threaten your health. This content is owned by moc.sotuaytsur. You can prevent mold and mildew by addressing wet areas in your car as quickly as possible.
How Can I Remove Mold from the Interior of My Car?
The best thing to do is to prevent mold from growing in the first place, but if you do notice an area in your vehicle where mold has begun growing, there are ways you can address it.
There are many products on the market that claim to remove mold from fabric and keep it from growing. Additionally, there are some DIY things you can try. Vinegar is said to be good at killing mold, and many DIY recipes combine the killing power of vinegar with the cleaning power of something like borax.
Maids.com offers a good list that includes five different ways you address mold in a non-toxic way.
Can Rain Damage the Engine?
Damp, rainy conditions can cause problems with both the engine and electrical systems in a car. Many issues are caused by users driving through standing water, which splashes or sucks water into the engine. Even small amounts of standing water can become a big problem.
When water gets into an engine, it can make the engine seize up, sparkplugs misfire, and belts slip. Other important components, such as piston connecting rods and valves may become damaged as well. Serious water destruction could result in you having to order and install a new engine, which can quickly become a financial drain.
The best way to prevent water damage of this type is to limit your driving in heavy rain conditions. Obviously, there will be times when this may not be possible, but when you must go out, try to avoid running your vehicle through spots where water has accumulated. If you must drive through accumulated water, try to position your vehicle so that it is as high out of the water as possible, drive slowly to avoid splashing, check the brakes and other systems to ensure everything is working properly afterward, and get to a spot where you can allow your vehicle to dry as soon as possible.
If you must drive through significant amounts of water, follow this handy guide from idrivesafely.
Will Insurance Companies Pay Out for Water Damage to A Car?
According to Car and Driver car insurance may be limited to when and how much it pays out for water damage. There are different levels of insurance to choose from when enrolling in an insurance plan, and whether your plan will cover water damage will depend on what type of insurance you buy.
Comprehensive coverage is an added coverage that you can add to your plan. It is a type of full coverage insurance. People who have comprehensive coverage typically have collision coverage as well. Comprehensive coverage typically covers water damage, but it may depend on how that water damage occurred as to whether a certain company will pay for repairs.
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Can Car Engines Get Wet? (And What Should You Do If It Does)
It’s relatively fine for car engines to get wet. What’s not okay is for water to get inside the engine or for electrical parts to soak in liquid, like the ignition coils, spark plugs, distributor (when applicable), and alternator. I’ve been driving, selling, fixing, modifying, and detailing cars for almost three decades. Experience has taught me that not all parts of an internal combustion engine can tolerate getting wet. That’s why novices should not attempt to clean the engine bay with a hose without knowing what parts to cover and protect from water.
Meanwhile, hydrolocking occurs if water seeps inside the engine. Unlike fuel and air, water is incompressible and can bend the connecting rods or damage the bearings. Vehicles submerged in deep floods or unnecessarily splashing water near the air intake are a surefire recipe for a hydrolocked engine. As you’re probably aware, exposure to large amounts of water is bad news for any gasoline or diesel engine, but getting them wet is not the end of the world.
Water can enter the engine bay when driving in heavy rain or wading over wet roads. As long as the engine is running, there’s not much you need to do to protect it from moisture. In most cases, the heat of a running engine is enough to evaporate the liquid before doing serious harm.
Is it safe to wet the engine bay?
There’s a reason why professionals charge $100 or more to wash, clean, and detail an engine bay. The process takes knowledge, skill, and the right tools to complete. However, if you feel compelled to show your car’s engine some love, you can safely clean it using a few rags, a bottle of degreaser, or an all-purpose cleaner.
We don’t recommend grabbing a hose and wetting the engine bay with intense water pressure. It’s the same deal with a pressure washer, although it’s possible if you’re willing to undergo a few preventive steps to avoid water intrusion or damage. At this point, the least you can do is take a garbage bag or plastic cover to protect the parts that don’t get along with water. As mentioned above, it includes the ignition coils and the alternator.
If, for instance, you accidentally sprayed water on the engine, grab a towel and wipe off the excess liquid immediately. Using pressurized air to blow off any excess water is also a good idea. It’s best to avoid starting the engine (or turning the key to power the accessories) until everything is dry to prevent short-circuiting the electronics. Leave the hood open to air dry everything. Your car’s engine won’t explode or short out if wet, but it can get damaged if too much water enters the fray.
https://www.slashgear.com/1824320/can-car-engines-get-wet-explained-what-do-if-does/
