What Is A Hydrolocked Engine And How Do You Fix It?

Aspiration is that coughing and choking sensation you get when food or liquid goes down “the wrong pipe.”

Something similar also occurs if surplus water enters your engine, it’s called hydrolock, and it can damage your vehicle!

**What is a hydrolocked engine, and how do you repair it?** A hydrolocked engine occurs when water or other liquid enters the combustion chamber and prevents the piston from completing its stroke. This happens because liquids are incompressible, unlike air which can be compressed during the compression stroke. Common causes include: – Driving through deep water or floods – Faulty head gasket allowing coolant into cylinders – Damaged intake manifold – Harsh weather conditions causing water ingestion Signs of hydrolock: – Engine suddenly stops running – Strange knocking or grinding noises – Engine won’t turn over – Water visible in air intake or exhaust How to fix a hydrolocked engine: 1. **Stop immediately** – Don’t attempt to restart the engine 2. **Remove spark plugs** – This allows trapped liquid to escape 3. **Drain the cylinders** – Turn the engine by hand to expel water 4. **Check engine oil** – If contaminated with water, change it immediately 5. **Inspect for damage** – Look for bent connecting rods or cracked pistons 6. **Replace filters** – Air and fuel filters may need replacement 7. **Professional assessment** – Have a mechanic evaluate internal damage Prevention is key – avoid driving through standing water and maintain your cooling system properly.

Engine pistons are designed to compress a mixture of air and fuel – not water. Because of this, if adequate water enters the cylinder, it may hydrolock, meaning they all stop moving at once.

Much of the subsequent damage depends on how quickly you were going when it happened.

Fortunately, in this guide, I will elucidate all the vital information about a hydrolocked engine. This also involves what causes an engine to hydro lock, if it can result in harm, and how to fix it.

Are you ready to get started?

Let’s dive straight in!

What Causes An Engine to Hydrolock?

The actual term is Hydrostatic Lock, which has been abbreviated to hydrolock. This occurs when surplus water enters the combustion chamber.

When a piston reaches the summit of its travel range, if the volume of water inside is greater than the amount of space left, hydrolock will occur.

Why? Because water is less compressible than the air/fuel mixture inside. So, when the piston tries to compress it, all of the cylinders will stop at once.

This will result in crashing or clattering sounds inside the engine that will last numerous seconds, followed by it shutting off.

What kind of situation can result in water entering the cylinders? There are numerous examples, like driving in a torrential downpour or going through a deep puddle. This is one of the reasons that flood-damaged vehicles are often totaled afterward.

It’s also possible for the hydro lock to occur from other fluids, like oil or coolant. However, remember that if this happens, it likely means you have a serious issue inside your engine, like a blown head gasket or a fracture in the block.

Does Hydrolocking Harm An Engine?

Hydrolock can be extremely damaging to an engine and may require its replacement entirely. However, the speed you were going is what typically determines the extent of the damage.

While the RPMs are low, such as when you’re idling or advancing slowly, only a minor amount of water may enter. In this case, you need to act rapidly to remove it before it causes corrosion issues.

If you were going rapidly when the hydrolock occurred, where the RPMs were high, serious damage might occur.

A pair of these consist of:

• A bent or broken connecting rod
• A breach in the head
• Crankcase damage
• A bent valve
• Damage in the bearings
• Piston ring damage
• Harm to the block

When associating the words “metal” and “water,” the first thing most of us envision is rust. This is precisely the situation with hydrolock.

If you don’t act quickly to remove the water, your engine will rust, which will likely render it worthless.

How To Fix A Hydrolocked Engine

Whether a resolution is feasible depends on the amount of water that has entered, as well as how long it’s been there.

If you were moving at a steady rate of speed when the RPMs were minimal, you might be able to clear the system of water by yourself.

This involves removing the spark plugs, starting the engine, and then revving it while it’s in park. You should notice water spewing out of one or more cylinders. You should also replace the spark plugs with new ones. Though, in a serious situation, you should be able to just dry yours off.

It is essential to wipe the cylinder walls to get rid of moisture that may cause damage. However, if a secure area is not available, the cleaning can be done later.

The other possibility is that there’s a significant amount of water inside your engine. In this case, there’s really nothing you can do other than salvage what you can and replace the rest. In a worst-case scenario, a hydrolocked engine can cost anywhere between $3,000-$8,000.

It’s Probably Better To Go Around That Puddle – Not Through It

What’s the best course of action if you think you’ve hydrolocked your engine?

Don’t wait – because the longer you do, the greater the chances you will end up with corrosion damage.

The worst case is that your engine is inoperative, and you need a new one. Don’t ignore this one. Your financial account will thank you later.