car went for a swim

[shadowpr]

So on Monday, I was at my gfs house and was leaving. The road she lives on is next to a canal, and it flooded due to high tide and the rain.

I drove through it because I had to get home, and didn't realize how deep it was. As I was driving through it, I saw a minivan with the water up to the bottom of its bumper. My car is lowered.

I didn't stop, and managed to make it through, but the splash guard under the car ripped off a bit, and the whole underside was exposed to salt water. I also believe the salt water made it into the engine bay.

Today, I put the car up on a jack, and took the splash guard off. I hosed off the engine bay, and then sprayed some simple green all over it. While I let that sit for a bit, I hosed off the entire underbody of the car, then hosed off the engine bay again to rinse it off. I started to car to help it dry off.


Is there anything else I can do to ensure the salt water won't cause damage?

i planned on changing oil, tranny oil, brake fluid, pads and rotors in about another 1500 miles.

[Rambo]

Paging Capt. Drews, call on Line 1!

[lytlec]

Paging Capt. Drews, call on Line 1!

He is the first person I went to when I had a similar problem lol. If you have an after market intake make sure the filter and mass airflow sensor is dry!

[rage-wrx]

Drews is more of an expert on freshwater. For saltwater other than hosing the car down thoroughly I don't see what else can be done .& +1 on the CAI,if you have one.

Isn't this the second time the car got flooded?

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[shadowpr]

I do have a cai, but didn't check it. My afr was still good at idle. And if it was wet, it should be dry by now.

Last time I had the intake manifold off and we had a storm. One side of the heads flooded with rain water.

[Mf645]

Where did the salt water come from? Rain, and most canals are freshwater.

[shadowpr]

I assume the canal is saltwater since it goes out into the ocean.

[Mikie13]

I assume the canal is saltwater since it goes out into the ocean.

I would assume the canals flow INTO the ocean, not FROM the ocean. The Delaware River in NJ is freshwater, but flows INTO the Ocean as well. Makes a big difference.

How the hell did you get an entire head to fill up with water???

[maus]

I assume the canal is saltwater since it goes out into the ocean.

Likely brackish water

[Mf645]

You may be surprised, it's probably fresh water moving out to the ocean. Ocean water typically does not flow upstream

[teflon_jones]

I wouldn't worry about it at all. The car made it through the water fine and has been working since then, so obviously nothing was really in a position to get damaged. Hosing it off was a good idea and I wouldn't worry about doing anything else.

You may be surprised, it's probably fresh water moving out to the ocean. Ocean water typically does not flow upstream

Yes it absolutely does. Tides will push salt water upstream in any river, stream, bay, etc that's near the ocean.

[etnpnys]

I think any more replies are moot until Drews can provide his expert opinion.

[shadowpr]

Finally got to go for a drive today. Afr idles at 14.5, which is close.

He is the first person I went to when I had a similar problem lol. If you have an after market intake make sure the filter and mass airflow sensor is dry!

I'm going to change my filter and clean my maf today.

I would assume the canals flow INTO the ocean, not FROM the ocean. The Delaware River in NJ is freshwater, but flows INTO the Ocean as well. Makes a big difference.

How the hell did you get an entire head to fill up with water???

I had the intake manifold off and was waiting on my tgv deletes from grimmspeed when a hurricane decided to visit. Water from all the rain got in.

[Mikie13]

Wow so random. That had to suck!

[Drews]

You should be fine. Since you didn't have to stop and you were able to plow through without incident, you should have a problem. Since your car starts and runs at close to your correct AFRs, I wouldn't concern myself. The major problem is when it sits submerged. The it gets into your trans, diffs, and anywhere else it can. You should be alright. I'd scrub the underbody of the car if you have access to a lift, normal hosing and simple green is no match for salt water.