Possible damage to look for after water injestion

[mweiman]

I have a customer truck here that was driven through 6-10" of water and sucked enough water in to soak the air filter and make the truck run rough. He says that it took about 20 minutes before it cleared out completely. It seems to run OK now but he says it seems down on power and makes a noise(knocking sound) when under a pull. I have not drove it yet. His insurance company is wanting me to do a diagnosis on it. I am planning to do a compression test and use something to try to measure that all the pistons come up to the same height. Any other ideas on what could have been damaged? I have not looked yet but he said the turbo compressor wheel was not damaged. Oil level is OK and not milky.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[mwilson]

I'm almost thinking that you might just as well quote a long block. Where the dingbat kept running it the wrist pins, rods, valves, etc. would be suspect. I would not trust it over any length of time....water just doesn't compress well....by the time you evaluate and possibly tear it down, then find something else, etc...you know how the story goes....

I saw a cab over with a behind the bumper air intake try to cross a submerged bridge during the flood of 1987 on US Route 2.....a complete engine replacement was the final result of that fracas once it was torn down.

 

[mwilson]

Plus for your own protection, you touched it and now any future failure is your fault if you know what I mean.....

 

[NIsaacs]

I assume the filter has been changed and it still knocks under power and seems down on power? There may be residual water in the intercooler that gets picked up under higher boost. If so, it might be a detonation knock rather than a mechanical one.

Nick

 

[mwilson]

I assume the filter has been changed and it still knocks under power and seems down on power? There may be residual water in the intercooler that gets picked up under higher boost. If so, it might be a detonation knock rather than a mechanical one.

Nick

That's possible for sure. Nice theory Nick....

 

[brods]

6-10" of water at what 45 mph? If it is an older truck with the top of the fuel tank vents.....

 

[lpennock]

Don't forget things like axle, transmission and transfer case fluids. Enough height to injest water puts their vents under water.

 

[Prairie Dog]

A mechanic buddy of mine worked on a truck that had done the same thing. It also acted the same.
It ended up having several cracked pistons.

 

[GrantP]

6-10" of water at what 45 mph? If it is an older truck with the top of the fuel tank vents.....

Unless that customer hit that water at speed I don't see how he could have ingested water in the intake with 6-10" of water. 10" of water won't hit the bottom of my diffs. There's probably more to the story...

 

[mwilson]

There's probably more to the story...

There usually is for sure....

 

[BigPapa]

Unless that customer hit that water at speed I don't see how he could have ingested water in the intake with 6-10" of water. 10" of water won't hit the bottom of my diffs. There's probably more to the story...

My thoughts, also. The only place to ingest water is between the air filter and the turbo. Beyond that the intake system is under pressure, not vacuum. I would have to be in 3' of water to get water in my air filter and my truck's a RWD. I don't think even at speed water could get to the air filter bad enough to ingest enough water to damage the engine. It would have to be submerged.

 

[BigPapa]

We are talking Dodge truck with CTD, correct?

 

[mweiman]

Sorry I didn't get on here and reply sooner. Yes it is an 05 2500 with oversize tires and I believe a leveling kit. I am with you Mike that if it has issues then it should get a long block. I think the first issue may be proving there is damage. I left a message for his adjuster today but have not heard back yet. I studied it a little bit today and am not sure how it sucked water in, he did say that he hit it at speed so maybe there was enough water flying and the engine pulling enough air to suck it in. We had quite a bit of rain but I never heard of any real deep water on any roads. Hope to learn something from the adjuster tomorrow.

 

[mwilson]

It might have gone something like this if the truth were told???

"Here, hold my beer and watch me go blowing right through that water hole!!! Yee Haaaa!!!"

 

[mwilson]

Of course it goes without saying that I personally have NEVER been involved in any such foolishness....

 

[mweiman]

Of course it goes without saying that I personally have NEVER been involved in any such foolishness....

Oh great here come the stories....

 

[BigPapa]

Stock air box?

I'd bet something electrical got wet and has caused a miss. No codes?

 

[mwilson]

oh great here come the stories....

Can't do that, there may still be people looking for me........

 

[sag2]

The only damage from water ingestion is a bent rod if it doesn't break first. If you can rig up a dial indicator that sits flush on the head surface and get the right extension you could probably determine the piston height on all cylinders through the injector hole. Might be just as fast to pull the head and measure them.
Many years ago I had a D-50 diesel pickup in Fairbanks that had a misfire. After the dealer replaced everything in the fuel system I flew up to look at it and found a bent rod. I don't recall the measurement, but the one piston did not make it all the way up. It wasn't much, but was enough to see just by rolling the engine over.

 

[DonFitzwater]

The only damage from water ingestion is a bent rod if it doesn't break first. If you can rig up a dial indicator that sits flush on the head surface and get the right extension you could probably determine the piston height on all cylinders through the injector hole. Might be just as fast to pull the head and measure them.
Many years ago I had a D-50 diesel pickup in Fairbanks that had a misfire. After the dealer replaced everything in the fuel system I flew up to look at it and found a bent rod. I don't recall the measurement, but the one piston did not make it all the way up. It wasn't much, but was enough to see just by rolling the engine over.

Funny how that one cylinder being a little low on compression can cause that.....:-laf