CAI sucked some water

[DSM_Rastafari]

Flash Flood here and i happened to me on my way home, of course after 30 mins of dodging huge puddles, few exits from home i turned on to a ramp witch had a weird entry dip and i think my CAI sucked up some water, it didn't die but rpms dropped and it instantly sputtered on the gas, now sputters in high rpm 4.5k+. It will crank up and idle now fluctuates. low rpm seems normal and i feel low power getting into high rpm then sputters.

I've heard of these stories unfortunately just moved to a flood prone city....i've heard of bent valves and what not. I know to pull the spark plugs and try cranking it. Is this time sensitive as it could i let it sit until the rain stops prob tmr, will it cause more damage? Any other ways of fixing this issue? how to go about the sputter issue?

 

[dakang]

I have had this happen in a prelude once. take out the spark plugs and crank the car a few times untill most of the water comes out then replace and start. Car will smoke white for a bit. Also change your oil. as for waiting till the rain stops, I am a paranoid kind of guy when it comes to my car and water rusts. i would also invest in a bypass for your intake if that is a constant condition where you moved to.

 

[DSM_Rastafari]

when you say replace you mean put them back in or replace the plugs?

 

[1G Eclipse94928]

when you say replace you mean put them back in or replace the plugs?

Test them for spark then replace if needed, or if there old, or not ng7's

 

[DSM_Rastafari]

i just replaced the oil, and usually get synthetic changes, which is pricey, how soon would you change the oil? my drive way at my apt complex is slanted so i don't feel comfortable using stands, i've been going to shops since i moved.

 

[Turboturd]

The filter can't flow any air when it's wet, just pull the filter off and then start it up and see how it runs. If the maf got wet it may have to dry out before it will read right. If you got water all the way into the engine you have bigger problems. Running the car for a day without the filter won't hurt anything

 

[NordicSaab]

If the vehicle runs your fine, people mainly bend valves when a car floods out and they crank the car over without purging the cylinders first.

As long as your car never died, no need to worry.

 

[DSM_Rastafari]

i just tried to remove the plugs, i have a 5/8 spark plug remover, but it doesn't seem like it's fitting. Im assuming it's deep enough because its the actual remover, the 420a motor's spark plugs are 5/8 sockets right? what other sizes can i try? i had the motor assembled by a shop so idk if they put the wrong size plugs in or not..

 

[Brandon Mau]

7/8ths

 

[northernawd]

The rubber cap on the inside of the remover might not have aligned properly with the top of the plug. Try again and wiggle the socket down a bit until it seats.

 

[92awddsm]

No need to pull the plug. If water made it to the engine, it has already burned off and dissipated. Check for moisture in the spark plug wells and around electrical connections. Remove the air filter and dry thoroughly.

And when an engine ingests wanted it doesn't bend valves. It bends connecting rods because water doesn't compress.

 

[DSM_Rastafari]

The rubber cap on the inside of the remover might not have aligned properly with the top of the plug. Try again and wiggle the socket down a bit until it seats.

that was exactly the issue, i got the plugs out, and cranked it a few times. I didn't have someone there to check to see if water came out is this fine? i have pre drilled an holes on my cover and i saw drops so i think it worked.

i went out and got spark plugs brk6e they are .35 or.38 stock. This is my daily with a built motor with forged internals 881 comp 420a, what would be the recommended gap size?

its still raining, so is it ok to leave the car over night without installing the new plugs and finish in the morning? (old plugs are out and i just stuck the wires back into place to keep in order)

How do you recommend cleaning the plug wells? there is noticeable moisture on the sides and build up

 

[miliman13]

If the vehicle runs your fine, people mainly bend valves when a car floods out and they crank the car over without purging the cylinders first.

As long as your car never died, no need to worry.

No need to pull the plug. If water made it to the engine, it has already burned off and dissipated. Check for moisture in the spark plug wells and around electrical connections. Remove the air filter and dry thoroughly.

And when an engine ingests wanted it doesn't bend valves. It bends connecting rods because water doesn't compress.

I would like to add, that many times people assume that they bent valves, and they may even hear a slight ticking/taping, almost faint after ingesting water. As we all know water cannot compress like the gasses inside the bore, so if water made it that far it will damage the weakest point in the rotating assembly; the wrist pin. There will be a small amount of play between the rod and the piston this can cause a number of issues. It can even damage the rings during compression, leading to sputtering. Hopefully this is not the case. I wanted to share for future reference.

 

[DSM_Rastafari]

ok so installed those new plugs and car seems to run fine and idle ok. But im a little concerned with the number 4 wire because it didn't firmly click in like the others, i gapped them and hand torqued then a 1/2 or less of a turn i could feel the first "snug" but how will i know if they are enough.