Driving through flooded roads.

[Chris Dance]

Yesterday driving on a busy B road I encountered quite a deep flood across the whole width of the road. Cars and a lorry in front of me went through; one car stalled but got through. Traffic was built up behind me and there was no room to turn round and find another route. In the end reluctantly I drove our Prius into the flood; it slowed so I accelerated and got through. This is the first time I have had to drive a hybrid through a flood. Has any body else experienced a similar situation whilst driving a hybrid vehicle?

A relation drove his Volvo into a flood and his Estate car had to be written off.  I had visions of this happening to our Prius.

Are all electric cars safe to drive through flooded roads.?

 

[Harters]

I had a similar situation the other day and I got through it ok, It wasnt too deep though but all was well.

This may answer your question about electric cars, not sure I would chance it with my own car though 😀

 

[QuantumFireball]

It's no different from any petrol car - just don't exceed the height of the engine's air intake.

I suspect in the case of the Volvo, the engine did ingest water, and it was probably a diesel which are much less tolerant of this than petrol engines due to higher compression.

If you do suspect water has got in through the intake, *do not* try and start the car, not until you've at least removed the spark plugs.