A popular motor mechanic has warned motorists to think twice before driving through a puddle at high speeds.
Scotty Kilmer has been a mechanic for over 55 years and regularly posts short videos to his social media pages, helping drivers to avoid trouble – including this recent savvy petrol hack for drivers.
In one of his most recent videos, Scotty told drivers about the damage that driving through puddles can cause.
He explained: “First of all, you never want to suck water into your engine’s air intake, because water will damage the engine.
“Now this Lexus is really well designed, the air intake is here on the top, but many cars have air intakes that are as low as from here [bottom of the bumper] to here [ground].”
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Whilst making a splash by driving through a puddle may be satisfying for a few seconds, regularly doing so could cause serious issues.
According to the AAA, if a significant amount of water is ingested into the engine it can become hydro-locked, causing some components to seize completely.
The association also warned that deep puddles may also be hiding sinkholes, which may lead to further damage being caused.
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Scotty also noted that drivers of cars that have an automatic transmission should take particular care when driving through puddles.
He added: “If you have an automatic transmission, it has vents because the [transmission] fluid gets hot and cold and expands and contracts.
“If you go in deep enough water where that vent goes underwater, it sucks water into the transmission. Water ruins automatic transmissions in a very short period of time.”
Whilst driving through puddles can, at times, be unavoidable, the AAA has advised drivers to never overestimate the capabilities of their vehicles.
According to the organization, the best way for motorists to drive through a puddle is to approach slowly in order to avoid hydroplaning, in which the vehicle loses grip.
Drivers should also pay attention to any weather alerts for their area and road signs that could offer diversions.
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