Fiction. Internal combustion engine physics don't work that way.

 

Is there any hope that the new Iowa Speedway will be included in the list of track day sites? It is an excellent facility that had its first Indy car race last Sunday.

http://www.iowaspeedway.com
http://www.iowaspeedway.com/speedway/maps.asp

 

my last car had an exposed air filter that was 5 inches off the ground. driving through a "puddle" never did any harm. However, driving through standing water would and did. so it depends on what exactly you people are referring to as a puddle. I ran through standing water one time in a flash flood, and the car did ingest some water. but did not lock the engine. I basically gave my intake manifold and chamber a nice steam bath because the water that was sucked in was shortly evaporated. the car missed and sputtered for a bit. I just pulled over and let it idle to dry itself out. after that, it ran fine. Although I know i came very close to locking the engine.

in short, theres no need to be paranoid about water, unless it comes into continuous contact with your intake. a splash here or there will not hurt anything. just try to use some common sense, and leave standing water for the MINIs with snorkles

as for water entering the exhaust, like many said..this wont happen. I replaced an engine in a hydrolocked Scion TC. There was water still in the exhaust system. after replacing the motor, we bolted up the exhaust and turned on the car. All of the water shot out the back of the exhaust like a rocket. It seemed like there was at least 5 gallons of water in that thing. it was quite interesting to watch.

 

Old aircraft rotary engines used to have similar problem, oil drains to the bottom cylinder and puddles. Plugs have to be removed and engine turned to expell fluid. According to Range Rovers off road course the best way to cross a deep puddle is; Pull to edge slowly then drive with slow but consistant acceleration through water. This will create a wave in front of the car that should keep water out of the engine compartment. Of course with a MINI you should probably just avoid situations like that just to be safe.

 

And Im sure they were crawling through the water when this happened right? Im assuming was to much pressure on the stupid pedal

 

I agree MotorMouth, it seems to me the outward pressure of the exhaust would prevent water from entering. Now we could get a fire hose and ...