Hydro-locked engines?

[Tubber273]

I'm quite curious....just how many hydro-locked engines has anyone seen/heard about?
While in the dealership I use, a Gransport just had a new engine put in after hydro-locking.
When I asked the GM how many he had seen, he replied "This is the first one we've done!!"
He did say it's a clear and present danger, but pretty rare at least here.

Clearly they happen, but just how often?

 

[conaero]

Well every year we see 3 or 4 come through this forum, so I would say its quite common.

The reason the dealers don't see them is insurance companies write them off so they end up having used engines installed and hence why mainly they don't hit the dealerships.

 

[Parisien]

In effect hydrolocking appears to be almost equal with accident write offs for Maserati 4200/GS ......a shame on Maserati really.......for not doing a simple fix over 10 years!


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[BennyD]

There is a simple fix; don't drive through deep standing water.

 

[Parisien]

.....deep can be as little as 3 inches...........get you head down low and look to see where the air intake is....you'll be surprised!!!!


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[BennyD]

I know where it is, but, IMO, to completely cover the whole intake for long enough to get enough water in to hydro lock the engine, would take water deeper than 3 inches. I've driven through deep ish puddles on apexes and, so far, have had no issues. Anyway, I don't generally go out if it is tipping it down and take care if there has been prolonged periods of rain.

 

[Parisien]

The thing is Ian.....it depends on speed you enter at, length of said standing water....plus.....how can you tell the deepest part of water??!!

Secondly, people are slow to react went faced with water on road, by the time they see it, react and stop are usually in the middle of it!


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[BennyD]

I was talking to Marios about this very point and he too agreed that, whilst it's perfectly possible to hydro lock an engine it isn't very likely in every day driving. It is much more of a problem if wading through deep water or starting it up when in flood water. Speed when hitting standing water is an issue if the bow wave is thrown forward and it submerges the intake. However, if your luck is out its out. I'm not going to lose sleep over it, because if I ever do hydro lock my engine, I will apologise to you, acknowledge your superior technical nous and use the situation to fit a 4.7. Everyone's a winner.

 

[Parisien]

.........well yes....in Italy......its probably not an issue............but in Noahs Ark land as UK Plc is now known...........way too frequent for the very small numbers of 4200s/Gss still on the road


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[Parisien]

Just another link from across the road......a tad worrying....not sure if its unblocked

http://*********************/m_59483/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#59488


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[Parisien]

....good info from Turboguy.....please read........

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[Parisien]

http://www.maseratilife.com/forums/modern-maserati/7696-hydro-lock.html

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[SimonM]

I was talking to Marios about this very point and he too agreed that, whilst it's perfectly possible to hydro lock an engine it isn't very likely in every day driving. It is much more of a problem if wading through deep water or starting it up when in flood water. Speed when hitting standing water is an issue if the bow wave is thrown forward and it submerges the intake. However, if your luck is out its out. I'm not going to lose sleep over it, because if I ever do hydro lock my engine, I will apologise to you, acknowledge your superior technical nous and use the situation to fit a 4.7. Everyone's a winner.

Having had it happen to me, I can assure you it's much more easily done than you might assume! Franks bang on.... if you enter a (very) long puddle at moderate speed, you're basically screwed!

 

[MAF260]

Simon, have you made any changes to your car to avoid it happening again? I've seen. Couple of cars with cone air filters attached, presumably to do away with the factory set up.

 

[rossyl]

Would also love to know if a mod has been created to try and prevent hydrolocking

 

[Tubber273]

Wow...seems this is a bigger worry than I thought!
Thanks for the feedback, and I'll avoid puddles at all cost!

As for a modification...I guess we'll see if necessity IS the mother of invention!

 

[BennyD]

To be honest I don't tend to drive through long puddles at speed in any car. You don't know how deep it is, what debris is in it, not to mention the risk of aqua planing either into the kerb or into oncoming traffic. I would prefer to wait until the road is clear and go onto the other side or reverse if it looks deep and stretches across the road. Now we know how easily this can happen, drive accordingly and we should be ok.

 

[rossyl]

To be honest I don't tend to drive through long puddles at speed in any car. You don't know how deep it is, what debris is in it, not to mention the risk of aqua planing either into the kerb or into oncoming traffic. I would prefer to wait until the road is clear and go onto the other side or reverse if it looks deep and stretches across the road. Now we know how easily this can happen, drive accordingly and we should be ok.

I had this situation yesterday. Massive pudle on my side of the road, stretching for a good 5-10meters.

I stopped and waited to drive on the other side of the road. All other cars plowed through the puddle. I was expecting to get a few horns and headlight flashes as I was waiting for a while and a queue was building, but I think maybe it is a bit more understandable to other drivers when you are in a Maserati!

 

[SimonM]

Hmm.

When I hydro locked my engine, it was in the dark, during heavy rain, on a return journey I couldnt avoid, after having pulled off the motorway to avoid some of the shocking driving on the M25. It might be useful for others to know it was on Swanland rd, adjacent to the A1M (ironically, in a place called Waters End). I came round a long left hand bend, having dipped my full beam for oncoming traffic. Rd was flooded on my side, couldnt swerve, couldn't accelerate as 400+ horses and oncoming traffic don't mix in those circumstances. I knew all about the issues of hydro lock, so had the pleasure of knowing the fate of the engine before it even seized. None of my "in principle" knowledge of "dont drive your precious maserati through massive puddles of standing water" proved helpful in those circumstances. Alternatively I'm simply an idiot for driving in the rain

 

[SimonM]

Simon, have you made any changes to your car to avoid it happening again? I've seen. Couple of cars with cone air filters attached, presumably to do away with the factory set up.

I haven't mate - all things considered I was very unlucky, as a multitude of circumstances needed to converge - I don't honestly believe lightning would strike twice so to speak. Having said that, should it happen to anyone else, I'd say engine off and neutral as quick as possible, don't try and start it again, get it pushed to safety, call the flat bed, and cross your ********!