No matter what big brand of tires (Michelin, Goodyear, Aotai, Bridgestone, Continental, etc.), they have one biggest enemy, and that is water. So this may be the reason why car owners don't like driving in the rain. If a tire is soaked in water for a long time, it will accelerate the aging of the rubber and shorten the life of the tire.
so,How much do you know about driving through water?
1. The maximum wading depth of the vehicle.
As we all know, the maximum wading depth of different models is different. Generally speaking, as long as the car is not turned off, water will not flow back into the exhaust pipe. Therefore, the height of the vehicle's air inlet often determines the vehicle's water wading ability.
So usually we still rely on the height of the tires in the standing water to judge the vehicle's water wading ability. Under normal circumstances, the safe wading range is below 2/3 of the tire height. However, due to the difference in wheel size, it is recommended that you default to a little more than half the tire height as the safe wading height.
2. Use low gear and constant speed through the wading section
When you confirm that the water in front of you does not pose a threat to your car, you must also be cautious when passing. The vehicle should be in a low gear, hold the steering wheel and accelerator steady, and try to pass at a steady speed to avoid sudden shifts and other situations. Not to mention parking in the middle. Even if an emergency occurs, avoid vehicle stalling. At the same time, you can turn on the wipers, because splashes of water may cover the front windshield and affect driving visibility.
After passing through the wading area, under the premise of ensuring safety, don't forget to get out of the car and check to see if your license plate is still there, because if the speed is high, the water will be washed up, and the license plate can easily be washed away by the water.
3. Cart self-rescue method once the vehicle wades into water
Once the vehicle stalls in water, the engine must not be started again, because restarting the engine will cause the water-filled cylinder to be impacted by compressed water, causing serious damage to the engine. Moreover, engine damage caused by such misoperation is covered by insurance.
If a manual transmission car stalls when wading in water, you can shift the gear into neutral, release the handbrake, and push the car to higher ground to wait for rescue.
If it is an automatic transmission model, it is best to directly shift the gear into N. If the gear is in P after wading, don't panic, because many transmission manufacturers of automatic transmission models have set up emergency mechanical unlocking methods. The unlocking button is usually located next to the gear lever. If your car is equipped with an electronic handbrake, you should also avoid using it.
4. Towing method for vehicle rescue after wading into water
During the rescue process, two-wheel drive vehicles need to pay attention to avoid the vehicle's driving wheels touching the ground. Four-wheel drive vehicles must be towed according to the driving method. Part-time four-wheel drive vehicles can be towed directly when the four-wheel drive state is released. Timely Four-wheel drive and full-time four-wheel drive cannot be towed directly.
5. Tips on using water insurance
1. There are two types of insurance related to vehicle water wading, one is the most common car damage insurance, and the other is called engine special loss insurance, commonly known as water wading insurance. First of all, everyone must understand that water insurance is an additional insurance and cannot be purchased separately. Water-related insurance can only be purchased after purchasing vehicle damage insurance. The specific premium amount will be determined based on the car price.
2. Even if you buy water insurance, you may not be able to pay the full amount. Depending on the insurance company, "water insurance" has an absolute deductible rate of 15% to 20%. That is to say, the compensation rate of insurance companies for car damage insurance is generally 70%, while for water-related insurance, it is 80% to 85%. Only after purchasing car damage insurance, water-related insurance, car damage insurance excluding deductibles, and water-related insurance excluding deductibles can full compensation for accident losses be realized. And not all insurance companies provide water-related insurance without deductibles.
3. It should also be noted that if you forcibly start the car again after water has entered the engine of the vehicle, causing damage to the engine, the insurance company will regard this as an intentional act and refuse to pay compensation.
6. Maintenance and repair after wading
Vehicle maintenance and repairs after rain are also very important:
1. After heavy rain, the vehicle must be cleaned in time. The sludge and moisture remaining in the gaps of the vehicle will cause damage to the paint. If there are scratches, they should be repaired immediately. Not only are there no protection from the paint, these areas are prone to rust when exposed to damp weather. After water enters the car, it is best to rinse the seats, seat covers, etc. with disinfectant and bleaching powder and then dry them in the sun. Other interior decorations in the car can be sterilized by ozone.
2. Several things need to be replaced after a heavy rain: air filter, engine oil and oil filter. Because after rain, the filter is easily affected by moisture, collects bacteria and becomes moldy. Once these molds are blown into the car through the air conditioner, they will cause harm to our health.
3. The areas that need to be checked are: the braking system is mainly to check whether the brake fluid is damp, the lighting system is mainly to check whether there is water leakage in the lights, and the battery is checked because water will accelerate the oxidation of the battery electrodes, which will affect the performance and life of the battery. Big discount.
4. In addition, the most important thing is to check the circuit. The water in many places in the car after rain may affect the performance of some parts of the car. In severe cases, it may cause a short circuit of the vehicle's electronic equipment.