This may be a dumb question. If water splashes above the hood, can it cause engine to hydrolock?

I’m asking because it’s raining heavy where I’m at. I let my wife drive my truck and I was riding with. She happen to drive through a puddle of water under 30mph and some splashed above the windshield/hood area and couldn’t see through windshield for a few secs. Truck still driving good but I’m just wondering.

 

Hydro-lock happens when water enters the engine. Open the airbox and check if the filter is damp.

Truth is, if it didn't lock up while driving in the heavy rain, you'll be fine. You might have a puddle in the air system, but a simple check will let you know.

I had a slammed car with a CAI and got caught in a heavy down pour. The filter was soaked. The engine jumped VIOLENTLY when on the throttle (up hills). It was pulling the water from the filter into the engine. I luckily didn't hydro-lock.

 

Amazingly, moisture proof connections, COP's, and the electronics can take a pretty heavy spray, the air box is good to a point. That said, slow entry is best if you must. The volume of water from hitting it fast with poorly designed vehicles, can allow a blast water right into the airbox and hose your engine...

Like other activities, start out slow when you enter.

 

Turn around, don’t drown

 

The stock airbox is really only open to the fender well. It sucks air from between the inner fender and the liner. Unless you’re fording high water levels near the top of the tires it should be fine.

 

=BAD