MIDLAND, Texas — You’ve probably heard the saying, “Oil and water don’t mix.” Well, that’s especially true when it comes to cars.
As much as we appreciate the rain in our desert climate, it can sometimes cause more harm than good — something West Texas Automotive has been dealing with a lot in the past few days.
“We’ve had people come in saying, ‘Hey, my check engine light is on. I drove through some water,’ and after a full engine diagnostic, it might just be a sensor issue, but we’ve also seen cars towed in where the engine shut off after driving through water," said Noah Sanders, social media manager for West Texas Automotive. "In those cases, we’ve had to do a complete engine rebuild.”
The best way to avoid the mechanic and flood damage is simple — stay out of high water. No matter what kind of car you drive, the damage can be severe.
“Everything electrical can get messed up,” Sanders said. “If water hits the electrical components, it’s like pouring water on an electrical outlet — it’s bound to cause problems, whether it’s affecting your throttle response or your air intake.”
Water damage doesn’t always show up immediately, but if you notice something like a blinking engine light, Sanders advises caution.
“Pull over, turn the car off and wait for the flooding to subside,” Sanders said. “If it feels rough, take it to a shop. If not, you might be okay to drive.”
Regardless, it's crucial to practice defensive driving, especially during flooding.
“With high waters, people often drive faster, and lower cars try to go slower to avoid damage,” he said. “Then a big truck zooms by, splashing water everywhere, and suddenly that car is off the road and sinking.”
The good news, according to Sanders, is that water damage can be fully repaired. However, the best strategy is to avoid it altogether.