Water Damaged Engine - Advice Please

[SteveBray]

I have the chance to get the parents a 1.7 Diesel 2008 Astra at a good price, but it has flood damage and will not start. What do you guys think, will it be a simple fix or could it be a nightmare, I know you can only guess but based on your experience what do you think?

Any opinions are gratefully recieved.

[Ste]

If the engine has ingested large amounts of water, then it will be likely fooked. Water is not compressible like air, and so create HUGE forces which will bend rods, etc.

If it hasn't ingested water, then it may just be the electronics that are knacked, and therefore will be far less expensive to repair. Does the engine rotate OK and is a compression test feasible before purchase?

[Ste]

Water in fuel system may also be an expensive problem. First thing would be to check for water in fuel separator / filter

[big tee]

you need a bit more info about flood was it just sat in water or was it running or started if it was the latter not good as said water doesnt compress i have seen conrods sticking through engine blocks...COMP TEST AND MANUAL ENGINE TURN A MUST...SORRY

[Thomas1]

As above, you need to know what happened. If it was driven through a stream etc and water got in via the air intake and thus into the cylinders, that's obviously not good - I'd say leave it well alone. However, potentially even worse is if the car was flooded - i.e. water got over/in much of the car. Insurance companies always write such vehicles off without even trying to repair them because there is such a high likelihood of problems, after the repairs, with the electronics etc.

[KC]

you need a bit more info about flood was it just sat in water or was it running or started if it was the latter not good as said water doesnt compress i have seen conrods sticking through engine blocks...COMP TEST AND MANUAL ENGINE TURN A MUST...SORRY

Whoa -check there is no water in the engine first or the rods will defo come out the side, even with a compression test.

[leeboy]

can someone tell me how to post a new thread and activate my account i am only able reply to a thread not post one............ please help. David

[rushy]

can someone tell me how to post a new thread and activate my account i am only able reply to a thread not post one............ please help. David

Your registered mate as your name is in black not blue. Just got to relevant section and hit "New Thread" HTH

[mattolly86]

yea more info needed water and engines = bad news but if she rotates easily enough with good compression without conrods out the side of the engine. however ive purposely tried demolishing an old engine which i had to take the air box off run the engine and pour 7 buckets of water in (this was a hgv engine) to get in to stop lol ((please dont ask why ive done this but i can honestly say it wasnt vandelism it was at work dunno if that makes it any better lol))

[markd3925]

that might be the one with the engine ecu under the wheel arch if so good chance its knackered and them ones are £££s plus the chance of engine damage i wouldnt bother unless its really really cheap