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OUR BLOG

4/5/2020
Most people don't want to drive on a rainy day, especially if it means navigating flooding streets. If you have no way around this, these tips can help you check on your car if it's gotten quite wet.



Avoid Damage from Driving Through Flooded Streets

When the roads are wet, you may avoid driving altogether. While this is a great strategy that can keep you and your car safe, this isn't always an option. If you end up having to drive through high water or a flooded street, you may worry that your car has been damaged. To help you inspect your car after incidents like this, use these tips.

Avoid Driving Through a Storm

If you want to avoid all damage to your car, the best thing to do is avoid driving through a storm. With that said, it's not always possible to avoid this. If you have to drive somewhere or if you get caught in a storm, do your best to stay away from streets you know get flooded quickly. It's also a good idea to stay closer to the left-most lane since this area is less likely to get flooded.

Check Your Car's Brakes

If you find yourself finding through a flooded area, don't panic. Take it slow and stay alert to avoid danger. Afterward, it's super important that you take the time to check on your car's brakes. If you drive through high water, your brakes can get wet and not function at their best. If you're worried about this while driving, find a safe spot where you can pump your brakes a few times. This will help them dry out faster so that they can go back to normal faster. If they get really wet, make time to get them checked by a professional. Since rainwater also carries dirt and other debris, this can get into your brake system and cause more trouble for you.

Inspect the Air Filter

Another concern you may have is water getting into your engine after driving through pretty deep water. Since many cars do have their air intake quite low, this is a real concern. An easy way to check this is by locating your air filter and removing it. If the air filter is wet, it's very likely that water has gotten into your engine. If water has gotten in there, this can be quite serious. While you can attempt to fix this yourself, if you don't have experience doing this, it can lead to more damage and costly repairs. It's best to leave this work to a professional. To keep your car in great shape, give it a synthetic oil change in San DiegoClick here to buy  AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil and keep your engine cleaner and running stronger for longer.��You can find even more great products like this by contacting the friendly oil pros at Synthetic Oil Inc. To learn more, give them a call at (800) 653-0323. You can also stop by their online shop to place your order.

Inspect the Undercarriage

It may come as no surprise, but after driving down a flooded street, your undercarriage may need some help. Since this part of your car can be quite low, it can get submerged in the water quite easily. Since flood water isn't usually the cleanest water, you'll want to clean the undercarriage to prevent serious damage. If you notice dirt or other debris stuck to parts, take your car to get washed professionally. This is nothing to ignore because dirt and debris can lead to rust and corrosion.

Don't Forget About Your Car's Fluids

Finally, take the time to check on your car's fluids after driving through flooded areas. While it's very likely that all your fluid reservoirs will be tightly sealed, it worth checking on their fluids just in case some water has seeped in. If water does get into your fluids, this will contaminate them. This can make some fluids not work at their best while some other areas can be damaged by the water. Be sure to check on your car's motor oil, coolant, fuel, brake fluid, and, if possible, transmission fluid.

Give Your Car a Synthetic Oil Change in San Diego, CA

Be sure to prepare your car for spring by giving it a synthetic oil change in San Diego. You can find the perfect synthetic oil for your car by contacting the friendly oil pros at Synthetic Oil Inc. To learn more or to place your order, give them a call at (800) 653-0323.