turboawd

take your vacuum and stick it in a bucket of water, and see how far the water gets.
an engine intake is just like a vacuum.

FormerE30Owner

Except a vacuum doesn't have a filter or two in its intake, as does an engine intake. Unless the filter has a hole in it, the water would collect on the filter and not go any further. or the water would create a hole and progress further.

Easy to prove. OP should check the filter. If intact - no water downstream of intake. If a hole then, possibly water into cylinders.

salut, Bob P.

nicpon

Filter was in tact, but soaked. No holes or any signs of damage. I took it out probably 48 hours after it happened as it was pouring for that long and I could squeeze water out. Water got past the intake as the intake was little moist on the inside. Also, when I drained the oil I saw couple of drops in the oil filter reservoir. When I took the plugs out I didn't see any water in the cylinders though. But that was after I got the started and it probably evaporated already.

All I'm hoping through my troubleshooting to find is that it's a bent/damaged valves rather than a bent rod or busted piston or o-ring.

turboawd

i'd bet your piston or rods got damaged. when the piston is traveling upwards trying to compress the water, the valves are in a closed position, so bending the valves wouldnt be the likely outcome in my opinion. usually the piston or rod takes the punishment. or sometimes the block gives away.
if you're lucky, maybe your head gaskets just gave away. but that is not too likely either.

turboawd

i'm not quite understanding how you think a paper filter will stop water.

FormerE30Owner

According to the OP, the filter was soaked, but only a small amount of water was present downstream of the filter - so the filter did as I originally said - did not let water through. There might have been a little water entrained from the soaked filter and introduced into a cylinder or two, but not enough to cause hydraulic lock (I can do the math, if you wish). That small quantity of added water, however, does effectively raise the compression ratio exponentially as it boils and expands into steam occupying 40 times its water volume. Now, THAT, might have broken something (rings?).

Respectfully, Bob P.

nicpon

Bob I think you're spot on with your assessment. I'm hoping to know exactly within next day or two of what is really broken.
I'm really surprised there is no simple system to stop the water beyond the filter. I'm an engineer by trade and I don't think this would be that complex given the complexity of the rest of the engine.

turboawd

i hate to keep beating on the subject, but the filter slowed down the water from getting sucked in, but the water did pass, enough to hydrolock his engine and stall, thus preventing more water from getting sucked in.
his engine must have taken a decent gulp of water, if he found water in his oil.
and a engine is not going to lock up with a few drops of water in the combustion chamber. and its not the boiling water or steam that does the damage. its the piston trying to compress a liquid.

turboawd

there is a simple way. DON"T DRIVE THROUGH WATER!
cars arent designed to drive through water. lol

nicpon

Point taken....