Drowned Sonata

[dwhiz51]

My wife's 2012 Sonata was driven through a water puddle and drowned out. After a while, about 30 minutes, she got it started, but now it sounds like there is a rod or valve knocking. Why does this happen?

[Stealthee]

One of two things.

1. If she got water in the oil that is very bad because there is not proper lubrication for the bearings and other moving parts.

2. Water does NOT compress. If water got into the top end it could hydrolock the engine and cause the rod to bend because it cannot make its full stroke.

[dwhiz51]

Thanks, good reply. I don't know how water could get into the engine except through the air intake. Air filter was dry. I could understand something like this happening if the timing belt slipped or something like that, but the car ran fine except for the knocking. No "check engine", no warning lights, etc. Just having trouble getting my mind around the assumption that running through a water puddle, even a 6 or 8 inch puddle, could ruin an engine.

[Stealthee]

Are you sure it is not just misfiring and you are mistaking that for a knock?