good motoring
Avoid a splash in the rain
H. Kishie Singh

WHAT a downpour we had the other day. In spite of all the new rain drains that have been built in Chandigarh, our roads can turn into rivers before the water has had time to drain.

Driving through those flooded roads, where water can be 30-40 cm high, requires skill, sense and patience. You can’t be in a hurry under these conditions. If you are, chances are you could stall the car and be hours late.

Because of the camber of our roads, the centre is the highest and is, consequently, the driest part of the road. Try to keep to the high road. I attempted this last week and the result was that everyone overtook me from the left, where water was the highest. Those drivers were having great fun. The splashed water flew over the roof of my car.

It was the worst example of driving and road etiquette you could have witnessed. Added to that was the fact that it was extremely dangerous driving. It was also an excellent way to flood your engine.

It is recommended that you should be in low gear. Low gear means extra power and good traction for the tyres. The high engine revs mean that the engine won’t stall easily. It also means the exhaust air is being forced out of the exhaust with pressure. One danger while driving through water is that the water may enter the exhaust. This will stall the car.

The greatest danger is to the electrical functioning of the car. In the new breed of cars the manufacturers advise that the engine should not be spray-washed while it is hot. By splashing water, you may be doing just that.

"Keep pumping your brakes," my wife reminded me. Sound advice. One of the first things to suffer and possibly fail on your car while wading through water is your brake. Even disc brakes can be rendered useless. Drum brakes, by the very nature of their design, collect and retain water.

This could lead to long-term problems. Drums are made from cast iron and rust fast. So if you are in the habit of using your hand brake — and you should be — there is a chance that the brakes could be jammed with the rust gluing them shut as you park overnight.

The short-term problem could be brake failure. By splashing through the water at high speed, your brakes may not hold you because they are soaking wet. The stopping distance for your car can increase by two to three times. You will not be able to avoid a smash.

The electricals these days are very sophisticated. Water and humidity will cause them to malfunction. The engine bay is the hottest part of your car and this keeps the high-tension wires, coils and battery dry.

However, the exhaust pipe lies low and as water touches it, it boils immediately and gets converted into steam. This steam rises into the engine compartment and will be the cause of any malfunction. An electronic failure on the new cars can be an expensive affair.

Heavy rain can also affect visibility. Haze and heavy rain can bring down the visibility to 50 metres or less. The only solution to all this is to drive slow.

Happy motoring.