2020 Silverado Z51 Trail Boss ran into a puddle at 35mph. Now truck is hydrolocked

[pureskull]

I cant express how disappointed I am with this new truck. Coming from a 2012 Tundra and a 2017 Armada. This never happened to me before. By the way the puddle was 1ft and half tall and after I ran into it the engine stalled and white smoke came out of underneath. tried starting it and just heard a click noise. Decided to leave it there and towed it back to my garage. Then I decided to check how much water got into the engine. Taking off the air filter and saw the intake design being really stupid. Its like a funnel type design that comes from the front 1 inch underneath the hood that goes directly into the intake then into the engine. Meaning if you splash water to the front of the car. You are guaranteed to get water into the engine. Filter was dripping wet, took off all spark plugs which I had to remove all wheels and covers to do so. 2 Spark plugs out of the 6 were wet and I started turning over the engine. Water came out about 8 fl oz. Turning over the engine required a lot of strength initially then it softened up but then it hardens after a couple of turns then it softens again. Which my guess there is serious failure inside. Chevy if you are gonna advertise your trucks as "TRAIL BOSS" you should at least make sure they handle puddles at a regular speed. Even though it was an accident I had worse instances with my Armada 2017 and never had any hydrolock issues. Now engine wont turn on and just clicks with or without spark plugs. I have a friend who is a mechanic who will help me tear out the engine for disassemble and analysis after the holidays. If anybody is interested I will update with pics of the process and if I can salvage the engine or have to do a full swap. Btw I don't live in the US so I'm on my own. 

I find this picture(from Chevy website) very laughable considering the truck is unable to do that safely. So folks be careful when running into puddles. Just avoid them even if you have 2 inch lift kit like I did.

Any advice besides what I did is also very appreciated

B

Edited December 22, 2021 by pureskull

[Transient]

Fact:  You concluded your initial post by staying you don't want people criticizing you for acting stupid.  You called this "normal driving", but the truth is it isn't.  There's a reason roads are closed when several inches of water accumulate on them.  6 inches is enough to flood a car.  35 mph is fast enough to hydroplane a vehicle.  This is why the mantra is, "Slow down.  Go around."  In case you missed it, here's a link to remind you. 

 

https://www.weather.gov/tsa/hydro_tadd

 

Reality:  It's not you who should be disappointed in the truck.  It's the truck that should be disappointed in the owner/driver.  If only they were animated and had feelings and the ability to communicate. 

 

Solution:

Step1) Rebuild the engine.  Inspect parts for damage, such as piston rods, bearings, etc.  Air compresses.  Water doesn't.  Something bent or broke.

 

Step 2) Make better driving decisions going forward. 

 

 

FYI, before you criticize me for my reply, realize that I've been there and done this myself.  I was in a car, and the wake of a passing lifted truck rose the water enough to be sucked up into the intake.  I was going slower than you, but I made the decision to go through the water anyways.  I was ultimately responsible for that decision.  I never blamed the manufacturer for building a crappy product, because they didn't.  When this happened I was living in a coastal town that flooded every time it rains during high tide.  And, it liked to rain a lot during high tide.  I've seen flood waters that drowned semi trucks. 

[Supreme Pizza]

Well, if you hydro-locked it, then you probably bent a rod. Maybe it shorted out the starter and cause it to get jammed into the the flywheel. Maybe a piece of rope from the puddle got up into the flywheel area or wrapped around the front engine pulley. I would not pull the engine and rip it apart without knowing what your trying to fix. I have seen people completely destroy a carburetor trying to take it apart to fix the dead battery. I have seen people replace the transmission because the engine kept overheating. I suggest that you make absolutely sure that the motor is bad before taking it apart. First things first, you gotta get that motor tuning over. Get a new battery and starter, or what ever you need to do. Back the motor up by hand to where it turns easily, and then try the starter. Hook up 2 batteries to the same starter, what ever you gotta do. You have nothing to lose. Once it turns over, run a compression test. Or even pull the plugs and measure the piston throw with a piece of wire or something, from BDC or TDC on all cylinders. If they don't match, you got a bent rod. What if you pull the whole motor apart and don't find anything wrong? What if it did have water in the cylinders, but its locking up because the alternator has a bad bearing or a branch stuck in it?

Edited December 22, 2021 by Supreme Pizza

[pureskull]

I didnt run the truck into a puddle on purpose a semi truck took my lane and forced me to hit the puddle. I had a similar almost crash even at higher speeds with the Armaada and no Hydrolock. This doesnt justify the fact that the funnel location is in a very vulnerable position. If it was located in the same place as the Armada. I would still be enjoying this truck today. As far as it happening to other cars. Trucks are supposed to be tough specially when they are labeled TRAIL BOSS! I would understand this from a corolla or camry but a truck is in excusable

[pureskull]

1 minute ago, Supreme Pizza said:

Well, if you hydro-locked it, then you probably bent a rod. Maybe it shorted out the starter and cause it to get jammed into the the flywheel. Maybe a piece of rope from the puddle got up into the flywheel area or wrapped around the front engine pulley. I would not pull the engine and rip it apart without knowing what your trying to fix. I have seen people completely destroy a carburetor trying to take it apart to fix the dead battery. I have seen people replace the transmission because the engine kept overheating. I suggest that you make absolutely sure that the motor is bad before taking it apart. First things first, you gotta get that motor tuning over. Get a new battery and starter, or what ever you need to do. Back the motor up by hand to where it turns easily, and then try the starter. Hook up 2 batteries to the same starter, what ever you gotta do. You have nothing to lose. Once it turns over, run a compression test. Or even pull the plugs and measure the piston throw with a piece of wire or something, from BDC or TDC on all cylinders. If they don't match, you got a bent rod. What if you pull the whole motor apart and don't fins anything wrong? What if it did have water in the cylinders, but its locking up because the alternator has a bad bearing or a branch stuck in it?

Good idea Ill give that a try for sure. Thanks for the advice

[M1ck3y]

On 12/21/2021 at 8:00 PM, pureskull said:

I didnt run the truck into a puddle on purpose a semi truck took my lane and forced me to hit the puddle. I had a similar almost crash even at higher speeds with the Armaada and no Hydrolock. This doesnt justify the fact that the funnel location is in a very vulnerable position. If it was located in the same place as the Armada. I would still be enjoying this truck today. As far as it happening to other cars. Trucks are supposed to be tough specially when they are labeled TRAIL BOSS! I would understand this from a corolla or camry but a truck is in excusable

 

So you managed to take a picture while the semi-truck forced your from your lane 

 

I'm not sure if your aware, but the engine pulls air from the front grille. So if your going fast enough, your at the right angle, and there's enough water... well you know the rest 

 

*edit*

 

I should have read your whole post before commenting 

Edited December 24, 2021 by M1ck3y

[Transient]

46 minutes ago, pureskull said:

I didnt run the truck into a puddle on purpose a semi truck took my lane and forced me to hit the puddle. I had a similar almost crash even at higher speeds with the Armaada and no Hydrolock. This doesnt justify the fact that the funnel location is in a very vulnerable position. If it was located in the same place as the Armada. I would still be enjoying this truck today. As far as it happening to other cars. Trucks are supposed to be tough specially when they are labeled TRAIL BOSS! I would understand this from a corolla or camry but a truck is in excusable

Then it's an insurance issue, and should've been from the start.  Your picture of GM advertising clearly isn't an 18 inch deep puddle.  Speaking of advertising, that's what TRAIL BOSS is.  It's an advertising term to insinuate ruggedness.  However, advertising is allowed to "puff".  Everybody does it.  TRX and RAPTOR don't mean Ram and Ford make trucks as archaic as dinosaurs.  TUNDRA doesn't mean the truck is only for the snow.  TITAN doesn't mean the truck is the parents of Greek mythological gods.  Puffing in advertising isn't exclusive to trucks.  For example, MARRIAGE doesn't guarantee sex.  You assume too much, like how we care.  Save the drama for your next girl's night out.

Edited December 22, 2021 by Transient

[Supreme Pizza]

1 hour ago, Transient said:

Then it's an insurance issue, and should've been from the start.  Your picture of GM advertising clearly isn't an 18 inch deep puddle.  Speaking of advertising, that's what TRAIL BOSS is.  It's an advertising term to insinuate ruggedness.  However, advertising is allowed to "puff".  Everybody does it.  TRX and RAPTOR don't mean Ram and Ford make trucks as archaic as dinosaurs.  TUNDRA doesn't mean the truck is only for the snow.  TITAN doesn't mean the truck is the parents of Greek mythological gods.  Puffing in advertising isn't exclusive to trucks.  For example, MARRIAGE doesn't guarantee sex.  You assume too much, like how we care.  Save the drama for your next girl's night out.

 

 

That's some funny stuff. All true and all funny.

[Supreme Pizza]

If indeed the truck was phuc'd by a mud puddle, I can see why someone would .. be... "urinated" about it. I think that a vehicle should have basic protections from puddle water. Should it be a law - No..... Should it be standard practice - Yes.

[shakenfake]

cringe post go back to facebook

[diyer2]

I know someone who hydro - locked a 2006 Sierra 5.3. He was shocked it happened just like you. Everything has limits.

He had a dealer install a new motor at a cost of $6500.

[Gangly]

Trolling, there was a near identical post to this one awhile back.  You screwed up, own it.  Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.  

[Supreme Pizza]

 

 

[JimCost2014]

16 minutes ago, Gangly said:

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.  

Soooo, what kind of prizes are we talking about

 

I still need to get a few more Christmas presents.....

[JimCost2014]

I can only imagine what some of this guy's DIY projects around his house looks like. Amazing what car parts you can find in the plumbing aisle at Lowes