If you see a road sign that says "FORD", it means that there is a water crossing ahead.
The sign is located just before a ford, which is a shallow place in a river that can be crossed by walking or driving.
The sign is warning drivers that the ford may be too deep to cross safely.
The vast majority of cars will have an air-intake reasonably high within the engine bay, but some are low!
The lower to the ground your air-intake is the bigger the chance of damaging your engine and the shallower the water must be before driving through it.
Just a cupful of water is enough to wreck an engine.
SLOWLY, WITH HIGH REVS
They will have bent the valves in the engine at the very least, and the cost to repair will possible be
so much that it would be easier to put a replacement engine into the car instead.
Had they bothered to read a page like this prior to entering the water, they may have saved themselves a lot of time, effort, embarrassment and money.
Once you are sure the water is not moving too fast as moving water is very powerful and could sweep your car away downstream. That the depth of the water is ok for your air intake (we advise 100mm is ok to drive but deeper increases the risk not only to you but your car as well), then slowly present your car to the water.
You'll want to "ride the clutch" as you driver through the water to allow the car to remain at slow speed 2-3mph is fast enough, ensuring you try not to create a wave in front of your car (known as a bow wave), whilst keeping the revs high About 2000-3000 revs to ensure the water does not travel backwards to the engine via your exhaust, as this would have the same affect on the engine as sucking water in through the air-intake.
If you drive too fast you will create a bow wave that can soak people on the pavement and cause damage to property, especially in flood water.
You can be fined for deliberately splashing pedestrians or cyclists up to a fine of £5000.
Just continue through the water at a slow and steady pace until you are on the other side.
IF YOU DECIDE TO DRIVE THROUGH, YOU DO SO HAVING MADE A CHOICE.
SOMETIMES THE CHOICES WE MAKE ARE NOT THE BEST.
CONSIDER THE DANGERS OF DOING SO.
MOVING WATER COULD PUSH YOUR VEHICLE DOWNSTREAM TO DEEP WATER.
FLOOD WATER MAY BE CONTAMINATED AND CARRY BACTERIA.
A THIRD OF FLOOD-RELATED DEATHS ARE IN VEHICLES.
If you ever drive through a section of deeper water, ALWAYS ensure you try your brakes to ensure that they are effective.
Brake pads will absorb water and may not be as effective when you first try to use them until they dry out.
You can dry your brakes by gently applying pressure to the brake pedal with your left foot will driving along slowly, by having the brakes applied while you are driving, you will heat up the pads and disc/drums which will dry your brake pads out quicker.
