Monsoon Vehicle Care: While the monsoon season brings relief from the heat, it also presents numerous challenges for motorists. Continuous rainfall leads to waterlogging on city and town roads, forcing many to drive their cars or bikes through flooded streets. In such situations, the biggest risk is water entering the vehicle’s engine—a phenomenon known as “water ingress.” If a significant amount of water enters the engine, the vehicle can suffer from “hydrostatic lock.” Repairing the engine in such cases can cost lakhs of rupees rather than just thousands.
Most vehicle owners believe that having comprehensive or zero-depreciation insurance covers all types of engine damage. However, the reality is different. Motor insurance policies often do not cover “consequential damage” to the engine caused by water ingress. Insurance companies frequently classify such incidents as “user negligence.” Let us understand this in greater detail.
What is Hydrostatic Lock?
Under normal conditions, only air and fuel enter the engine’s cylinders. However, when a vehicle drives through deep water, water can often enter the engine through the air intake. The problem arises because air is compressible, whereas water is not. When the piston moves upward and attempts to compress the water present in the cylinder, excessive pressure builds up inside the engine. This can cause components like the piston, connecting rod, crankshaft, and valves to bend or break. This condition is known as “hydro-lock” or “hydrostatic lock.” In such instances, the engine shuts down abruptly and often fails to restart.
How does water enter the engine?
Water can enter the engine during the rainy season for various reasons; for example, driving at high speed over a waterlogged road can force water into the engine. Vehicles are at risk when the air intake gets submerged in water, the car remains parked in water for an extended period (such as during a flood), water leaks into engine components, or water enters the engine system due to improper washing methods.
What happens during a hydro-lock?
If water enters the engine, several issues can arise. These include the engine suddenly shutting down or failing to rotate when attempting to start it. Pistons may seize, connecting rods may bend, the cylinder head may be damaged, and the crankshaft may fail. The engine oil becomes completely contaminated, and water may even reach the gearbox. In severe cases, the entire engine assembly might need to be replaced.
How much does engine repair cost?
The cost of repairs following a hydro-lock depends on the vehicle’s model and engine capacity. For a small hatchback, the cost ranges from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh. A mid-sized sedan may cost between ₹80,000 and ₹1.8 lakh. Repairs for an SUV can range from ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh, while luxury cars can cost anywhere from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
Why doesn’t comprehensive insurance cover the engine?
Many people mistakenly believe that comprehensive insurance covers every type of damage, but this is not the case. Standard motor insurance policies provide coverage for road accidents, fire, theft, natural disasters, external collisions, and incidents involving riots or vandalism. If a driver repeatedly attempts to start a stalled vehicle, resulting in engine damage, this is classified as “consequential damage.”
What is the Engine Protect Add-on?
The Engine Protection Add-on is an additional insurance cover that can be purchased alongside the primary motor insurance policy. It specifically protects the engine and gearbox from damage caused by water ingress, lack of lubrication, or hydro-locking. While the premium for this add-on is low, it can save you lakhs of rupees in repair costs when needed.
What does the Engine Protect Add-on cover?
The Engine Protect Add-on typically offers extensive coverage. This includes damage caused by water entering the engine, engine repairs due to hydro-locking, engine replacement costs, gearbox damage caused by water, crankshaft repairs, connecting rod replacement, piston replacement, cylinder block repairs, engine oil and coolant changes, lubricant costs, engine flushing, and more.
Why is the Consumables Cover important?
It is worth noting that standard insurance policies do not cover many small but essential expenses. These include items such as engine oil, gear oil, coolant, brake fluid, nuts and bolts, washers, seals, grease, and filters. If you have Consumables Cover, your insurer can also reimburse you for these expenses.
What should you do if your car stalls in water?
If your car stalls in water, the golden rule is to absolutely avoid attempting to restart the engine. Leave the vehicle in a safe spot and immediately inform your insurance company. Avail of roadside assistance, have the vehicle towed to a service centre, and get it serviced. Ensure you obtain permission from the insurance company before proceeding with repairs.
When can a claim be rejected?
Your claim could be rejected if you repeatedly attempt to restart a stalled engine. Additionally, claims may be rejected for reasons such as forcibly driving the vehicle through water, delaying notification to the insurance company, getting repairs done at a local garage, failing to submit necessary documents, or providing incorrect information.
What documents are required for a claim?
When filing a claim, you will need documents such as the insurance policy, Registration Certificate (RC), driving license, photos and videos, the service centre’s repair estimate, repair bills, towing bills, and the claim form.
For whom is the ‘Engine Protect Add-on’ essential?
You might be wondering who really needs the ‘Engine Protect Add-on.’ It is highly recommended for residents of metropolitan cities prone to annual waterlogging, buyers of new cars, owners of expensive SUVs or premium vehicles, owners of diesel and turbo-engine vehicles, and daily office commuters.
Conclusion
During the rainy season, even a moment of carelessness can ruin your car’s engine. Hydro-locking is a problem where repair costs can range from ₹50,000 to over ₹3 lakh. Typically, standard Comprehensive or Zero Depreciation insurance policies do not cover this type of damage. Therefore, avoid driving through waterlogged areas. If your car stalls, do not attempt to restart it under any circumstances.
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