The weather lately has been unpredictable. Sometimes it's scorching hot, but it can suddenly turn into heavy rain that causes flooding. So, for those of you who often drive, it's super important to know the safe limits for driving through floodwaters. The question is: how deep can the floodwaters be for it to still be safe to drive through?

Before answering that, you need to know that water can enter several critical parts of the car, such as the exhaust pipe, fuel tank, door sills, and most crucially, the engine air intake. If water enters these parts, the risks can be severe, ranging from rust, short circuits, to engine failure due to water hammer.

Safe Limit: Don’t Exceed Half the Tire Height!

The safest guideline when driving through a flood is to keep the water level below half the tire height. If it’s higher than that, it’s better to turn back or find an alternative route. But if you have to go through it, here are some safe tips you can follow:

1. Use low gear and keep the car moving slowly.

2. Follow the water flow from the vehicle in front of you.

3. Maintain a safe distance to avoid getting stuck if the vehicle in front suddenly stops.

4. Keep the RPM low to prevent excessive air intake into the engine.

5. After exiting the floodwater, don’t immediately accelerate! Try pressing the brake pedal a few times while driving slowly to dry the brake pads and discs or drums.

If the puddle appears too deep or you are unsure, it is better to avoid it than take the risk. Remember, safety is more important than rushing to your destination.

So, stay alert and always assess the road conditions before deciding to drive through floodwaters, okay!

Indonesia 🇮🇩

Jangan Asal Terobos! Ini Batas Aman Mobil Lewati Genangan Banjir

Cuaca akhir-akhir ini memang sulit diprediksi. Kadang panas terik, tapi bisa tiba-tiba berubah jadi hujan deras yang mengakibatkan genangan hingga banjir. Nah, buat kamu yang sering bawa mobil, penting banget buat tahu batas aman berkendara saat melewati genangan air. Pertanyaannya: seberapa tinggi genangan yang masih aman dilewati mobil?

Sebelum menjawab itu, kamu perlu tahu bahwa air bisa masuk ke beberapa bagian penting mobil seperti knalpot, tangki bahan bakar, kolong pintu, dan yang paling krusial, saluran udara mesin (air intake). Kalau bagian ini kemasukan air, risikonya bisa fatal, mulai dari karat, korsleting, bahkan mesin jebol karena water hammer.

Batas Aman: Jangan Lebih dari Setengah Tinggi Ban!

Patokan paling aman saat menerobos genangan air adalah tinggi air maksimal setengah ban mobil. Lebih dari itu, lebih baik putar balik atau cari jalur alternatif. Tapi kalau terpaksa lewat, ini dia tips aman yang bisa kamu ikuti:

1. Gunakan gigi rendah dan jaga mobil melaju perlahan.

2. Ikuti arus air dari kendaraan di depan.

3. Jaga jarak aman agar tidak terjebak jika kendaraan di depan tiba-tiba berhenti.

4. Jaga RPM tetap rendah supaya hisapan udara mesin tidak terlalu besar.

5. Setelah keluar dari genangan, jangan langsung tancap gas! Coba tekan pedal rem beberapa kali sambil jalan pelan, tujuannya buat mengeringkan kampas dan cakram atau tromol rem.

Jika genangan terlihat terlalu dalam atau kamu ragu-ragu, lebih baik hindari daripada ambil risiko. Ingat, keselamatan lebih penting daripada buru-buru sampai tujuan.

So, tetap waspada dan selalu baca situasi jalan sebelum memutuskan menerobos banjir, ya!