So unfortunately my SD with 6.4 went through some high water and sucked a bunch of it down the intake. When it happened a ton of white smoke poured out of the exhaust. Now it has what sounds like valve chatter and possibly a blown head gasket.

My insurance adjuster says since there is no water in the crank case then it didn’t ingest water (I know it did I was driving) and they are trying to deny my claim. He said water down the intake ALWAYS bypasses the piston rings and ends up in the oil. I know everything there is about a gas motor and I know this isn’t true. I’ve seen water bend valves etc and not do any damage to the connecting rods or piston. Is a diesel any different?

 

Get someone else.

You can't compress water. High school stuff. If it gets in the intake it's kind of like the song you sang in auto shop in high school. Intake, Compression, Power, and Exhaust.

When any combustion engine is on the intake stroke, whatever is in the intake will be wolfed down. If it's water, instant chaos. This isn't like a small shot of Diesel. This is a huge pull into the cylinder like a vacuum cleaner that only builds on each stroke because it doesn't burn. Bent rods.

Bigger question, and I'm sure the crowd is anxious. You were going fishing and forgot your boat?

Denny

 

I don't see why every hydro lock would result in water in the crank case. It doesn't take very much water to lock a cylinder. A couple ounces of water in a cylinder can absolutely cause damage.

Maybe the adjuster sees mostly very serious cases where someone drove into 10' of water at full throttle or something. You should tell him he's an adjuster and not a mechanic or engineer. You'll get your money.

 

You can always protest your adjuster. If again they conclude that this was not caused by this instance, you can always tell them to do a direct finding of failure. Independently. Things might soften up for you. Or they can side step and say if it's not the root cause, your on the hook for the coroner. Big bucks!

Care to address the swim?

Denny

 

what is a direct finding of failure?

OBX NC where the actual state roads are sand roads. We hit a huge hole and the passenger side dropped down pushing water right up into the air intake as I found out the hard way. I couldn’t let off or the whole truck would have been flooded. Lots of white smoke out of the exhaust but then it seemed to run fine other than a chatter. I’ve had motors with bad rods before and this doesn’t sound like they did. No water in the engine oil.

 

Ring, Piston, Valve train, and connecting rod look around. That's proof.

Cheap, NO!

My advice is proceed with caution. In my years, an Insurace Company won't comply with a claim they suspect was neglect or abused beyond "reasonable* coverage risk. Very shallow water.

Denny

 

what does this mean?

 

I can't help you son. It means that you have to claim responsibility for the Truck.

Denny

 

Denny, have you been drinking?

 

Since 1976,

Your signature says you have a 5.4 ? Any other questions. Sorry for trying to help.

Denny