1999 Volvo S80 v6-turbo drove thru water

[amys]

I am ashamed to admit this but I drove my wonderful 1999 Volvo S80-V6-Turbo thru a flooded road. The water wasn't that high but I got nervous and stepped on the gas and sucked water into the intake. It made it thru water, then stalled, I tried to start and wont turn over. Towed it home and a friend tore engine down and there was water in 4 of 6 plugs and large amount of water in oil pan. We left it apart and cover everything with towels to try and dry it out. My friend hasn't made it back over and I am stuck. Someone told me to put Marvel Mystery Oil in where the plugs go and try to turn motor over by hand? I don't want to make matter worse but I can not afford to go the dealer. If anyone has any advice please help me, and I also put in a new starter.

[SimLyons]

Is it still apart? If so, you need to clean the oil pan as good as you can. Leave no trace of water. Change the filter, too. It probably is full of water. Are the spark plugs out of the car? If so, leave them out after cleaning and drying them. If you don't have compressed air just use a hair dryer.

Be sure to fill the oil again. You'll need 7 quarts at least. Put 7 qts. in at the beginning. Then, with someone watching the spark plug holes, crank over the engine 2 or 3 turns, maybe 3 seconds. Your looker might see wather coming out the spark plug holes. If so, wipe up all the water that comes out. Then put about a tablespoon of oil into each cylinder through the spark plug holes. Crank it over again, maybe 5-6 seconds.

Then look at all the coils. If they are dry, NO moisture, put the DRY spark plugs back in and snap the coils back on. Did you put the oil in the engine?? If yes, try to start it. If you are lucky and blessed, it will start. Roughly at first. Run the engine slowly until the gauge shows it's warm.

You will probably get check engine lights. Don't worry, yet. Shut off the engine and check the oil. Is the level good? If so, you are ok. And if the oil looks like might brown mud, you have water in the oil. You will have to drain it again and fill again with fresh oil. If you are lucky, the oil will be normal and you can drive it to an auto parts store where they will check your CEL and turn it off. Just write down any codes.

If it runs well now, drive it. Get it really warm (drive 40 miles or so) and by now all the water that is still in the engine should be evaporated.\\\

The engine air intake on your car is above the radiator and that IS HIGH!! You probably got water in many other parts, including your electronic controls. If so, you are looking at Big $$$ for parts and repair.

Good luck!

[boosted5cyl]

Small detail but you don't have a V6.... its an inline 6.
Do you know if you are dealing with a mechanical issue, or electrical? When you turn the key to start do you hear a click, hum or buzz from the motor? One possibility is you hydrolocked the motor and bent rods.
For sure you will want to get as much of that water out of the intake and turbo systems, dry the electrics including the ECU and TCM, check all the fuses and relays.
Remove the plugs and turn it over by hand, you'll need to find away to vacuum the water out of each cylinder if it's gotten that far.

MMO isnt going to do anything helpful here, sorry.

[precopster]

How well will the vacuum created by the turbo dry out the intercooler?

If this has water in it you may want to blow compressed air through it first as water will re enter the intake again and again if it's not dry.

Because of the large diameter of the intercooler's pipes you may have to find a way to reduce them so you can create prezsure with the compressed air.

[SimLyons]

Yes, to all the above. Your life would be much easier with a compressor. The larger to better (witin reason). To get the water out and off of things you need to blow a lot of air through/over them. You could even blow compressed air into the spark plug holes (Stand back!!) and if there's water in there it will be forced back out. Most of it will, anyway. DO NOT have your face anywhere near, and look away.

Also blow dry the spark plugs, blow through the piping and tubes, and all around any electrical connections. You might want to disconnect the ground on your battery first.

I'm just wondering if your electronics are all fried. The really important ones are pretty well sealed but it doesn't take much. Disconnect each electrical connectors (if it is plugged) and blow them dry, followed by spraying electronics cleaner on them.

If you find the engine is pretty dry (in the manifolding and tubes) you might be in luck.

[boosted5cyl]

Shop vac is a good way to get a good flow across the intercooler.....

[panagiotis12]

Any time an engine takes in water there is a great chance for catastrophic damage. Unlike air, water cannot be compressed. So, as the piston travels up to meet a combustion chamber filled with water, usually the result is a bent or broken rod(if engine speed was great enough). Sounds like you already took the proper first step which was to remove all of the spark plugs and check for water in the cylinders. After draining the crankcase, replacing the filter, and filling with fresh oil, vacuum out any remaining water through the spark plug holes. I would probably install new plugs given what they have been through and at this point if Just try to start the engine. You cannot possibly do any more harm than could potentially already have been done. It is either going to start or not. I will say this, in my 17 year career I have seen more engines survive this than I would have guessed so keep your hopes up and good luck!

Oh and by the way, don't forget to drain any remaining water from the air box and intercooler.

[amys]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I will try and pray that it will start.