3 Simple Tips to Avoid Serious Vehicle Flood Damage

The North Carolina coast is no stranger to knee deep roads and parking lot pools. Because Wilmington can be prone to flood, it is important to be aware of potential water damage to your vehicle. It is best to avoid traveling in severe rainstorms, but if you must, be sure to take care of your vehicle.


If you have been traveling in flooded areas, as soon as possible, check your engine and transmission fluids. If the fluids are milky, beige or appear diluted it could mean water is in the pans. If you have your doubts, tow your vehicle to a repair center. Driving with water in the oil or transmission will result in serious damage. A quick fix is to have a repair center completely drain the pans and replace with new fluids.

Your next area of concern should be your brakes. When your brake system is completely dried, replace all fluids. Once the vehicle is dry, completely re-lubricate the vehicle.

A common misconception is to allow a water drenched interior to simply dry on its own. The fabric will dry, but water will seep through the material and collect underneath the firewall. If left alone, this will mildew—a smell that won’t go away! Interior water damage is a leading cause for insurance companies to declare vehicles a total loss. The best practice is to completely replace the interior material.

Because flooding can be rapid and unexpected, avoid driving in severe rainstorms unless absolutely necessary. Be safe!