Oil warning light turned on after driving through extreme rain and high flooding

TALK2LIA

MEMBER
2012 VOLVO S60
AUTOMATIC
50,000 MILES

Earlier today I was driving through extreme rain and high flooding. My car stopped and shut down after being able to pull it over to the side. After a few minutes, it turned back on and the oil warning light came on along with smoking from the back. After a few more minutes the light turned off and the smoking stopped. I made it home however is this something I need to look further into? I there still an issue to resolve?

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Yes this is. More then likely you have water in the engine. The oil light came on because the pressure was high or low or possibly the level was the issue.

I would suggest doing an oil change ASAP. However you can go out tonight and check the oil on the stick and see if it looks milky. I attached a couple guides and the last one is for coolant and oil mixing. I am not suggesting that is your issue but it just has a good picture of what the oil looks like on the dip stick when it has water or coolant in it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-change-engine-oil-and-filter

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/high-oil-pressure

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolantantifreeze-in-the-engine-oil

The smoking was the water being boiled out of the engine so I suspect this was the issue. Try not to put off an oil change but once that is done, I suspect since it is not knocking at this point, that you will be okay. Let us know what happens. Thanks