Do Not Start Flood-Damaged Vehicles, Experts Advise

 Dr. Nuwan Madanayake, a Traffic Engineer, urges vehicle owners to refrain from starting vehicles that were submerged or swept away by floodwaters due to the Ditwa cyclone, without a complete technical inspection, under any circumstances.

Instead of attempting to restart a vehicle caught in water, taking it to a service center for initial cleaning is an essential first step. He points out that all lubricants, including brake fluid, power steering fluid, gear oil, and engine oil, must then be drained. If these oils have turned white, the engine should undergo a complete inspection.

While the engine and gearbox of a vehicle completely submerged in water for two or three days might be salvageable, the engineer believes that reusing its electrical system is entirely unsuitable. Even if temporary repairs are made, electrical circuits can corrode over time, leading to significant mechanical problems. Therefore, it is more advisable to decommission such vehicles through insurance coverage or for third-party insurance holders to completely replace the electrical system with a new one.

Furthermore, Dr. Nuwan Madanayake emphasized that in water-damaged vehicles, the old grease in the suspension systems should be completely removed and replaced with new grease, and the corresponding rubber components should be newly installed.