Today we are mourning the loss of an innocent Chevrolet Suburban. What started as a normal day for this SUV ended in disaster. The owner tried using a river to fill the Chevy Suburban’s radiator, and things did not go well. 

R.I.P Man accidentally drowns his Chevy Suburban

This may be a surprise to some, but the Chevy Suburban can’t swim. It’s an excellent SUV for towing, taking family vacations, off-roading, etc. But it can’t turn into a submarine or another aquatic vehicle. 

According to Kima News, emergency crews responded to an SUV that was spotted after being submerged into the Yakima River in Washington. Drivers could see that light blue Suburban sticking out of the water near Century Lander, in the gap south of Yakima and Union Gap. 

The Yakima Country Sheriff’s Office was shocked to discover that the SUV was intentionally submerged nose-first into the water. The driver told them that he recently replaced the thermostat in the vehicle and needed to fill the radiator with water. 

You could get a jug of distilled water and use that to fill a radiator. Dipping the front end of a vehicle into the water to fill it isn’t the safest method. The Suburban has been towed out of the river, and the extent of the damage is currently unknown. 

Avoid putting water in your radiator 

If your Chevy Suburban, Ford F-150, Jeep Wrangler, or any vehicle is running hot, please don’t fill the radiator with dirty water. If you use contaminated water, it can chemically remove the electrons from the metals of the cooling system components. 

Distilled water will eventually lead to damage as well. The cylinder heads and engine block will be at an increased risk of overheating and damage. Also, most tap water contains minerals that will leave deposits inside the radiator, leading to corrosion. This can shorten its life span and ruin its ability to cool. 

You can put distilled water in your radiator if you have no other options available. But you will want to use the highest quality water possible. A bottle of distilled water is a much better option than dirty river water. 

You only want to resort to using water if you have a short distance to drive. Once you arrive at that location, ensure that the radiator is flushed and refilled with the correct mixture of coolant and water. 

How does water ruin vehicles? 

We aren’t sure what exactly was damaged when the Chevy Suburban was dunked in the river. But we do know that a lot of significant damage can occur when a vehicle is flooded. Usually, water that goes past the floorboards causes problems because that’s where the electronics begin. 

Water can damage the engine, airbags, electrical system, and other crucial components. Minor flooding can also lead to rust, mold, and a few new interesting smells. Typically after a car dries out and a mechanic can inspect it for damage, the vehicle is considered to be totaled. 

If your car is flooded, don’t start the engine until it has been clean and inspected. Running the engine with water in it can cause more damage. Have the vehicle towed to a location where it can dry out. Have all fluids flushed and make sure the components are cleaned. Then have a technician inspect the electrical components for water damage.