Hi
I have a 2007 fiat panda diesel multijet.
I thought I'd check my air filter to see if it needed changing. So removed the cover and noticed a few centimetres of the offside end of the paper filter was soaking wet, that end bit was also dirty. The rest was clean and dry.

We have had a lot of rain in the last few weeks but my obvious concern is that water could get into the engine and wreck the piston rods . Especially if this moisture in the filter condenses and is sucked into the engine air intake.

I have heard that water getting into the panda multijet Diesel engine is a known problem. There is a bolt just above the filter beneath the windscreen that leaks onto the filter housing but I've since covered it thickly in grease to stop any water.
The other possible problem is the air intake hose points directly to the front, so driving in very heavy rain could force water into the air filter.

Any suggestions?

It's the screwhole. Use silicone to seal it and all should be fine again. You must have had some sluggishness for the first half mile or so of your recent journeys.

It's a well known issue.

Rectify this ASAP or its bye bye engine / Panda.

Wee Smurf said:

It's the screwhole.

It's a well known issue.

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correct - TBH it's probably in the top 5 for most common Panda issues

luckily mine are all petrol.. so no cam-chain issues either

I've had a close look at the air filter box and seen that the air-intake from outside emerges under the paper filter meaning air passes upwards through the filter then along to top of the casing before being sucked down and into the turbo.

Fortunately the route out of the filter box to the turbo is above the level of the filter meaning that then filter would litterly have to be flooded and over flow into the turbo engine intake. So hopefully the water level can't have got high enough for it to pour into the engine.

MountainRunner said:

I've had a close look at the air filter box and seen that the air-intake from outside emerges under the paper filter meaning air passes upwards through the filter then along to top of the casing before being sucked down and into the turbo.

Fortunately the route out of the filter box to the turbo is above the level of the filter meaning that then filter would litterly have to be flooded and over flow into the turbo engine intake. So hopefully the water level can't have got high enough for it to pour into the engine.

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Not quite true, because even when the filter is damp, damage could occur. As the damp filter cools when you turn off the engine, water could condense out, but more significant is the fact that these filter boxes distort. Remove the box and check the seal along the rear lip (not easily seen while the box is in place). Sometimes there is a gap in the seal, and this allows both water run-off and unfiltered air to bypass the filter and be drawn directly into the intake ducting. I had to 'remould' mine with a heat gun to get the two halves to fit properly. Finally I chucked it completely and fitted a different filter system.

It's as has been said - not a job to ignore, or you could be in for an expensive repair!

Sweetsixteen said:

Not quite true, because even when the filter is damp, damage could occur. As the damp filter cools when you turn off the engine, water could condense out, but more significant is the fact that these filter boxes distort. Remove the box and check the seal along the rear lip (not easily seen while the box is in place). Sometimes there is a gap in the seal, and this allows both water run-off and unfiltered air to bypass the filter and be drawn directly into the intake ducting. I had to 'remould' mine with a heat gun to get the two halves to fit properly. Finally I chucked it completely and fitted a different filter system.

It's as has been said - not a job to ignore, or you could be in for an expensive repair!

Click to expand...

What filter system did you use to replace the original one? I've considered doing that myself but space is limited inside the engine compartment.

Also how would I know if any damage has been done, Would the engine warning lights appear or would the engine fail to turn over?

I've checked underneath the paper air-filter and there is a space about 1 inch deep with two drainage holes in the bottom so if it did get a lot of water in I'd presume it would just drain out the bottom of the filter housing. Even water getting in from the front grill air intake would just drain out of the bottom of the filter via those holes.

My car is second hand so its possible that the filter system has been modified or replaced for a modified version. The previous owner mentioned some problems with blue smoke on starting but that was fixed new injectors, rocker cover etc and no problems yet So maybe they did something to modify or replace the air filter system? There is a slight twitch on accelerating at speed but that could be the EGR valve or even the clutch.

But I have put a copious amount of grease over that leaking bolt and will cover the back of the filter box with duct tape and tape on a long strip of bent plastic to direct any water past the back of the filter box.

But Sweetsixteen is right that a wet filter could get warm and make water water vapour that could condense inside the filter box and drop into the engine air intake, but it would have to be a significant amount of water and any water vapour whilst driving would just enter the cylinders in is vapour form and be blasted out of the exhaust harmlessly.

Not really sure why you've raised this 'water in the air filter' issue again, because you have raised it before and the answer has been given before.

Is there some new factor here, or are you not happy with the previous answers?

Water is not combustible so you don't want that taken in.
Vapour from the exhaust comes hrom burning hydrocarbs (fuel).
H + O makes H2O and C + O CO and CO2...

As said: Put some silicone sealant on the screwhole and Bob's your uncle.

gr J