Sunday, Dec 18, 2005 at 07:32
A lot of people see photos of 4x4 vehicles ploughing through deep
water and think that the vehicle is designed to do this.
Well, try reading the manufactureres recomendations. Axle deep is the recomended wadeing depth as recomended by most manufacturers! Regular emersion in a depth over 600 mm and you had better be prepared for possible mud /
water damage to wheel bearings, starter motor, alternator, differentials. On some vehicles with very low down air intakes you could even cause very heavy damage to an engine.
Most 4x4 drivers have no idea how easy it is for a vehicle to float ! If you have
water up to the top of your tyres you risk haveing no traction and being at the mercy of the current if you are in moving
water. You can reduce the effect of
water on your engine compartment by using a wadeing curtain (eg canvas or plastic sheet across the front of vehicle), this will deflect some
water from the area around the fan helping to prevent (a) The fan blades being deflected by the
water and possibly damageing the radiator. (b) The
water being thrown around the engine compartment and into electrical components by the fan. This can occur on both petrol and diesel engines.
Diffs need to have breather tubes fitted and run up into a high point in the engine bay or body of the vehicle. Some vehicles have the alternator fitted high up in the engine bay and some have them low down where they are more easily effected by
water. Starter motors are relatively protected by being totally enclosed but not many are
water tight allowing fine silt to enter and chew up the brushes.
If you want to frequently use your 4x4 in deep
water (wheel height or more) you need to have a deep wallet and be prepared to open it regularly! You need to talk to lots of people with EXPERIENCE, preferably face to face rather then just read a few flipant replies from some fearless
young people who enjoy having fun and making a splash but don't really know what they are doing or how close to the edge they are operating. Driving in
water is not difficult but like all 4x4 driving there is no substitute for experience and local knowledge. There is no short answer to your query.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: V8Diesel - Sunday, Dec 18, 2005 at 08:26
Sunday, Dec 18, 2005 at 08:26
Too true KK, couldn't agree more with you there.
The problem with
water / deep mud work is that the damage often takes weeks or even months to become apparent.
I can think of one trip in the 75 that resulted in a stuffed rear diff, a starter motor, a clutch (input shaft seal chewed out on the gearbox), clogged radiator and another two that killed $600 alternators. I could have bought myself a nice little tinnie and outboard for the same price as those repairs.
Nowdays I prefer to just sit on the sidelines and watch when the
water level gets above the door sills and save the deep stuff for when I really need to, not just for mucking around purposes. This saves a world of pain cleaning and degunking the underside too.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Banjo 1 - Sunday, Dec 18, 2005 at 08:44
Sunday, Dec 18, 2005 at 08:44
Sage advice Kia indeed - I'm not into
water crossings yet but have been around long enough to be very circumspect re the potential consequences - re the wallet factor - hoards of outback tavellers have found out the hard way I'm sure - the flotation factor is scary too, in that you could have done everything toward protecting the car, but still get washed off the crossing ! Every magazine article - every retailers promise - every manufacturers promotion must be taken with a large measure of salt.
FollowupID:
397853