Cape with no snorkel ?

Should not be a problem If in doubt tarp up.

All the best
Eric

Hi Herr Brush,

We had no problems in Sep '02 with our un-snorkelled Disco. (See here for a piccie.) But of course, conditions up there can change radically between seasons and with recent weather.

It's important to know exactly where your air inlet is and, if possible, re-route it to the highest position under the bonnet. (On the Disco, you can remove it from the original inner guard position and put it high up under the bonnet behind the LH headlamp, for example.) We also carry a temporary makeshift snorkel that we've never needed: a metre or so of pool vacuum hose, a rubber boot [toilet cistern to pedestal boot (new, not used!)] to attach it to the air box inlet pipe, and a couple of hose clamps.

Another point I've seen many snorkel-equipped vehicles miss is the air box (air filter housing) itself. Most have drains in the bottom, some with rubber boots of dubious efficiency which are supposed to let water drain out but not back in. If you happen to stop in deep water and the air box is not effectively sealed than no snorkel is much good because the air box will fill-up through these drains. I prefer to seal them completely with silicone.

Other item to consider before deep wading:
. Are the gearbox/transfer case/front and rear diff breathers routed up to a high point (top of the firewall generally)? Does your vehicle have or need wading plugs under the engine or bell housing?

. Alternators and air-con compressors are not designed to run submerged, especially in dirty, silted water.

. Also, turbo diesels with mechanical injection pumps usually have a manifold pressure compensator (sometimes called an aneroid) on the injection pump. These have an air bleed hole under the diaphragm. In deep wading, this can go under and let water into the compensator unit - not good

Prepare well and have fun. [Unlike the Jeep Grand Cherokee driver a day behind us on the OTL. He hydraulic-locked his lovely new V8 at the first crossing. Didn't have a clue where the intake was. After two days beside the road he and girlfriend were towed all the way to Siesia behind the Bamaga mechanic's Tojo trayback, over the horrendous bypass roads. No air-con (windows down and drowning in dust), no power steering, no power brakes. Not much fun.]

We've had Subaru's up the OTL without snorkels so a Lux shouldn't have any issues. If your car has the air intake behind the headlight just remove the plastic intake tube otherwise carry a small tarp & take your time on the crossings. Some have a few big holes in them & others are deceptively deep as they are crystal clear. If in doubt make a cup of tea & watch someone else go through 1st :-)
Cheers Craig............

As advised previously, watch someone else go through first (keep an eye out for our slithery friends, as there are plenty there !! )

If still in doubt, ask someone on the other side to stand by ready to hook onto your snatch strap and pull you through - we found very willing helpers on our trip and we also helped others where we could. There is a long enough escape rd on the northern side to be able to tow a vehicle right across.

When we crossed Nolan's last year it was deeper than in the photo link above, and I got bogged. I had a snorkel, so no problem with water in the engine, but if you do get stuck make sure to shut off the engine immediately, and don't try and drive out like one goose just before us who wrecked his LC100 engine.

From memory no other crossing needed a snorkel, but that can change in a flash with a bit of rain I expect.

Enjoy the trip - we did.

Cheers

Went up June/July last year in Rodeo (no snorkel) after the big wet and no great depth on the OTL. The deepest bits were dips after the turnoff from the Weipa road, but not very wide. The water pressure kept bending up my front number plate (only fastened at the top). Shouldn't be as deep this year.
Reminder: must bolt number plate at the bottom before I go up at the end of the month, just in case.

I found Nolan Brook to be the deepest in our trip to the Cape.. It wasn't a long crossing by any means but if for some reason you lose forward momentum you could have a bit of trouble in there is you don't have a snorkel and the water is high..

When we were there was a van (one of those L300 things) that got a gutfull of water at Nolan Brook.. apparently the van was stuck in the middle of the water hole for a couple of hours waiting for someone to come along.. we came along only a matter of minutes after he had cranked it out on the starter... the motor oil was full of water so I hate to think what other damage was done but it didn't look good for him.. he turned down the offer for assistance and was setting up camp as he had a bit of work ahead of him to get going again.

For me I would spring for the snorkel before I went to both help with dust and to have peace of mind in the water.

cheers