Diff Breather Extension Query

Hi Dozer,
When you say remover the one way valves, I'm assuming your refering to landcruisers? I ask because i havent noticed any on my GQ

cheers AngeloI love it when you talk DIRTY !

Yes Cruisers, dont know about Nissans...to find out take the hose off the diff, clean the end and see if you can suck through it. Should be able to blow and suck unless there is a valve on the end of the pipe (as in cruisers) that wont allow air in, and dropping the hot diff into cold water creates vacuum in the diff that the seals cant contain...in comes the water through the pinion or axle seals.
Andrewwheredayathinkwer mike?

Thanks Mick .. I was tiring of the blank looks I was getting at some of the places up here on the Central Coast. Guy in one well known automotive supplier asked what "diff breathers were" ... at that point I knew the game was lost.
Shall follow your suggestions. Thanks.
Cheers
JackNo trees were harmed in the making or sending of this message.
However a great number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

I notice no-one replied to your query. They need extending because they usually sit just above the axle. This means that it doesn't take a very deep crossing to have them submerged. That's when potential problems arise - ie possible water getting into diff. Big no no. So if you're planning on crossing water deeper than the height of your vehicle's breathers you'd better extend them up higher to avoid problems.
Yes your understanding of what the breather does is fine.

Hi Rob:
I think Moose has covered it pretty well ... basic idea is to reduce the possibility of water entering diff/gearbox during a water crossing.

On the 80 Series Landcruiser, they have breathers, but are set pretty low. They also have a cap on top which opens when the gases expand, and closes as they cool .. so if you hit water with a hot diff/gearbox, there exists the possibility that the cooling gearbox/diff will suck water in before the flap closes .. or .. as has been pointed out earlier in this thread .. they can possibly suck water in past the seals.

To respond totally to your query ... under normal conditions the standard breaters are fine .. but if you get into any water with a depth above the height of the breathers, you can have dramas. I am planning a long-ish trip in 2004 and am preparing my truck for it, diff breathers being one of the jobs to be done. For me it is cheap insurance and some peace of mind. Hopefully I won't need them, but as it is not very expensive to do, I find it worth the effort.

You are new to 4WD? I am not an old hand, but have been involved for about 2 years .. and love it .. best thing I have ever done. I hope your experiences are similar. Stay safe.
Cheers
JackNo trees were harmed in the making or sending of this message.
However a great number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

Hi Jack

You have no idea what a problem you have caused with your posting!!
LOL :-).

There was me quite happily thinking I'd covered most things in my planning over the last 2 or 3 months before setting off in January on a 3 month NT / SA / WA tour. Note, covered most things, NOT complacent and knowledgeable about everything (I'm learning how dangerous that can be in the outback!)

I thought I'd covered the whole water crossing thing. Tie a groundsheet to protect the radiator, don't tackle anything too deep (say over 60cm) and she'd be right. And you go and post a message about extending breathers!!

After the investigating I've done today it's another one of those jobs I need to do. Still better to know now rather than when someone rocks up and I'm stuck in the middle of a river, and they say "You've extended your diff/gearbox breathers haven't you?".

Do you have any views on a snorkel for a petrol 80 series? I've been thinking along the lines of "If it's deep enough to need a snorkel, it's too deep anyway". A mate reckons above about 60cm in a petrol cruiser, you get too much splashing from the fan on to the spark plugs / distributer etc, even with a radiator guard tied on,. What have you found?

And where are you off to in 2004?

Keep on inconveniencing those electrons!!

Rob

Hi Rob:

Oh dear!! And this forum is supposed to fix problems :)

I agree with your philosophy of "If it's deep enough to need a snorkel, it's too deep anyway" ... and if confronted with a deep-ish water crossing I would tend to try and find a more shallow alternative. I don't go looking for trouble.

I have a snorkel fitted to my 80 Series, but mine is a diesel, and water in a diesels innards if pretty much "terminal". I tend to think on a petrol engine you would end up with wet ignition first, stopping you mid-steam.
Having said that, I still think I would get one. The groundsheet (or blind) is to create a bow wave in front of you so that the water level inside the engine bay does not get too high so as to dampen things down. You've just gotta keep moving : )

There is a terrific site showing the "diff breather" fitment (including pictures). Just click here to access it. It also has some other useful 80 Series goodies as well.

Next year I am starting out by heading over to Wilpena Pound with friends, where we plan to stay for 3 or 4 weeks. Then probably head across to Perth, up to Broome, across to Darwin and Cairns, then back down the coast to the NSW Central Coast. All at a fairly leisurely pace. Weather and road conditions will dictate the final route. For most of it I will be travelling solo, which is why I am probably being a little more cautious that I would be if I was travelling in a convoy.

Can't wait to head off .....

Hope that diff breater site is helpful for you.

JackNo trees were harmed in the making or sending of this message.
However a great number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

Thanks for the link Jack.

We'll be crossing Nullarbor around mid-Feb, then similar route to you - to Perth, up to Broome, back to Darwin. If you see a Champagne :) coloured cruiser, towing a trailer, and with recently extended diff breathers (lol) give us a wave.

Rob

Hi Rob:

Shall keep an eye out ... the extended breathers will be a dead giveaway : )

I will be in a dark grey 80 Series, bearing an ExploreOz sticker, NSW plates starting "UCV~~~" ... and beer in the fridge.
Safe travels

JackNo trees were harmed in the making or sending of this message.
However a great number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.