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modifications required to allow driving through water

larrylamb said:
Is that a T4? .......................................................................................stands well back :Nailbiting
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Interesting vehicle to drive especially into the surf and back out again. The one we had in Masirah had 2,4 and 6 wheel drive + propeller. There was a definite back to getting out beyond the breaker line.
 
Personally I’d think twice on driving through water deeper than the manufacturer recommended maximum depth. What most people won’t be aware of is that most daily drivers are not built to have water above the gearbox, engine ,axles etc. These all have oil seals designed to keep the oil inside and most work by the fact that when in use the internal pressure is slightly higher than the outside ambient therefore making a good seal. When these seals are submerged even slightly then the external pressure can easily overcome the seal and let water in and it’s well documented that oil & water don’t do well together. Specialist vehicles like Landrovers etc have additional seals specifically designed to keep external elements out. Better safe than sorry.
 
Malc69 said:
These all have oil seals designed to keep the oil inside and most work by the fact that when in use the internal pressure is slightly higher than the outside ambient therefore making a good seal. When these seals are submerged even slightly then the external pressure can easily overcome the seal and let water in.
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Actually its the fact that a diff for example after a few miles is full of hot air & oils, & hot air expands, because of this there is breather hole usually at the highest part of the diff to relieve the air pressure .
Suddenly dunking the diff into cold water makes the air contract, if the breather hole at that point is underwater water will be sucked in through the breather hole.
 
‘Brian’s Dad’ said:
Do you need to do anything to the exhaust? I’ve heard people talk about adding a pipe to the exhaust to stop water going back up it?
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As long as you keep the engine running, there is no issue. If the engine stalls, then water will flow into your exhaust pipe. It will not reach your engine, its exhaust is high up on it. But the exhaust pipe may fill up to a level that provides such resistance that the engine won’t start again.
 
andyinluton said:
Suddenly dunking the diff into cold water makes the air contract, if the breather hole at that point is underwater water will be sucked in through the breather hole.
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That, indeed, is the issue. Not so much seals leaking.
 
 
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He did have a snorkel but probably not sealed effectively. I had water over the bonnet of mine when off roading and had to wait until it "sank" before finding grip again.

Also pushing water is heavy. (Very)

Picture 224.jpg
 
 
Mrs B and I were billeted just outside Hereford over the weekend. By the time we left this morning the water level had receded enough for us to use the low lying single track country lane leading away from our country hotel towards Ross on Wye. Unfortunately, after three miles the road was blocked by someone's abandoned 68 plate Landrover Freelander. The front windows were open and the inside full of mud. Clearly another gamble that hadn't paid off.
 
Borris said:
Mrs B and I were billeted just outside Hereford over the weekend. By the time we left this morning the water level had receded enough for us to use the low lying single track country lane leading away from our country hotel towards Ross on Wye. Unfortunately, after three miles the road was blocked by someone's abandoned 68 plate Landrover Freelander. The front windows were open and the inside full of mud. Clearly another gamble that hadn't paid off.
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The call to either stop and reverse out or continue and risk deeper water must be a hard one to make.

Stopping and selecting reverse, then backing out along a flooded road when you can’t see the edges of the road must be very difficult.

Continuing through the flood by comparison is likely to feel the safer choice.
 
Amarillo said:
The call to either stop and reverse out or continue and risk deeper water must be a hard one to make.

Stopping and selecting reverse, then backing out along a flooded road when you can’t see the edges of the road must be very difficult.

Continuing through the flood by comparison is likely to feel the safer choice.
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Well you've hit the nail on the head. Knowing just how deep you can drive your vehicle safely is very important. Yes, many vehicles are tested through deepish water but it still remains a big gamble for a driver to enter water of uncertain depth.

I have no idea what depth of water I could safely drive our vehicles through and I have no intention of finding out. For me, if the water comes up much above the bottom of the sills on a car then IMO the chances of disaster increase considerably. Leaving potentially catastrophic damage to the engine to one side, will the rubber door seals be effective at keeping a solid body of water out? Some vehicles have delicate electrics located underneath the carpets etc so any slight ingress of water into the floor pan and you may start to see some weird things happening with electrical functions. (Some VAG group vehicles are noted for this problem caused in that case by blocked rubber drain points under the bonnet leading to water ingress). To gauge the maximum depth I've always driven slowly through water with the drivers door open. If it starts coming up the sills then that's deep enough for me. In my experience that depth is unlikely to cause other problems elsewhere as that is roughly the same level as the engine undertray. If it starts to look iffy then at that depth you should still be able to reverse out slowly. If in doubt as to where the road is then it's time to get your feet wet to make sure before backing up.

Given the cost of vehicles today it always makes me shudder when I see news reel footage of people driving through deep water as if they were the Cox on a Lifeboat launching.
 
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I love the use of the wipers when the car was underwater. Amazing they stayed so calm
 
Good Door seals.:thumb
 
WelshGas said:
Good Door seals.:thumb
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Not really... have look at 1:25: the whole cabin is flooded! I guess that is why they didn’t float! OMG! (Sorry, OMM).


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bvddobb said:
Not really... have look at 1:25: the whole cabin is flooded! I guess that is why they didn’t float! OMG! (Sorry, OMM).


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I’m sure it got in but not as high as the Dashboard.
 
Oh my mother ...... that's priceless!!!!!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
Last October just along the road from York CMC ... one that didn't make itIMG_4977.JPG!
 
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Oops clip previously posted!
 
Usually when I go on holiday I carry an inflatable rubber boat. If the water is that high as in these clips, I think I'd use a boat, not a car, it seems to me a more logic choice
 
The guy in the Audi had a bad day :D I like how he tries to elegantly lower
himself into the water, almost like he expected it to come up to his chest.:D
Muppet.
Its at the start and goes up to 1min 35.

 
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