Driving in high water

pablontx · May 9, 2005

If you have to drive through high-water, what can be done to prevent your truck from stalling?

Is what causes the truck to stall water going over the front end and thereby no air getting in? or is it water clogging the exhaust pipe and hence no air getting out? Shorting of the electrical?

If it's not being able to get out, what about a PVC pipe extending out of the exhaust turning up with a rain hood on top? I know it's ghetto sounding, but if there's an emergency, gotta do something. I'm not tlaking about going through 4'+ of water, but could very well hit 2' of water on the streets after a good pouring.

Thanks!

bartlanz · May 9, 2005

I didn't catch what kind of truck you have, but I know on most of the full sized pick ups and SUV's chevy makes, 2' of water shouldnt be much of an issue, it should just barely make it past the lower end of the motor. If you do happen to do this, make sure that you change your oil promptly after, the watter in the lower end of your motor will cause premature wear on the components. also 2' of water might be enough to make it into your cabin depending on your truck.

if you are realy worried about it, lift your truck. also the watter going into the exaust shouldnt be an issue i am told, the common problem with it is getting water into the air intake.

Good luck, and do not under any circumstances cross a river.

if you do cross a large body of water do no cross a body that you can not see the bottom of. water contains an amazing amount of kenetic energy and will wash you and your truck down stream with little effort. also it has a habit of makeing a large rut for your truck to get stuck in.

Pulling people from rivers is a real drag. Also up here if you get caugh with a vehicle in the water the EPA has a field day with fines.

elgineddie · May 9, 2005

Is what causes the truck to stall water going over the front end and thereby no air getting in? or is it water clogging the exhaust pipe and hence no air getting out? Shorting of the electrical?

Yes, no and yes. You won't need to worry about a snorkle for your exhaust but you will for your intake if you plan on fording hood-high water.

Although I have never forded deep water with my truck (and never would usless it was life-or-death) I have crossed a whole bunch of water in the past with old my 1979 Ford Bronco. Even ruined an engine once! The main cause of stalling is usually getting ignition parts wet. I think the distributor is the culprit. (Not sure if your truck has one) I ONCE sucked water in thru the intake and that killed it. Either way, if you stall, DO NOT try to restart unless you are 100% certain no water was sucked into the intake. If you do, you can kiss your motor goodbye. Have a buddy pull you out to safety. Swallowing pride sucks. Most people never do these steps but you need to...

1) dry out all ignition parts

2) check your oil for water contamination

3) pull off the air cleaner and see if it's soaked or if you can visually see water anywhere in the intake

If all that is OK, give it a start.

If you found water in the oil, you gotta change it on the spot. Do it right and don't just pull the plug and let it go all over. Like Bartlandz said, be cool or if a ranger drives up and sees a puddle of oil on the ground, you gonna be in big trouble.

In either circumstance, you need to change your differential fluids when you get home. This is because there is a temperature difference from the water and the differentials and when the water hits the diffs, it gets sucked in thru the seals. I used to laugh when people would tell me this UNTIL I've actually seen water in my diffs on more that one outing in both my trucks and my ATVs. Grease all zerk fittings too.

Let's face it, if you splash into a creek and the water is only 12" deep and you stall, something electrical probably got wet and you can safely try to restart it without checking for all the crap I listed above. But if you dipped into 4 feet and it dies, you better check it all out.

I used to LOVE driving around our old 4x4 stomping grounds back when I was younger and we spent a ton of time crossing small lakes and ponds. A kind of fun you don't get often!

Sorry for the long post but thought it may help. These are my opinions and others may agree or disagree.

Later man,

Ed

JRW68 · May 9, 2005

The biggest reason why people stall their vehicles in water is that they charge or move so fast through the water that the water is pushed into a wave over the front of the vehicle and floods the intake.

If they are at decent RPM, the engine will most likely ingest water and can even turn your connecting rods into pretzles. At low rpms your engine will generally hydraulic and wont crank over... it takes a fair amount to bend the rods... Ingesting water at low rpms isn't going to ruin your motor... and trying to start it shouldn't either. Ive done it, ussually they just wont crank.

Agreed on changing ALL your fluids, water gets into everything.

Snorkels are a good idea for deep water, exhaust can cause problems when you stall a vehicle... once the water fills the exhaust pipe, it takes ALOT of pressure to push it out. Generally an engine will have a hard time pushing it out. Fortunatly... exhaust doesn't fill that quickly because the bends over the axles act as traps... still happens though.

Electrical problems occur... but generally are ingition components because they are high voltage... a 12v system wont short out in water unless in electronics.... the high voltage ignition components generally start to arc out and you slowly loose spark... Distributorless ign. is pretty reliable in water if sealed properly, distributors generally get wet easily, but dont take long to dry out. Dielectric grease is the key here... and make sure your distributor is sealed and good wires.

Electric fans are nice in water because you can turn them off and they still work in water as well. Mech. fans tend to splash water all over engine compartment and on the ignition coponents..

I had one buddy turn his 351 in to scrap metal going WOT into a mud hole from injesting water at 5 grande. Hydrauliced several motors at low rpm, just pulled the spark plugs and off we went.

If its your everyday driver... stay out of the water, it gets into EVERYTHING. Not fun when you gotta figure out how to get to work on monday

sincityZ71 · May 9, 2005

If it is just some basic standing water or such, you can get through a couple feet with ease. Happens all the time around here when it floods, the roads and intersections get filled with water in low-areas. I have been through a couple ponds of water and such without any bad outcomes...

Now if it is flowing water just stay away as bartlanz said. How ever fast you 'think' it is flowing, it is flowing at least two times faster...it is very easy to mis-judge water flow. I measure water and flood waters for a living...and I still misjudge flow speed and depth at times...Also water can look calmish on the surface and be nasty as hell below the surface. You would be amazed at the power of 1" of water in the right situation...

DEV1ST8R · May 9, 2005

I second the driving in a water/riverbed. . .I've heard of $1500 fines for disturbing waterway soil. Mess with the tree-huggers and the law is harsher than DUI's, assaults, etc.

sincityZ71 · May 9, 2005

I second the driving in a water/riverbed. . .I've heard of $1500 fines for disturbing waterway soil. Mess with the tree-huggers and the law is harsher than DUI's, assaults, etc.

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Here the biggest thing is that the police/fire rescue people charge you for all cost related to pulling you from your car when you get stuck in flooded street/waterways. That means all the fuel costs for the helicopters and such...very expensive...

That and it is just not worth losing you life...I have almost met my end a couple times while working (in or around flowing waterways)...it is not a good thing...