Alternator Protection

[Funksolid]

So my new $520 alternator will be arriving soon and I have a question. (New to all this) is there anything anyone does to protect their alternators from mud/water?

??Does getting the alternator wet, or exposure to mud ruin it??

Thank You


Andrew

 

[brownbear]

I would bother myself. But if you do clean the engine compartment and get it wet, afterwards fire the engine up to dry off the alternator.

 

[cruiser88]

ive always when i get the time to build a mud shield for the better lack of a term. to just assist the alt from getting so much mud inside .speaking of which my shop teacher told me i can use the brake anytime. anybody ever done this

 

[brownbear]

Never made a mud shield, used a brake and shear plenty of times.

Would not be hard to do I imagine.

 

[Funksolid]

So none of you 4 wheelin cruiser heads don't protect, or do anything special to your alternators? You just let em run, and its all good?

 

[brownbear]

I have never seen an alternator cover. Plus you need the thing to cool well, so whatever cover you make needs to be well vented, or it will overheat and be wreaked.

I have never seen a 4x4 vehicle from the factory with one.

Think that many alternators last hundreds of thousands of kms being slashed with water and mud, but they keep working.

no worries. you alt will last for years and years with out a cover.

 

[brownbear]

My Mercedes alternator is inches off the ground, mounted right at the bottom of the engine. It gets wet all the time. For years these vehicles were built like that. If the German designers didn't cover it, no worries.

At least the Toyota ones are mounted high.

 

[Funksolid]

Sweet

Thanks for all the info BB.

Andrew

 

[2 Bees]

The biggest killer of alternators is Heat. They need to vent heat away or they will cook to death.

On the old F engines when headers where put on them. There was only about 1-1.5" of clearance between the header and the alternator and they cooked to death. On the 2F they moved the alternators to the others side of the block for better cooling.