Wading... (2 Viewers)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Spike555

Spike555

Joined
Jun 23, 2016
Threads
41
Messages
2,588
Location
Wyoming MI
So it appears that the air intake on my '04 is inside the passenger fender and gets its fresh air from right behind the wheel.
As with any true offroad truck things are designed with a purpose.
Has anyone had any problems wading in deep water without a raised air intake?
I wade, a lot.
 
As long as you keep forward momentum and the "bow" effect, you should be fine. Might want to add a snorkel to the mod list if it gives you peace of mind.
 
I'm no stranger to wading so I know about the bow wake. I'm just wondering about the intake being submerged as its behind the right front wheel.
I'm not worried about it sucking in water and hydro locking the engine but more worried about the flow of air being cut off and stalling out in water upto the door handles.
 
I've had problems....big problems. If water is up that high (to the door handles in your example) there will always be a chance that you can hydro lock the engine. Lets say that water is up to your door handles and it causes your engine to stall. What're you going to do? Sit there and try to start it again while your truck sucks in water since it is stationary (no "bow" effect). Be conscious and add a snorkel if you want that extra piece-of-mind.
 
The intake sits high up in the fender, but I agree, if you are fording water up to your door handles, you need a snorkel.
 
My question is why would you go into water that deep, for what appears to only be the sake of going in the water?

It's dangerous, you can't know for sure that you're driving into a safe environment.

It's bad for the vehicle. You're soaking and contaminating your wheel bearings. Without extended diff/transfer/transmission breathers you're running the risk of contaminating all of them.



If the intent is fording water crossings on trails, I agree with everyone else: why do it without the safety of a snorkel? Especially when a knock off eBay snorkel is so cheap. Really, compared to an engine the name brand snorkels are cheap insurance.
 
If your in water alot you should check your diff fluid. Even with breathers you can get water sucked in past seals. If the water is dirty it will bring silt and sand in with it. Check the fluid to insure its not contaminated.
 
ihadmail said:
If the intent is fording water crossings on trails, I agree with everyone else: why do it without the safety of a snorkel? Especially when a knock off eBay snorkel is so cheap. Really, compared to an engine the name brand snorkels are cheap insurance.
Click to expand...

One reason: A snorkel isn't exactly a subtle mod. Not everyone likes the look of a snorkel and very few actually need a snorkel. With water-crossings up to the grille (why is the font getting smaller and smaller?), there's no need for a snorkel. The intake is high enough and the bow make works very well. Over the door handles... well, I think you're in the wrong truck. Yeah, it'll do it. Yep, a snorkel makes sense. But really - a 100 with leather, carpet, computers...

I do agree with the other part about prep (breathers) and maintenance though... spending a lot of time in water up to the frame comes with some extra work.
 
Last edited:
1-I wade because I can.
2-I know what's under the water.
3-everything under the truck is sealed and waterproofed all ready. It is an offroad truck sold the world over for just that...offroad.
4-raised air intakes are NOT meant to keep out water, only to get to the air higher up away from the dust.
5-if you check for water ingress after you wade and find none, no need to do anything.
6-I drove in water up to the door handles all the time in my Land Rover, never once had a problem. I've even had the water break at the base of the windshield. That was scary. But that air intake was in a different location.
7-petrol engines are not waterproof, that's why raised air intakes are not meant for water on petrol engines.
8-it's fresh water, it is how I rinse the underside of the truck in the spring to get all of the road salt off.
9-it's an offroad truck. It's not a Ford Explorer.
10-everything under the truck is meant to get wet and be submerged with no ill effect. Otherwise every time it rained you wouldn't be able to drive.
 
Hey. If these guys can do it with an 80 series, I bet the 100 can do as well.



Get yourself a snorkel.
 
I agree these trucks are designed to be well 'used' in all conditions. But even they have limits.

From the owner's manual:
Owners Manual H2O warning.jpg


No one here is trying to tell you that you're incapable of driving through water whenever you want. We all want you to use your truck as you want to in a safe manner for you and your truck.

My main points are:
  • For water up to the door handles a snorkel is greatly encouraged to prevent stalling out in deep water.
  • Once a snorkel is installed, the air intake system IS effectively sealed from the snorkel inlet to the combustion chamber, so long as your air box isn't damaged. There is a drain hole in the bottom of the air box, but due to the nature of design, the air in the air box prevents water intrusion when it's submerged at or near to level.
  • The differential, transmission and transfer case breathers are susceptible to water intrusion. Extending them and adding real hose clamps vs the OEM thin spring clamps is cheap and easy insurance.
  • In flooding situations, like your video, you cannot know 100% the condition of the ground under the road/parking lot that was there before. A washout can occur very rapidly and with little to no warning. Please be safe.
 
Not sure where and why the animosity came from. If you're looking to ford deep water, it's suggested you get a snorkel. If not, well, your risk.

Good luck.
 
Yes everything has its limits. I'm not trying to suggest that I'll be wading in door handle deep water every day for hours on end.
No animosity was intended.
The air intake is in the fender, got it.
Thanks guys.
 
This seems like a thread where you're hoping to lure someone into a deep water argument.....pun intended. If you're so familiar with deep water crossings, why ask questions about it?

Yours wouldn't be the first 100 to go hood deep. It wouldn't be the first 100 to be totaled from water getting into the electronics and start shutting things down either. Why not take the proper precautions and prepare yourself for the possibilities? It's pretty clear where the intake is by opening the hood and checking the fender. If that's all your concerned about when going door handle deep on a regular basis, I suspect you'll have other issues shortly. Many of us have all the deep water mods, I still avoid water whenever possible. Just my preference. YMMV.
 
Additionally, the water crossing video you posted is clearly in a flood area. That's not wading deep water. It's driving on a closed road and putting unnecessary risks on the folks that would need to come and rescue you if something went wrong. It's irresponsible driving. There is absolutely no way you can know what is under that water unless you walked the entire route first, but then why would you need to drive it?

It's not like you crossed a river at a designated water crossing. You intentionally drove into a dangerous flooded area. That water will eventually recede and return to the river. Any area that you drove on that was not paved will have your tire marks left behind. The environmental impact from the flood is already taxing to the area, why add your tire tracks to it as well? Please be responsible and safe.
 
Spike555 said:
4-raised air intakes are NOT meant to keep out water, only to get to the air higher up away from the dust.

7-petrol engines are not waterproof, that's why raised air intakes are not meant for water on petrol engines.
Click to expand...
Your emphatic ignorance is tempting, but I'll leave it at this - you're wrong.
 
The diff breathers stock don't go high enough for what you discussed. The rear for example is under the cargo floor and the cargo floor is much lower than the door handles. I've never been up to the door handles, I have drained lots of water from my diffs after going in about 33" or so. It's as correct to call it a luxury car as it is to call it an offroad truck. Do what you will and have lots of fun doing it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 3 (members: 0, guests: 3)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom