How deep in water is it safe to run these?
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Idaho
How deep in water is it safe to run these?
A buddy of mine took his '06 CC 4x4 SB PSD (oversized tires, otherwise stock) out fishing a couple of weeks ago and in order to get where he was going, had to cross some river drainages. The water was high, I believe he said about half way up the door. As he was exiting the other side of the 1st drainage, the truck died and was locked up hard. Here is the bad part, a 2x4 Chevy, a Toyota 4-Runner and a similar Ford gasser crossed with no issues. 
He just got the truck back from the dealer and for about $13k has a new motor. He did suck water down the tube and trashed the motor. 
. He swears that he did not go blasting into the water and that he had one of the above listed rigs infront of and behind him when they crossed. I would not take mine in that deep of water but just curious if anyone else has seen or heard of this type of thing and what is the recommended max depth of water we can safely cross (for those of us not running lifts, etc)?
He just got the truck back from the dealer and for about $13k has a new motor. He did suck water down the tube and trashed the motor. . He swears that he did not go blasting into the water and that he had one of the above listed rigs infront of and behind him when they crossed. I would not take mine in that deep of water but just curious if anyone else has seen or heard of this type of thing and what is the recommended max depth of water we can safely cross (for those of us not running lifts, etc)?
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From: CT
I drove through some water going fishing by the CT river, it was a road that got washed out. The water was up to the tow hooks and I went through and back with no problem. Just went slow, kept my head out the window to see if I was about to hit anything in the water and pushed through. I opened the hood after I got to the end, and anything that needed to stay dry was.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
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It flooded at my in-laws place one time. My crazy father in law was driving through water all over the place. He went through some stuff where the water came within inches of coming in the windows. Here is one pic. We have a site setup with a bunch more. YOu should have seen the way the truck smoked after running through that water. It never choked once though.
<img src=http://www.leetfx.com/gallery/albums/flood/P1010138_Medium.jpg width=400 height=300></img>
<img src=http://www.leetfx.com/gallery/albums/flood/P1010138_Medium.jpg width=400 height=300></img>
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Kingsland, GA
The "Absolute" safe depth would be wherever the lowest vent is... Whether it's the gas tank vent, front/rear diff vents, tranny vent, ect... You COULD exceed that depth, but you then run the risk of water entering whatever vent it covers (my old dirtbike was a big culprit of this). Sometimes it just takes a fluid change. Sometimes it can cause damage. If I remember right, Ford specifies no deeper than the hubs (which can also flood with water if a seal is bad). You can also get water in the caliper slide pins and hang the caliper up. There's a ton of things that CAN happen, but not necessarily WILL happen. Without a "purpose built" water rig, anything can happen. IMO, I wouldn't risk my $$$$$ motor on a fishing trip, but to each his own...
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Kingsland, GA
only if you shut if off... not all vehicles will do it, but some can flood the engine through the exhaust. At the very east, for those vehicles with cats, it'll ruin them in a heartbeat....
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had my '99 4x4 7.3 dsl up to the top of the front bumper didnt cause any issues with it i think rancha9 said it best you just never know what could happen
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Originally Posted by Thumper4995
I can't imagine driving around in water up to my windows. That is pretty wild. 
I think the mechanic told buddy that he had bent rod (s).
I think the mechanic told buddy that he had bent rod (s).
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Reno nv
went wandering through the 6 ft stack of F250 Ford manuals I have and found: drain and replace diff fluids, and same for tranny immediately. Expect shorter diff and tranny life as a result. The diff vent tubes only go as high as the bottom of the bed, bottom of the cab on the tranny. OTOH the engine intake is mid high of the cute honeycomb section of the grill so water 1/2 the door up was going in the engine. Gassers have theirs usually on top of the engine. Also expect all sorts of electrical problems in a year or so.
BTDT in a PINTO, which don't water ski for beans at all.
BTDT in a PINTO, which don't water ski for beans at all.
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From: Idaho
Originally Posted by piotrsko
went wandering through the 6 ft stack of F250 Ford manuals I have and found: drain and replace diff fluids, and same for tranny immediately. Expect shorter diff and tranny life as a result. The diff vent tubes only go as high as the bottom of the bed, bottom of the cab on the tranny. OTOH the engine intake is mid high of the cute honeycomb section of the grill so water 1/2 the door up was going in the engine. Gassers have theirs usually on top of the engine. Also expect all sorts of electrical problems in a year or so.
BTDT in a PINTO, which don't water ski for beans at all.
BTDT in a PINTO, which don't water ski for beans at all.
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From: Carhenge
I don't know much about the 6.0L, but I wonder if the water could have got in through the EGR system? I just have a hard time imagining how enough water could have got through the turbo, intercooler, and intake tubes to hydrolock the engine. Seems like it should have just sat in the bottom of the intercooler.
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From: Reno nv
Nope the diffs/tranny will be making rusty mayonnaise even as we talk. too many ways to get water in to take a chance without draining.
I may have to back off on the water in the intake stance, but I think it would only take a cup or so to fully hydrolock depending on head volume inthe cylinder.
I may have to back off on the water in the intake stance, but I think it would only take a cup or so to fully hydrolock depending on head volume inthe cylinder.
Gone, but not forgotten
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From: Charlotte-Fairbanks-Bflo
I find this thread sort of humorous, so I will give some sort of humorous advice. If your anus starts sucking water, you are in too deep. How many 6 packs does it take to accomplish some of the stunts I am reading about here?