Submerged driving
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Seattle
Submerged driving
Is there anything special I should do or look out for when driving my truck (see the sig) under water?
No I didn't totally submerge the truck, but I did basically push it through a puddle deep enough to submerge the air intake and stall the engine - good thing the truck had some forward momentum or I'd had to tow it out of that mess. The engine seems just peachy, but my concern would be with the exhaust, tranny, and bearings.
No I didn't totally submerge the truck, but I did basically push it through a puddle deep enough to submerge the air intake and stall the engine - good thing the truck had some forward momentum or I'd had to tow it out of that mess. The engine seems just peachy, but my concern would be with the exhaust, tranny, and bearings.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Eastern WA
You should not have attempted to start it knowing that the air intake was under water. Consider yourself lucky that you dont have a few bent rods, cracked block, craked head(s), and maybe a few more *minor* problems............
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Well...at least the engine still runs. Check the oil. Check ALL your fluids actually, if the water got that high. Exactly how'd you pull that off, anyways?
Tranny and differential fluid replacements are in order. Check the brake fluid, check all brakes to make sure they work. Clutch fluid, if applicable. Battery mighta gotten wet, but that won't hurt it USUALLY. Check all your fuses to make sure they aren't blown, all your accessories work, your lights work, etc.
Anything that went below the water needs to be checked and double checked.
Tranny and differential fluid replacements are in order. Check the brake fluid, check all brakes to make sure they work. Clutch fluid, if applicable. Battery mighta gotten wet, but that won't hurt it USUALLY. Check all your fuses to make sure they aren't blown, all your accessories work, your lights work, etc.
Anything that went below the water needs to be checked and double checked.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: iowa
as far as the exhaust, since the engine is running go take it for a nice long drive after checking the other fluids for water contamination and the heat will evaporate any water that is in the exhaust system and all should be fine on that front.
And next time you need to learn to not drive submerged just stay on top like THIS
And next time you need to learn to not drive submerged just stay on top like THIS
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Elder User
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From: Seattle
Ya'll are acting like I did that on purpose or something.
None of the fluids seem contaminated and the engine works just fine so far as I can tell. This didn't happen today or something, it happened a month ago so any damage would have been apparent by now.
Sounds like I'm okay then. I was worried that the driveshaft and/or the wheel bearings might need repacking, but doesn't sound like it's an emergency - I'll cover them when I change the oil.
None of the fluids seem contaminated and the engine works just fine so far as I can tell. This didn't happen today or something, it happened a month ago so any damage would have been apparent by now.
Sounds like I'm okay then. I was worried that the driveshaft and/or the wheel bearings might need repacking, but doesn't sound like it's an emergency - I'll cover them when I change the oil.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
You'd know it for sure if the bearings were damaged. They're pretty good with water though, I mean think of it, they'd get very much wet just in day to day driving with puddles and what not.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: iowa
basically thing about this, wheel bearings are packed with what? Grease, which is water resistant, plus they have seals that keep the grease in and the dirt out. Only time bearings usually become an issue is when the vehicle is sitting under water not just running through it. My truck gets pounded through mud and water every time it's run and I only repack my wheel bearings at the start of the season and grease shows no signs of water contamination. Now my diffs have the vents moved to higher locations but even at that they still show no signs of water contamination in the oil.
I really don't think your going to find any issues, the biggest one, Bill already touched on and that is if water had gotten into the intake it could have hydro locked the engine and bent rods etc but since it's running fine your good to go.
I really don't think your going to find any issues, the biggest one, Bill already touched on and that is if water had gotten into the intake it could have hydro locked the engine and bent rods etc but since it's running fine your good to go.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Eastern WA
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
You'd know it for sure if the bearings were damaged. They're pretty good with water though, I mean think of it, they'd get very much wet just in day to day driving with puddles and what not.
. Wheel bearings are not intended to get wet and they would be short lived if "they'd get very much wet just in day to day driving with puddles and what not" were actually happening.Reality is that there is .43 PSI of water pressure for every foot of water depth; your momentary submersion probably means nothing. Even if you managed to somehow blast the bearing areas, that pressure *probably*will be held back by the seals. But on the other hand, it's wise to not deliberately go blasting through puddles as it really is possible to get water into bearings and front end suspension components.
Last edited by CowboyBilly9Mile; Dec 3, 2006 at 07:34 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,462
Likes: 4
From: Durant, OK (SOSU)
Wheel bearings are not intended to get wet and they would be short lived if "they'd get very much wet just in day to day driving with puddles and what not" were actually happening.
oh wait...you're too busy being almighty God to notice that.
Excuse me, I've infringed upon the territory of the apparently all knowing Bill.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Maine
If you weren't too busy being offended, you'd realize that what Bill is saying is that they DON'T get very wet in regular driving, because if they did, they wouldn't last long.
You said:
You said:
Originally Posted by RangerPilot
They're pretty good with water though.
Last edited by john112deere; Dec 3, 2006 at 09:52 PM.
Elder User
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From: Southeast MI
Loved that Jeep! Had to save it to my drive.
That science flabbergasted me, too. I'd heard a little of snowmobiles trying stuff like that, but didn't realize much about it. That vid & this thread got me thinking.
That science flabbergasted me, too. I'd heard a little of snowmobiles trying stuff like that, but didn't realize much about it. That vid & this thread got me thinking.