Star down under.:
Do any of these chocolate heroes have any idea of the potential future damage that occurs when water is ingested into hubs, diffs and gearboxes?
When a vehicle, at operating temperature, enters cold water the rapid cooling of oil and components creates a vacuum, sucking in either air or water, whichever is available.
Very few of the idiots waited for the temperatures to stabilise before entering the cold water, likewise they didn’t consider the secondary damage being caused to property and the environment, by the excessive bow wave created by their higher than necessary speed.
Yep, transmission breathers need to be above the water level.
For those that don`t know gearboxes axles etc need breathers. As they get hot in use the pressure inside increases, so to prevent the seals from blowing out a breather to atmosphere is needed. As SDU says rapid cooling of these components as they enter water will decrease pressure and if submerged ■■■■ water in. The lub oil will float on the water and the whirry-round bits will be running in a water bath not oil. Prepped off road vehicle often have extensions connecting the breather to the snorkel.
If no breather extensions are fitted then entering water slowly, as SDU says, will enable the whirry-round bits to all cool down and ■■■■ in clean air before entering the water, so that only a little water may enter.
This is wading…it might be a well prepped vehicle, but more than a little luck involved here I reckon!
Would he have gone in if he had actually checked the depth first? youtube.com/watch?v=LC5ld79joIA&t=18s
Transmission breathers generally incorporate a one way valve to keep foreign debris/water out.
my own rule top of the wheels must remain visible / above water. Though I only drove through a puddle once and only after I saw a mid-sized suv go before me (and make it to the oter side)
ETS:
my own rule top of the wheels must remain visible / above water. Though I only drove through a puddle once and only after I saw a mid-sized suv go before me (and make it to the oter side)
That`s normal a top-hat breather. Nothing “one-way” about it.
If submerged on a cooling axle etc it will allow water in.
Let’s get this right you think that they just leave a gear casing open to atmosphere and with it the ingress of salt water and grit from road spray getting into gears and bearings and you end up with a diff and gearbox full of emulsified oil and water every time you cross a ford.
That`s normal a top-hat breather. Nothing “one-way” about it.
If submerged on a cooling axle etc it will allow water in.
Let’s get this right you think that they just leave a gear casing open to atmosphere and with it the ingress of salt water and grit from road spray getting into gears and bearings and you end up with a diff and gearbox full of emulsified oil and water every time you cross a ford.
Not the answers you were looking for, but anyone who drives through a flooded area needs a brain transplant,
There is no ONE answer because all vehicles are of different heights look at a Bedford TK compared to a Ford Transcontinental, and has been stated prior the whole chassis is lined with electrics.
So what would be the worst thing that could go wrong ?
Needing a Tow ?
Being Fired ?
Getting a heavy fine and points ?
4 Getting your feet wet, wading out to dry land ?
Being conscripted to the Navy As a SUB COMMANDER ?
Most people are unaware of the location of the vehicle’s ECU’s, and if water gets to them it’s a world of grief. The Renault I used to drive had 6 of them, I was informed by a dealer mechanic as one of them needed replacing, and it was just forward of the front wheel! Besides being vulnerable to impact damage, it was so low down that anything deeper than hub deep water and it was a goner.
Incidentally, lots of cars have ECU’s under the seats, so it doesnt take all that deep water to fubar the vehicle, as I’ve scrapped otherwise perfectly good cars just because of the cost of a box of electronics. If you think a car has been flooded then walk away from it. A good tip to look for is to pull the front seatbelt all the way out and look for mould on the belt, as reels are usually low down and valeters usually miss that part of the belt.
Something I don’t think has been mentioned here is if the river is fast flowing, even a truck can get swept sideways to a degree. I forget the exact depth, but its only something like 2 inches of fast flowing water can stop your car tyres gripping so likely not much more for a truck.
As for the vids, both of those should have gotten a letter from trading standards too as thats a 7.5T limit plus it has road closed signs up, and its pretty unlikely they were delivering up there (handful of houses and a golf course). Luckily that one isn’t too fast, but those people were just insane.
I was driving along a country lane with a hedge each side in the dark and came up to flood water. The lorry I was in had the headlights mounted quite low and when the water came above the lights it was like they had been switched off. The hedges guided me through OK.
