Wading depth on flooded roads

[Brendan W]

Originally Posted by Paul240480

Once through I got out to have a look round the car to find the headlamps were full up

I trust you explained that that was not what we mean by dipped headlamps

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by RM955I

What with all the flooding we've had I've been thinking a lot about wading depth as I've had to go through some fairly deep flooded roads: obviously the penalty for getting it wrong is massive due to hydraulic lock but I've used common sense and the proper technique of going slowly but fast enough to create a bow-wave (I've seen some right idiots go hammering into water far too fast).

I was just curious about other people's experiences of 'fording'/'wading' and whether there is actually a specified wading depth for different vehicles other than the XC range which have one quoted.

Luckily my 2005 V70 2.4 petrol has the air intake up high, behind the grille underneath the slam panel...but still worried that there should be other factors to consider when assessing whether to wade through or not and I'm always slightly worried about pushing my luck!

I have done a lot of wading in the past. Whilst the air intake leading to hydraulic lock is well known what is less known is that your axles will have breathers on the to expel air as they get warm. When you go through water the breathers suck in fluid (aided by the fact that the water cools the diff).

If you undertake this excercise more than once every blue moon you will destroy bearings, hubs etc.

When I was frequently wading distances I used to repack bearings with grease on a very regular basis. Even then I had one fail at speed which was truly terrifying.

[CaptainSlow337]

I went into a ford which was about 1.5ft, approx 450mm. It came halfway up grill.

I got out the other side to check the car over and all looked well. The fogs were full of water but that was about it. Pulling away I got the EML and reduced power. It still drove but it was slow! Once home I left it to dry out as it was in for a service the next day. The mechanic reset the codes (MAF) and gave the car a service. That evening I fitted the replacement air filer and when I took the old one out it was pretty soggy. I got lucky. Water had been ingested that far, but thankfully no further. It's been fine since.

So I'll stick to the recommend 300mm from now on.

[Puddle2]

After my puddle experience and a £1k repair all was well. I am now going to study how to use this site!

[Discombobulated]

I have never tried but always wondered if it’s possible to drive through deeper water backwards, creating a void at the front of the car where the air intake is?

Good points mentioned about manhole covers and axle breathers, but supposing that wasn’t a problem, what do you think?

Cheers, Luke

[Simmy]

Originally Posted by RM955I

What with all the flooding we've had I've been thinking a lot about wading depth as I've had to go through some fairly deep flooded roads: obviously the penalty for getting it wrong is massive due to hydraulic lock but I've used common sense and the proper technique of going slowly but fast enough to create a bow-wave (I've seen some right idiots go hammering into water far too fast).

I was just curious about other people's experiences of 'fording'/'wading' and whether there is actually a specified wading depth for different vehicles other than the XC range which have one quoted.

Luckily my 2005 V70 2.4 petrol has the air intake up high, behind the grille underneath the slam panel...but still worried that there should be other factors to consider when assessing whether to wade through or not and I'm always slightly worried about pushing my luck!

best not to drive through floods kill the electronics on a set of 4c shocks . very expensive not to mention 4wd electrics .wheel bearings gearbox breathers and a host of otherthings . take a diversion and save a very expensive set of problems

[oragex]

The Engine Control Module has connectors at about the height of the black strips around the car, and the module sits inside a case that has drain holes at the bottom, so any water level that comes close to those black strips will get the connectors wet, stall and need removed for drying - hopefully it won't short the modules because these can only be replaced with new ones and their value will be higher than the car's value. Also, at least on petrol engines, it's also the problem with the catalytic converter under the car: this part gets extremely hot and sudden drowning it in water will cause sudden metal contraction which can damage the ceramic honeycomb elements inside - this can also cause it to get blocked. Replacing the converter is not that expensive on aftermarket, but still.. @4:50 into the video https://youtu.be/pqCzHmM03mU

Of course, if money is not a problem, need not to worry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w30ZVPbmgUE

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

I have never tried but always wondered if it’s possible to drive through deeper water backwards, creating a void at the front of the car where the air intake is?

Good points mentioned about manhole covers and axle breathers, but supposing that wasn’t a problem, what do you think?

Cheers, Luke

Best not to try that as the wake in reverse will eddy around the front bumper and actually rise above the rad and thence to the air intake.........plus if you do stop you get water straight into the exhaust - the cat being externally immersed can irreparably damage the matrix within it. ( I read a post on the site some years ago to that effect about a V70 fording a Spanish (?) stream) plus as the exhaust cools it will "inhale" water into the back box due to the vacuum created as both the back and centre boxes cool.

[Discombobulated]

Originally Posted by ASt85

Best not to try that as the wake in reverse will eddy around the front bumper and actually rise above the rad and thence to the air intake.........

Back to my original idea of fitting a snorkel then

Cheers, Luke