[Rob`]

Hi all,

I'm looking at taking my new Jimny out in a couple of weeks and the place I'm going will most likely have a few water crossings. Now don't get me wrong, I've done a fair bit of wheeling (previously had a Vitara), but I generally stayed away from water that went over the sills of the car. I wasn't planning on getting a snorkel because quite frankly, I am still inclined to avoid water when I can, and being as my car

If I wanted to do a water crossing, assuming I couldn't go around it, how should I be be preparing for it? People have suggested a tarp around the front and floor it through, other have suggested floaties, but has anyone got comments (general or otherwise) about the best way to do a water crossing?

[Gwagensteve]

Tarp the front of the car. Pick a comfortable speed to push a bow wave without it breaking over the bonnet. Go in slowly- say, around 1500rpm-2k in first low to get a feel for depth and traction, and then build up to maybe 3k in 1st low. ( that's a guess but should be close in a stock car)

Keep all the inputs steady and smooth.

Steve.

[atari4x4]

really depends on the crossing...

tarp up and hit it in 1st or 2nd depending on your gearing to create a bow wave & hold a constant speed so you don't overtake the bow wave.

changing gears during a water crossing is generally frowned upon as you can get mud & crap in the clutch so you'll need to know what gear to start in.

EDIT: too slow

[Rob`]

Thanks Gwagensteve & Atari

Is there anything that I should be looking at in relation to diff breathers? I've heard that if the diff gets hot and you go through some water, the water can get sucked through the breather and cause problems with the diff?

[Bugsta]

Sure can. Yes, diffs get hot and hot air expands. When you drop the the temp (ie water crossing), it will condense, sucking extra air in through any portal, in this case, the diff breather. If the breather is surrounded by water - that's what you'll get in there. Water in any gear casing is bad news. Firstly, contaminates the oil causing it not to do its job. ie, not lubricating the gears, and secondly, if left for a period, will rust the internals... Game over.

If you seal the diff breather, you risk sucking air through the axle seals. Same results.

There are many breather options. Search the forums for what best suits your skills and available materials. I personally chose to take all 4 of mine to the air box using 8mm poly. (2xdiffs, transmission and transfer). I found out later there are 2 breathers on the 06+ Jimny transfer (box and motor), so I put a T piece in at that point.

[Rob`]

I may have a look at getting some diff breathers installed over the coming weeks/days, it's probably a cheaper investment than contaminating the diff...

I'm really hoping to avoid cutting and drilling into my car as much as possible...

EDIT: Cutting and drilling for a snorkel

[Marko_SJ]

I am surprised no one has said to walk it if you are on your own, you may find holes and or logs...

If your not alone get bigger cars that do have snorkels and more weight to go through first. Diff breathers are mandatory IMO.

Obviously you mustn't care about water in the footwells if your doing this.

[cairns27]

i'm with the Amateur, but send ya passanger across first.i'm always worried about floating away.i engage the dif locks, and have a beer and smoke and wait for a truck or heavy 4WD, and follow them..

Maybe air-up to releave water preesure against sills,but I guess this lightens the car in water,and you''ll flost away...it maybe a karma thing.

bye

[alien]

Whenever i'm crossing water, i do all the above (except the tarp, as i have a snorkel)... however i also have my floor plugs out - because my sierra prefers to float for a second or two sometimes, which is VERY unnerving.... having the floor plugs out and the window down a bit allows the water to rush into the footwells and keeps the car firmly planted on the ground.

[magnat]

Snorkels have other benefits then just water crossings like cleaner air when in a convoy or on Dusty roads
Cooler air being delivered to the motor which has its own benefits..

FTS 4x4 make a snorkel which is reasonably affordable if you have been scared off by the Prices of Australian manufacturers

[Marko_SJ]

magnat wrote:

Prices of Australian manufacturers

Find out if its actually made here, and if it is, lump the cost IMO. If not one day we won't make anything here.

The tarp I thought was there to stop the fan making love to the rad more than anything alien ?

[JrZook]

The_Amateur wrote:

The tarp I thought was there to stop the fan making love to the rad more than anything alien ?

This is one issue that everyone tends to forget about. Oh and don't think you're immune with a clutch fan......

[tanshi]

the tarp does cut down on the fan issues. but it also stops the water level rising as quickly in the engine bay thus limiting the damage that might occur from high water

[Marko_SJ]

So we add slacken fan belt to the list then, or add a switch to your thermofans?

[alien]

magnat wrote:

Snorkels have other benefits then just water crossings like cleaner air when in a convoy or on Dusty roads

Thats the main reason i got mine - dust.

[JrZook]

The_Amateur wrote:

So we add slacken fan belt to the list then, or add a switch to your thermofans?

If the water is quite deep I will spend the 5mins or so to remove the belt for the crossing. Busted radiators and fans are no fun!

[Gwagensteve]

There are some good points here.

The tarp is only partially to prevent an engine without a snorkel from ingesting water. It also helps to prevent the fan picking up water and A) breaking the fins off B) throwing water all over the engine bay and swamping the distributor C) helping to prevent the radiator fan walking forwards into the radiator.

However, whilst the is more the case for mechanical fans as used in leaf sierras, Jimny's and vitaras use viscous fans and these will tend to freewheel a bit, limiting the damage possible. They seem to be less susceptible to throwing blades.

There's a couple of other things to consider though.

In the instance of any water crossing deeper than sill depth, the car will only stay dry inside if you keep moving. If you stop or back up the car will start to take on water. It's inevitable, and more time int he crossing = more water in the car. In a sierra, this shouldn't be too much of an issue, but in a car with carpet, and more importantly, felt underlay between the floor and the carpet (or vinyl) then water entering the car will mean the interior MUST be stripped and the carpet and underlay dried. It won't dry in the car and will start to stink to high heaven.

Likewise the engine bay - very deep water can be crossed under steady momentum, with a tarp and no snorkel, but stop, and the effect of the bow wave is eliminated.

Personally, I wouldn't cross water deeper than the sills in a car I wasn't prepared to have water inside, but that's just me. I have even done the best I can to stop it getting in to my car, but I accept it will get in, and pop the bungs once I get out and let it drain.

I'll also add that there is a huge difference between a water crossing and a bog hole. Clean, running, fresh water is pretty easy to work with. Mud, however, trashes stuff quick. clogged radiators and dead alternators are pretty much inevitable. In a standard, valuable/clean car, I'd want to be pretty sure I was going to make it though clean before I tried it, and/or made sure a car had gone through before me.

Just some thoughts.

Steve.

[alien]

^^ Don't forget a lot of newer cars have the computer / ECU mounted down quite low (behind or under the dash is common)... they don't generally enjoy taking a bath.

[shep]

I hate river crossings but if I have to cross something deep I work out a recovery plan before getting in the water. If I can't come up with a realistic plan then I won't cross.

If anyone knows the goyder river crossing on the central Arnhem road? I have crossed it in a sierra at 1.2m. Very scary.

[christover1]

Fast moving water is the scariest.
You can get washed away, rolled over, smashed against rocks, and unpleasant things.
If its moving, shallower is better.

[magnat]

alien wrote:

^^ Don't forget a lot of newer cars have the computer / ECU mounted down quite low (behind or under the dash is common)... they don't generally enjoy taking a bath.

Thats a Good point...
Where is the ECU mounted in a GV XL-7 ???