Floodwater

[benno_84]

Hi guys,

Well I am surrounded by water at the moment, have been for about a week out here at Wee Waa.

I am hoping to head out of town and down south on Wednesday but will likely have to drive through some water to do so....at this stage it looks as though I will need to get through about 0.6m maybe a little more in sports which is no problem for the Nissan.

What I am concerned about though is that straight after going through the water I have to travel about 500km. Just wondering if it is worth dropping my diff and gearbox oils once I get through the water?? I will be coming in to the water with everything pretty cold.
I would rather not as it is a bit of a hassle, does anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I being over cautious?

Lloyd

[Bigrig]

Hey mate - do you have a snorkel/breathers?? Either way, the temperature of the diffs and gearbox is somewhat of a bonus as I understand it, as water gets sucked in through the oil seals when the breathers close only if there is a dramatic cooling effect - i.e. if the gearbox and diffs are reasonably cold entering the water, then there is no/limited contraction due to not being hot, and hence they shouldn't suck in water. If you don't have breathers, 600mm water crossings should be fine for the air intake, but your diffs, transfer case and gearbox will definitely feel the brunt of it either way. Not sure about dropping the oils out/swapping, and others can offer more advice on that - if you do have a snorkel and breathers, then you should have absolutely no dramas at all.

[benno_84]

Yeah Mate I have got a snorkel and breathers, the breathers have been put up nice and high so no dramas there. I was just more concerned about the water getting sucked in if the diffs were hot. Your right if they are nice and cool I should be okay. I might get under and just check all the breathers before I go.

Lloyd

[Bigrig]

That's what the breathers are for mate - by raising them, the breather can remain open when you go through water and hence allow the diffs to breathe ... without them, the caps on the breathers seal shut to keep water out, but susequently, you end up sucking water in the oil seals due to the contraction ... you won't have that problem so long as your breather filter tips/heads are clean and working ... all goodness. Be safe mate - just came back from up north central Queensland and had the same problems, and some of the water (whilst only half a metre deep) was flowing at a fair rate, and that's enough to get the rig going sideways off the black stuff let me tell you!! Use caution and remember, better to be late and safe!!!

All the best with the trip.

[YNOT]

Scott's right, as long as your diffs and gearbox are still cool and your breathers are working properly you shouldn't have a problem.

Tony

[Woof]

Just take care mate and don't go trying to drive though too deep water and only drive on the roads that are open.

[benno_84]

Yeah thanks, Good advice, better safe then sorry!

Lloyd

[DX grunt]

Take care out there, bro.

Ross
DX grunt

[patch697]

Safe trip mate & all the best with it.

[AB]

Good luck with your trip Lloyd, moved your thread here so others can see it better.

Let us know how you went too!