Water Crossing Qs

[PCHSahara]

When going through a water crossing...

Should you turn off your foglights if they get submerged? Headlights as well?

Should you also turn off your A/C and/or fan?

Should you always be in 4Low? (and never change gears I've read with manual tran...)

Thx

[TEEJ]

Generally, 4 low, as it locks the front/rear diffs together...and sets the traction control computer to the best program for that situation...and it gives more torque if needed as well.

If the water is deep enough to flood your clutch plate areas, when you step on that clutch pedal, water can get in between the plates (A little bad), bringing with it, typically, sand, mud, small fish, etc... (A Lot Bad).

These little particles, especially sand, chew on your plates when you reengage your clutch.

So, shifting under those conditions can get crud between your plates, and cause an early, or earlier, clutch failure.

So, water crossing should not be dramatic high speed runs with rooster tails of water arcing through the air flanking the jeep, etc...albeit the pictures do look better that way. :D

The best technique (Other than for cool pics...) is to go fast enough to not get stuck, but slow enough to avoid splashing too much water under the hood...and do it by preselecting the gear that will get you that speed...in 4 low... that might be second gear...and you enter in 2nd, and stay on it in second, and, emerge in second, w/o shifting. Site conditions may dictate 1st or 3rd too, etc...it depends on how slow is too slow, and how fast is too fast, for the conditions.

I recommend just taking a strap/winch line if you don't make it, rather than shifting into neutral/backing up to get a better line, going forward again, etc.

So - if you forget, and shift in deep enough water to get your clutch wet...it doesn't kill it right then and there..it does hurt it though, and its a bad practice to shift if you don't have to. Essentially, the cleaner the water, the less risk.

BTW - I try not to shift much in the rocks either, and when I do, I'm on/off as quickly as possible...I do not slip the clutch to feather it over rocks, etc...it burns the clutch up over time as well.

I prefer to give it enough gas to get over on momentum, and get off the gas before impact, and coast over...it avoids driveline breakage, and helps to avoid feathering the clutch.

Don't shift going down a steep hill either...let it roll against engine braking the whole way down....the SECOND you clutch, the Jeep will LEAP forward, and you will have sped up way more than you meant to, and can end up going somewhere you didn't want to, etc.

:D

So, there's LOTS of "Don't Clutch" places....not just in deep water.

:D

As for the lights...why are they on anyway? Is it dark? :D If the lights will be submerged, and you are not jack lighting a Delicious Bass, you don't need them on anyway.

:D

The fan on the JK is electric...so it can kick on by itself - turning off the AC will help a little bit, but, on most water crossings, you need the AC to defog the windshield anyway...on a long crossing, the water itself cools the radiator, on a short crossing, it doesn't heat it...and, you can typically turn the AC back on afterwards. :D

On one of my trucks, I rigged a dash switch to cut off the engine fan on water crossings, but, I had to remove the engine driven mechanical fan, and install an electric fan in place of it to do that.

As the JK starts with an E fan stock...a simple in-line switch could do the same thing, but is probably overkill.

Hope that helps!

:D

[PCHSahara]

thx for the info! Wanted to make sure I didnt fry any electronics with the A/C or lights during a water crossing.

[greenmachine07]

couldnt have said t better........ever:clap:

[hawgrider1200]

reckon it depends on the crossing. some water holes are shallow and have a hard packed bottom. I cross them in 2 wd. some holes are shallow with a mushy bottom. I'd go to 4hi if it ain't a long way to the other side. If it's deep and long and has a hard packed bottom I'd go to 4hi. if it's deep and long and has a mushy bottom I'd go to 4lo. it is a good idea to go slow though cuz these new fangled vehicles got all this lectronical stuff that is delicate. I got a 76F250 that I would run through a water hole just anyway I felt like it cuz u ain't gonna hurt it. lessen u get water in the carb. or in the distributer. it's so tall u ain't worried bout that most of the time. unless u go out in the lake like that one fellwe did on that utube video i saw the other day. what a cookoo thing t do to a 20,000 DollaR new vehicle. do that stuff to an old beater!!!

[WRAITHYJEEP]

I have had my jeep float the water was do deep

no clutch issues shift fast and firm clarity of water is a factor
yes a/c off
vent closed
fogs off, when the cool water hits the hot lamp it causes a pressure change and it will suck water in to the lamps

water and clutch isn't the issue
mud and clutch is
if you can see into the water all should be ok
if you can't see into water then don't shift
4 lo for water
if you need to shift say to reverse and the water is muddy now turn off shift no clutch and trun key in gear no clutch restart this is good till the water is up to the door frame all actions should be done quick and with purpose

if under water shift fast and hard

if mud and in deep about door line pull shift leaver to neutral no clutch.. leave running and call for a line.

[wjfawb0]

I drove through a creek last weekend in 4wd low in 2nd gear. I think the only mistake I made was having the fogs on.

http://www.fawbush.org/images/2008_9_14_jeeping/jeep_in_the_creek1.jpg

[RedneckJeep]

All these threads about water...yall just need to put on a bow and stern and be the hell done with it.

[casaintsfan]

make sure someone in another jeep is with you, can you imagine being by yourself and you sunk your jeep.

[Seir]

make sure someone in another jeep is with you, can you imagine being by yourself and you sunk your jeep.

don't forget to make them go first!

[aldaman]

Here's a few tips I stumbled on off road.com site...

http:// jeep.off-road.com/jeep/Top+Ten/Top-Ten-Tips-for-Water-Crossings/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/549574?contextCategoryId=46623

"If you do enough four wheeling, sooner or later you are going to have to make a water crossing. Whether it is Kane Creek in Moab, Fordyce Creek in Northern California, or a stream crossing your local trail, water is too common to avoid. Many trails follow the paths of miners and settlers who were naturally drawn to the water to power machinery, bathe, or drink from. Other trails have been entirely created by the powerful forces of water, such as the famous Surprise Canyon Trail in Southern California.
snorkel

Adding a snorkel doesn’t ensure that your vehicle can swim, but it is a good start. ARB Safari Snorkels are available for a wide variety of vehicle applications.

Snorkel- The first accessory that most people think of when considering water crossings are snorkels. The premise is to raise the air intake up to a level where water cannot enter the engine. As a piston travels upward in the cylinder, it compresses the air and fuel mixture. Water, however, is not easily compressible and can lead to bent or broken rods if it enters the combustion chamber. Snorkels range from homemade PVC contraptions to vehicle-specific contoured ABS plastic models. They often require cutting a hole in the fender, so if you are adverse to modifying your sheet metal a snorkel might not be for you. There is often still room for improvement though, as many stock air intakes are relatively low and at the front of the engine bay. Moving the intake as high as possible, up against the firewall, and with a splash shield are all ways to keep water out of the engine.

Dielectric Grease- Adding a snorkel can sometimes give a false sense of security because a snorkel alone will not ensure that you vehicle will keep running when it is dunked. Your engine needs three things to keep running: air, fuel, and spark. The snorkel takes care of clean air, a sealed fuel system ensures no water enters your gasoline, but the ignition must be waterproofed as well. Dielectric grease can be liberally applied to all spark plug wires to shed water. Additionally, sealing the distributor and venting it will help to keep water out and ensure that your engine stays lit.
water crossing

Crossing water without doors makes it easier for water to enter the cab, but it also makes it easier for the water to drain out.

Breathers- The distributor is not the only thing that needs to be vented. Differentials, transmissions, transfer cases, and power steering reservoirs are typically vented to the atmosphere. Most manufacturers add a check valve for a vent and send the vehicle off the assembly line. You cannot completely seal these components without blowing out seals as the air and fluid inside gearboxes expands and contracts as it heats and cools. The problem with this is that when a differential enters the water, the gear lube in the differential cools rapidly and draws in air (or water) from outside the differential. Raising the breather up to the top of the engine bay, interior, or roll cage solves the problem. Another popular solution in recent years is the “accordion” style breather that is a closed system but still allows for expansion and contraction within the gearbox.

Diesel- Want to skip the dielectric grease altogether? Diesel engines rely on combustion to ignite fuel and air, not spark. Without an ignition, spark plugs, a distributor, or spark plug wires there are a lot less components in a diesel to worry about getting wet. The increase in fuel mileage and low end torque that diesels are famous for are other great reasons to consider these engines. Did you try to cross water BEFORE reading this and get a little worse for wear? Check this out!
depth
Probing for water depth and unseen obstacles can keep you from getting stuck, cutting a tire, or hydro-locking your engine.

Check Ahead- When it comes time to do the deed, as it were, check the water depth beforehand. There is no point in entering five feet of water with a snorkel that is four feet off the ground. Polarized sunglasses can be useful for cutting through the surface glare of the water to see to the bottom. Also check the current in addition to the depth. The last thing you want is for your vehicle to be swept downstream. Enter the water slowly and steadily, keeping enough speed up to create a bow wave pushing in front of your vehicle. Go too slow and the water has more time to enter your vehicle, while traveling too fast can cause water to spray under the hood or even cause you to hydroplane and loose control. To combat this, some people put a tarp over the front of their vehicle to keep water from entering the engine bay.

Electric Fan- As your vehicle enters the water it is possible for the cooling fan blades to get pulled into the radiator by the stream. Installing an electric fan allows you to stop the spinning fan blades when you encounter a water crossing. Most high end fans pull as much air as mechanical fans and use a thermostat to turn on, with a manual override switch in the cab of the vehicle. If you don’t have an electric fan, remove the belt from your mechanical or clutch driven fan before entering deep water and reinstall it on the far shore once the stream crossing is complete.

Watch the Brakes- Once you have exited the other side of the water, press lightly on the brake pedal to remove any water from the brake pads and shoes. Disc brakes are much less susceptible to water issues than drums, so consider swapping out your drum brakes if you spend a lot of time in the water. Discs are also lighter, easier to maintain, and typically provide shorter stopping distances. You might need a different master cylinder if you swap in disc brakes, since they typically require a larger amount of fluid movement, but do not necessitate residual valves.
strap

Hooking up a strap before you enter the water makes it much easier to perform recovery if you get stuck or hydro-lock the engine.

Strap Preparation- When going through deep water, you always need to plan ahead in case you do not make it all the way to the other side. Hooking up a tow strap or winch cable prior to entering the water can help to keep your clothes dry and limit the amount of time you spend in the water. Less time in the drink means less time for the water to permeate your vehicle’s mechanical components not to mention your interior.

Don’t Panic- If you do hydro-lock the engine, don’t panic. The engine will often stall before any damage is done. As noted above, water does not compress in the cylinders. Attempts to turn over an engine with water in the cylinders can result in bent rods and cracked blocks. Don’t spin the tires, as wet tires are very susceptible to cutting sidewalls. If you have a manual transmission, you don’t want to put the clutch in either, since water can enter the bellhousing between the pressure plate and clutch disk, causing them to slip.

Have a friend pull you out of the water (you do have tow hooks and a snatch strap, right?). Pull the spark plugs out, close the hood, and crank the engine over. This should remove the water from the cylinders. If the engine will not start after you re-install the spark plugs, often times some WD-40 sprayed inside the distributor cap will solve the problem.

Check Fluids- After dunking your truck make sure to check all of the fluids to make certain they did not ingest any water. Water is a poor lubricant and can wreak havoc in differentials, engines, and gear boxes. Drain any contaminated fluids into a sealed container before continuing on. It is wise to change these fluids again when you get home to ensure a long, healthy life for all bearings, synchros, clutches, and gears. Also lube any grease fittings and make sure that no water has remained captured anywhere it may cause rust. Wheel bearings and locking hubs are particularly prone to damage from stream crossings. Water is easily shed as long as it has a way out (or does not enter in the first place), but it can cause problems if it lingers."

[LA-X Jeeper]

uh yeah deffinately turn the a/c off

its not fun :naw:

[Frog Rubicon]

If you go in deep water, you will have problem.
Here are the risks:
- alternator
- electrical parts
- computer
- clutch
- lights
- engine (if you don't have a snorkel)
- diff. and axle
etc

[mainejeeper]

Want to see what happened to my 1971 Jeepster Commado in the water? Check Youtube and search "jeepster in deep water all wheels off road park".
That poorly planed dunk in the water cost me a clutch, pressure plate, fork, throwout bearing, steering box, right front frame horn, carb and main bearing resulting in an engine rebuild! All was going well till the little hole I was in turned real deep real fast. Next thing I knew, I ingested a small bush through the clutch fork boot while trying shift (reverse/forward). That left me with no clutch which killed my PTO winch. Fortunately, my ever faithful Hi-Lift jack got me out when used as a hand winch. The day only worsened as a buddy tried to tow me out of the woods and in the process wipped me into a 4' tree stump that took off my steering box. Now I was really stuck. With no clutch, no engine (I had taken on water and didn't want to start it till I drained the fluids) and no steering, I was going nowhere! That's when good friends stick around and the clowns leave the show. In the end, the Jeepster made it home, but the work involved to rebuild has been a real time and $ killer.
Repeat after me, "Jeeps arn't boats, Jeeps arn't boats, Jeeps arn't boats..."

[Detn8RYellow]

Awesome info to know, Thanks for asking such a great question!

[Ben]

[QUOTE=TEEJ;679786]Generally, 4 low, as it locks the front/rear diffs together...and sets the traction control computer to the best program for that situation...and it gives more torque if needed as well.

Teej, that is some good information but I want to point out that 4hi locks the front and rear diffs together in our jeeps also. All 4lo does is add more gear, just like downshifting.

On All wheel drive vehicles, vehicles that you can drive 4 wheels on pavement, there is either a limited slip device in the transfer case, or an open style transfer case to let one diff slip more than the other. Our jeeps don't have that kind of system so if it is in 4wd, it is the same in 4hi or 4lo, 4 lo just adds a lower gear in the t-case,