The air intake on a stock jeep is just about even with the hood. So if I keep water below that there is little chance of hydro lock. What about the tail pipe? I took a car through some deep standing water and the thing sounded like a boat with all the water in the muffler. Thought it was funny for a while. Later parked on a hill and revved the engine. Good size puddle came out. Long question short, how do you guys keep this from happening, or is it not an issue?

 

With the engine running water in the tailpipe is not a problem yes the air box is high but don't forget there's holes in the bottom of the box to drain it.you do not drive fast in water crossing.

 

From what I have learned going through the forums and books (more than personal experience) is there are a few things you may want to consider if your crossing alot of water. Note I'm not a self proclaimed expert so take it for what it's worth.

BREATHER HOSES
The axles have breather hoses attached to let off some steam when they get hot. I've got a write up below about how to extend them for lifts, but people have also extended them up into the engine bay. They make breather hose kits and there is other write-up about it.
Project-JK.com - Jeep JK Wrangler Resource » Jeep JK Wrangler Axle Breather Hose Extension
EDIT: Also the T-case and transmission also have breathers.
EDITX2: I did a write-up about extending the breathers cost like $15
LINK-> https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-w...7/#post3194752
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbxL2m6CUh SHIFTING IN DEEP WATER
If you go in water over your bumper your not supposed to shift with a manual. Autos are sealed so it's not an issue switching into reverse for example in deep crap. With the clutch in on a 6-speed it will let the water/crud into the transmission. As far as I know you cannot just put a breather extension on the vent(CAN ANYONE CONFIRM THIS??). The only way I have found to overcome the short comming is to keep it in 4-Low where if you stall you can start it back up in gear (with no clutch). If you need to reverse I guess you just have to do it fast and hope for the best. I have heard about a good amount of people who have shifted in deep water and got away with it. It's sort of Russian roulette.
EDIT X2: With the Jeep off there is a good chance you could shift into R without clutching.

EXHAUST UNDER WATER
The exhaust isn't going to be an issue in water because it's pushing air out and the air creates a vacuum. It's my understanding that if you get some water in the exhaust by stalling it's not the end of the world. It will just gurgle out when you get going again.

HYDROLOCKING
I'm going to state the obvious here because I'm a douche-bag and like to type. Even if your going through water that is below your air intake, waves and splashes can be an issue. Basically you don't want to cross water like a rock star, but take a nice slow and steady pace.

 

Excellent info. Never thought of the axels.

 

the axle breather extensions are a great precaution to take. Takes very little time, and cheap for hose and fittings from your auto parts store.

 

Yeah good info. Thanks for posting

 

Any pictures of this?

 

Write up on project-jk and a couple here,also.

 

If you look at the belt on the front of the engine if it is in water it will throw the water at the intake.

So too deep and you can flood the intake from the belt throwing water around.

FYI at a meeting at Chrysler a year ago in the dyno labs we discussed jeeps and they asked if I had a snorkel because we were talking about running trails. They thought that this was an important mod to make.

Clearly they dont support deep water operation but they know folks do it and it appears that the snorkel is a requirement if you want to be safe from hydro locking.

 

Great info, but the transmission thing is a bit misguided.

You would be allowing water/debris inbetween the flywheel and friction material of the clutch. The transmission will remain water free as long as the seals are in good shape, and the breather is free and clear of the water.

Shifting in water (Stream/standing puddle/dirty water) is fine. If you find yourself up to the fenders in mud, then you want to limit shifting as much as possible.

I had one friend lose his clutch in a pit, but it was on its way out anyways.