After I hydrolocked my engine, I looked it up online. The "trail rated" designaion only allows for water up to 18 inches.

 

The main problem with the JK is that it's a high reving engine. At higher RMP, more air needs to be sucked in. More air being sucked in means the possibility of water being sucked in the intake. There have been a few videos posted with water above the bumpers. These vehicle are going at a nice slow pace.

 

I will see if I can find it. I'm pretty sure that when I was researching my jeep purchase the official jeep website had videos of its off road capabilities. I think it said 30 inches. Also a review I read today online had the 30" number. The liberty is also trail rated but I don't think that is built for as deep fording as the wrangler.

 

Here is one 30" reference.

 

I've been to 31 inches. Water was just at the top of the first hinge on the door. And that was when I got water making its way into the intake via the weep hole.

 

In 2012 they made some improvements to fording compared to previous years such as inverting the alternator so it could be raised higher in the engine.

 

Here is a pic of my bow wake riding around point pleasant after sandy passed through. Yes that is a random boat washed up against someone's house. A couple days later I ran a sprinkler underneath to wash of this brackish water.

 

This exact thing happened to me about 3 months ago. CAI's suk and are useless IMO. I got lucky and insurance covered it. But i too wasted money on new spark plugs and a starter cuz i was hoping that was the problem. But my engine was locked up like my girl friends rear. Not happening! Haha. :(

Good luck to ya!

 

Yup I take my CAI off every Winter put the stock back on just because of this reason! the horror stories.

 

Sorry to hear about that. I want a river raider Hummer style snorkel. IMO CAI on a Jeep just does not make sense.