Thread: Why is the Defender wading depth only 500mm?

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Yes they have been but last I heard was that in the puma engine Defender, the fuel tank breather was in the rear wheel arch, not much above the 500mm mark, and the subject of a number of warranty issues.

There are no breather on the swivels.

Yep - short tube off the top of the tank, easily visible just above the chassis rail though the wheel well, about 675mm off the ground, facing rearwards.

Where would you extend it to?

Nugget's kit extends it to be high on the engine bay firewall (I think), but maybe easier to bring it up inside the rear of the vehicle to window height?

Originally Posted by FeatherWeightDriver

Yep - short tube off the top of the tank, easily visible just above the chassis rail though the wheel well, about 675mm off the ground, facing rearwards.

Where would you extend it to?

Nugget's kit extends it to be high on the engine bay firewall (I think), but maybe easier to bring it up inside the rear of the vehicle to window height?

Firstly I wouldn't have any sort of breather in a wheel well because there is too much water splashing around even when driving on a rainy day.

All the breathers should be as high as possible in a wagon the engine bay, in a ute or dual cab on the back wall of the cab (provided there isn't a canopy). They could even design a vent to exit in modified body capping.

I can only imagine the reason for the wheel arch idea was a bean counter wanting to save on 2m of plastic tube and the mountings for it per vehicle. (the actuaries calculated the risk of a major breakdown versus the vehicles sold and the dollar cost won over the engineer's designs).

LR has actuaries AND Engineers

I always thought over 500 mm it's nuts got cold, fell off , and it becomes a Toyota

Originally Posted by FeatherWeightDriver

Yep - short tube off the top of the tank, easily visible just above the chassis rail though the wheel well, about 675mm off the ground, facing rearwards.

Where would you extend it to?

Nugget's kit extends it to be high on the engine bay firewall (I think), but maybe easier to bring it up inside the rear of the vehicle to window height?

Easy to run it and the rear diff breather up high into the rear of the vehicle,as said.The engine bay is a long way to go and could end up with a 'trap' in it which is not good.I prefer to run breathers directly up,not up and down which can cause 'traps'

Pic below, unless I am mistaken it is the curved tube.

You lot worry WAY too much about these things, just get out, relax and enjoy.

If I had walked this I would have been swimming and washed down stream. Current was fast, hence no 'bow wave'. I have floated, bobbed and skipped the wheels a few times wading or fording rivers in the UK. Once you gain confidence with these things it becomes very enjoyable.

So where is the breather from the rear axle? The 300s terminate at the top of the A frame arms.

Dont stop extending them to under the bonnet, take them to the top of the snorkel to be safe.

G

I don't think you'd be swimming in that mate, doesn't look much over 500mm to me. Does look like you are driving too fast through it though which is what it looks about three times it's actual depth.

Ian.

What's a recommended fording speed, for say 400 mm I normally grab 1st in high with low-med revs (no tacko) Ina hilux?

And try to remain constant in transit