Thread: Deep water - Stock Puma Defender

Well you're lucky you still have an engine with water on the intake...

The electronics are well below so stopping for any length of time will prove painful..

Looks like fun! I hope you didn't go back through after you got the boy haha going nose first into the deep end...

Having investigated the inlet system, it's a bit of a gamble. The airbox itself is level with the intake vent on the guard. If water gets thru the top half of the airbox lid, and is sucked in by the engine, it's all downhill to the turbo compressor wheel, and then the intercooler.

Water plus a fast spinning, hot, turbo compressor wheel:


If you manage to suck water from the intercooler to the engine, things can get exponentially worse.

But mad video nonetheless!

Originally Posted by BadCo.

Looks like fun! I hope you didn't go back through after you got the boy haha going nose first into the deep end...

. Not this time..

A few months ago it was dry going out, flooded going home (not as deep as this last event). Though the water was lower I pushed a larger bow wave and it looked more dramatic with water across the bonnet.

After going through once on the home bound route the lad (6yo) was thrilled " ...lets go back through again!"

And we did, and then again once more to get back on the home side.

Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

Having investigated the inlet system, it's a bit of a gamble. The airbox itself is level with the intake vent on the guard. If water gets thru the top half of the airbox lid, and is sucked in by the engine, it's all downhill to the turbo compressor wheel,[...]

This is sensible informed comment Tox.

Have also looked into the air paths. From intake to airbox isn't so much of a worry if water level is about there.

The suction on the airbox outlet (to turbo intake) is at the top of the airbox so water has to get to there to start doing real damage. Only a little water is needed at that point as the ducting is indeed a downhill run into turbo.

You need to covertly use a can of spray paint.

Or fit a well fitting snorkle.

The way Defenders let water in (and out for that matter), the Tdci's throttle position sensor above your right foot is actually my biggest concern. Fair enough that they don't have flaps, so the normal waterfall on your feet doesn't happen, but there is still many ways water can land on (if not fully submerge) that unit.

I've got pictures taken from the passenger seat, of my 300Tdi driving with the windscreen looking like a fish tank with about 6" daylight showing at the top, but the RAI/ snorkel was so well sealed you could smother the engine by closing the intake. We did it for volunteer flood rescue in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and the end morally justified the toll on wheel bearings, pulley bearings, alternators etc.

I do however avoid water deeper than the rubber hub cap with my Tdci as far as possible. Everyone to his own, but the wear and rear due to water ingression in every other part of the car, especially in murky water (suspended soil and organic matter), just doesn't make it worth it IMO.

Luckily I live in WA, so plenty of travel available without mandatory water crossings...

Cheers,

Lou

Can I ask if water came into the battery box under the front passenger's seat through the grommet holes in the battery box, or had you blocked them?
Also, did the bottoms of the door seals let water in? I could see daylight through mine until I added an extra seal on the body at the bottom of each door.