A Clutch Q

[mike_beecham]

Hi All,
If one was to drive into deep water with warm/hot engine and water ingress was to occur in the gearbox, would this cause the clutch to be slipping after the event? Old mate was in the water for a while as he got stuck (no surprise there).

(Vehicle - GQ Patrol).

Thanks,
Mike

[Blknight.aus]

it can, yes.

massive ingress into the bell housing can lift the residue from various minor weeps then spread the oil around and get it onto the plates.

most likely

if his clutch was near gone and he got it wet and he used it it may have gotten into the friction material and been enough to "polish" the material upon use of the clutch. It just means that his clutch was nearly due to slip anyway.

If the gearbox was filled with water (and not rectified immediately(then most likey it got turned into an emulsion and a, blocked the breather then b, heated up and forced its way past the input shaft seal and coated everything with gear oil eventually including the friction plate. (especially if the bell housing drain was sealed and not emptied)

[UncleHo]

As most vehicles have a small hole at the base of the bellhousing to let heat and any oil leaks out that is where water would be sucked in during a water crossing,a TDI Disco 1 has a "wading plug" in the front timing cover to stop water entering the timing case and making the belt slip, on my series I have a "Wading Plug" that screws into the bellhousing to stop water entering the clutch assembly (wet clutch no drive)I have used it on my Series to cross flooded roads,I got caught the first time and had to get towed out.

cheers