Correct method for driving through floods

[manco]

drive through in a toyota hilux with the doors welded up and a powerboat outboard on the back

[Doug Tait]

25yrs experience as a mechanic means he's 40+. What's he doing with a lowered bmw.

 

He's not driving through floods in it.

It's this puddle, with his mates, up to 30 times a night.

 

[Steven P]

Another vote to the slow and steady, and if I can't see the road edges have a think about another route.

 

Engine air intake is at the top of the engine, battery terminals at the top, the only things I can think of lower down that might not like being flooded are alternator and starter and the exhaust. For the starter and alternator these are above the door sills I think in mine, so as long as my feet aren't getting wet should be OK.

 

(However my limit for thinking again is about half wheel height)

[AHPP]

The turbo on my van (2004 Renault Master) is pretty low and the pipe is always falling off anyway.

[AHPP]

2 hours ago, Rich Rule said:

The bow wave created by the correct speed actually lowers the water level at the front of the car.  
 

If you get too close to the bow wave it can come over the bonnet and flood the engine bay.

 

 

Got it. Cheers.

[daveatdave]

some cars have the air intake low down also be aware of the axel breather.

slow with a few revs is the way I know it but avoid deep flowing water because you are likely to get washed away like those poor folk in the Yorkshire dales did a couple of weeks ago. 

[Mark Bolam]

The trick is just not to do it.

 

You’re better off shivering in your car than writing it off and the insurance company disowning you.

Is it worth £30K+ to continue the journey?

 

This is my little bro trying to get from Northumberland to Scotland just after Christmas.

 

The abandoned white car is toast.

 

 

[Mark Bolam]

He thought an 80 mile detour was worth it, and got home ok.

[Mick Dempsey]

Yeah, but there’s no better feeling than taking a chance and succeeding. Especially if you’ve finally got a chance to put a Chelsea tractor through its paces.

 

Throws a bit of jeopardy into an otherwise mundane existence. 
 

I can see why people try it.

Edited January 6, 2024 by Mick Dempsey

[peds]

At the risk of having the good old cuck insult thrown around again, my wife simply won't let me drive through anything deeper than a puddle. We always go around. 

My training has been so thorough that I even listen to her nagging when she isn't in the vehicle, because I would just hate to give her any ammunition for one of those told-you-so episodes. 

 

I seek my giddy little thrills elsewhere.