Driving through Floods - In Supra

is it a wise thing to do? I came across a flooded road on my way to work today, I drove through it ok, but it made me think, at what height would it start to cause a problem, and are there any low level breathers I should be worred about?

If the water covers your headlights, then I'd begin to worry a bit, and if you can see fish in front of you, I think it's too late!

If a fin goes past it might be a problem too

If a fin goes past it might be a problem too

Have they had nasty floods in Scandinavia too, then?

no not a good idea...but depends how deep obviously.

The main issue would be brake discs and warping them.

If you're discs are hot and they rapidly cool with the water then they can be easily warped.

And, to mention the obvious, if water makes it over the bonnet and into the electrics and air filter, the engine bay will suffer.

There is an air intake below the headlight. That might result in some issues.. Also, depending on you wiring to sidelights (if you for examplet did them your self, as I wouldn't trust flooding my wirering )

is it a wise thing to do?

Yes of course it is.

Ah see I am good in my motor up to about 4 1/2 feet

Lets say you have some very heavy rain for several hours and there are some deep ish puddles about 6/7 inches or so developing due to the slope of the road etc then I'd avoid it.

It amazes me at how many drive through without a care in the world. Last year when we had some heavy rains, people drove through the puddles whereas I moved the car towards the shallowest part of the puddle (taking up 2 lanes) and crawling through it.

Some folks that drove through these puddles that didn't look all that bad ended up grinding to a halt a few yards further up the road Obviously you have to remember that many modern cars have many electrics/sensors etc than can and will be affected by such conditions!

The Smart car I had used to be a pain in the arse - there is a small drain hole in the front of the gearbox, low down and if you went through anything deeper than a couple of inches, the gearbox would fill with water. It would run fine until you stopped, then it would not register any movement of the gearstick and you couldn't start the car (semi-auto thing has to be in N to start) until the water drained out which took 2 days. I got stuck 3 or 4 times like that, no matter how gently I went through puddles.

Lets say you have some very heavy rain for several hours and there are some deep ish puddles about 6/7 inches or so developing due to the slope of the road etc then I'd avoid it.

 

It amazes me at how many drive through without a care in the world. Last year when we had some heavy rains, people drove through the puddles whereas I moved the car towards the shallowest part of the puddle (taking up 2 lanes) and crawling through it.

 

Some folks that drove through these puddles that didn't look all that bad ended up grinding to a halt a few yards further up the road Obviously you have to remember that many modern cars have many electrics/sensors etc than can and will be affected by such conditions!

exactly, and not to mention the affect on your steering when hittting a couple of inches of water at even low speeds. Drive one-handed at your peril with 245s on the front in/after heavy rain.

I once had no choice but to drive through a flood in my old UK spec, the water was above the bottom of the doors, although suprisingly it didn't leak into the cabin. The exhaust sounded interesting!

The Smart car I had used to be a pain in the arse - there is a small drain hole in the front of the gearbox, low down and if you went through anything deeper than a couple of inches, the gearbox would fill with water. It would run fine until you stopped, then it would not register any movement of the gearstick and you couldn't start the car (semi-auto thing has to be in N to start) until the water drained out which took 2 days. I got stuck 3 or 4 times like that, no matter how gently I went through puddles.

I cannot, for the life of me, imagine you in a Smart car

I cannot, for the life of me, imagine you in a Smart car

Lol, yeah, it wasn't really me, but it was useful for a while.

If the water covers your headlights, then I'd begin to worry a bit...

I'd begin to worry a bit sooner than that. The headlight is where the air intake is, and if you get water pouring into that you're in danger of getting it into the cylinders, and the resulting "hydraulic lock" where the engine seizes up.

Obviously, if the water reaches the air intake or any of the ignition-dependent electrics, then it's very risky. Water recess into any of the electrics can be a pain to diagnose, and it can give you some truly bizarre symptoms.

I really don't like driving through water. That view might originate from owning Rover Metros in the past. They had exposed HT leads at the front of the engine bay, and the car would splutter and die if they got damp. Sometimes the bloody Metro would start to cough if it merely saw standing water at 30 paces.

Just a quick note if you have any fears that the water will be above your exhaust level. Keep the car in a low gear and keep the revs up, so as to make sure that water does not get a chance to get into the pipe.

thanks for advice guys, I think I'll go a different way home

Even if it's over the sills a bit it shouldn't damage the car mechanically if you GO SLOWLY. Diff vent is higher, so is gearbox. Air cleaner will only pull water if it's about half bumper height and I doubt if many would knowingly attempt a crossing like that! Problems start with modded cars with ill conceived air filter set ups. Once the engine inhales water whilst it's running it'll probably hydraulic and be *uggered internally.

... we have all seen this pic of me 1000 times before... but I thought id bring it out again... this is as a result of going through a hidden puddle (lake) at speed.... i wont do it again!

The old red eye, nasty, it's caused by effluent contaminated water, isn't it?

Tis the work of the devil himself.

Even if it's over the sills a bit it shouldn't damage the car mechanically if you GO SLOWLY. Diff vent is higher, so is gearbox. Air cleaner will only pull water if it's about half bumper height and I doubt if many would knowingly attempt a crossing like that! Problems start with modded cars with ill conceived air filter set ups. Once the engine inhales water whilst it's running it'll probably hydraulic and be *uggered internally.

Thanks Chris, thats exactly the type of answer i was looking for

Glad we dont have these floods in denmark.

I dont even drive mine in the rain..

this was the flood in question

the road was actually closed on the way home

If you have to go through deep water then turn your vehicle around and reverse through the water keeping the revs up, unless your in Range Rover or similar then its shouldnt be a problem