4runner offroad capabilities
- Thread starter sliaa
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Good Times
New member
I would suspect that the hummer (not the h2 the military h1) will be better than the 4runner. The h2 is a different story.
As for the driving in flooded areas:
not sure which 4runner you have but....
1. Drive SLOW where you get a nice small wave and ride it out. Try not to floor it into the water as you'll flood your engine.
2. if you don't already have the rear diff breather mod, it's time to do it as the rear diff is the lowest point and you don't want that piece to get flooded
Try to avoid water areas but if you must, just drive carefully and make sure you know how deep it is b4 crossing it.
As for the driving in flooded areas:
not sure which 4runner you have but....
1. Drive SLOW where you get a nice small wave and ride it out. Try not to floor it into the water as you'll flood your engine.
2. if you don't already have the rear diff breather mod, it's time to do it as the rear diff is the lowest point and you don't want that piece to get flooded
Try to avoid water areas but if you must, just drive carefully and make sure you know how deep it is b4 crossing it.
Good Times
New member
definitely not a mod you can buy at the stealer. but for a few bucks you can get the parts online and do it yourself
very easy to do even for a rookie with absolutely no mechanical experience.
here's some sample sites on how to do it:
http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/jackson_breather/breather.htm
http://www.4runners.org/articles/typerdiff/
Good Luck!
very easy to do even for a rookie with absolutely no mechanical experience.
here's some sample sites on how to do it:
http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/jackson_breather/breather.htm
http://www.4runners.org/articles/typerdiff/
Good Luck!
Since the mod costs less than $20 and takes about 15 minutes to do, it's well worth doing because it gives peace of mind.
No pics available, but I ran the breather behind the gas cap, so it's high, but not visible. Someone else had the idea, and it makes for a stealthier install.
No pics available, but I ran the breather behind the gas cap, so it's high, but not visible. Someone else had the idea, and it makes for a stealthier install.
Thai
Elite Member
There is a thread on the rear breather tube:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=123
Hope this helps.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=123
Hope this helps.
Good Times
New member
This is a good question actually because they do extend the front breather... I think they extend the center one too but I can't be certain.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: but why a "breather" ??
It's not a weak point. The extension is just a "safety insurance" precaution. If the water level is, in fact, over the rear pumkin enough for the breather to be submerged than you will have more serious issues than a bit of water in the rear diff.
Usually, if you get a bow wave going the water level is highest at the front and lowest at the back.
If you are driving in water deep enough to completely submerge the rear diff breather, you should be worrying about wet carpet and hydrolocking the engine.
If you do alot of off roading and water crossings, better safe than sorry so a 15minute insurance policy doesn't sound too bad.
Remember, you are going to change ANY new, stock truck to make it perform better off road. You don't have to extend the breather. I know alot of guys that don't and never have a problem.
sliaa said:
It's not a weak point. The extension is just a "safety insurance" precaution. If the water level is, in fact, over the rear pumkin enough for the breather to be submerged than you will have more serious issues than a bit of water in the rear diff.
Usually, if you get a bow wave going the water level is highest at the front and lowest at the back.
If you are driving in water deep enough to completely submerge the rear diff breather, you should be worrying about wet carpet and hydrolocking the engine.
If you do alot of off roading and water crossings, better safe than sorry so a 15minute insurance policy doesn't sound too bad.
Remember, you are going to change ANY new, stock truck to make it perform better off road. You don't have to extend the breather. I know alot of guys that don't and never have a problem.
waskillywabbit
New member
Good Times said:definitely not a mod you can buy at the stealer. but for a few bucks you can get the parts online and do it yourself
very easy to do even for a rookie with absolutely no mechanical experience.
here's some sample sites on how to do it:
http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/jackson_breather/breather.htm
http://www.4runners.org/articles/typerdiff/
Good Luck!
I used the top write-up and it worked perfectly and took less than 15 minutes. Here's a pic to go with the above links so you get an idea.
:guitar2:
Brian
what's the "cap" thing on the rear diff
I looked under my truck just today and I noticed that there's a "cap" thing at the bottom right of the rear diff "pumpkin". Not sure if that's the breather cap or something...... I have a 03 SR5 V6 4x4.
So without the breather mod, I can't do water crossing with water level higher than the breather cap position ?? It's roughly 17" (9.1" min ground clearance + about 8" from the "pumpkin") from ground to the cap.
Now I felt sorry that I drove over the flood areas last winter. I was the only truck driving at 40 and splashing water all over the places (and on the trucks/Mercedes near by. Some fun that you don't do in a city
I looked under my truck just today and I noticed that there's a "cap" thing at the bottom right of the rear diff "pumpkin". Not sure if that's the breather cap or something...... I have a 03 SR5 V6 4x4.
So without the breather mod, I can't do water crossing with water level higher than the breather cap position ?? It's roughly 17" (9.1" min ground clearance + about 8" from the "pumpkin") from ground to the cap.
Now I felt sorry that I drove over the flood areas last winter. I was the only truck driving at 40 and splashing water all over the places (and on the trucks/Mercedes near by
. Some fun that you don't do in a city
Good Times
New member
Re: what's the "cap" thing on the rear diff
That thing at the bottom of the pumpkin is the rear diff drain bolt. The breather should look like a silver pen cap that is located on top of it
You can survive crossing some water ways so long as you drive carefully. But prolonged submergence will cause the rear diff to swallow some water which is not recommended
It's always fun to splahsh in the water though, but you know it's a no-no though.
sliaa said:I looked under my truck just today and I noticed that there's a "cap" thing at the bottom right of the rear diff "pumpkin". Not sure if that's the breather cap or something...... I have a 03 SR5 V6 4x4.
So without the breather mod, I can't do water crossing with water level higher than the breather cap position ?? It's roughly 17" (9.1" min ground clearance + about 8" from the "pumpkin") from ground to the cap.
Now I felt sorry that I drove over the flood areas last winter. I was the only truck driving at 40 and splashing water all over the places (and on the trucks/Mercedes near by
That thing at the bottom of the pumpkin is the rear diff drain bolt. The breather should look like a silver pen cap that is located on top of it
You can survive crossing some water ways so long as you drive carefully. But prolonged submergence will cause the rear diff to swallow some water which is not recommended
It's always fun to splahsh in the water though, but you know it's a no-no though.
Thai
Elite Member
The breather cap is on TOP of the differential, leaning more on the driver's side.
The breather cap should survive water crossing at ANY depth. When pressure builds up in the differential, the air will blow out by way of the breather cap. If the cap functions properly, then it will close immediately after expelling the hot differential air. Think of how the exhaust/muffler works under water...same principle...that is, you don't worry about your exhaust under water, right? The hot air pressure from the exhaust is enough to push the water out of the muffler (your muffler does NOT drown when submerged). You do NOT have to worry about water going into the differential IF the cap functions well.
The POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE BREATHER CAP is that dirt/mud/dust may get under the cap and, thus, doesn't let the cap close completely. When this happens, you can have water get into the differential. That is, the cap may pop open to let the hot differential air out, but it won't close completely due to dirt/mud attaching to it.
Hope this helps.
The breather cap should survive water crossing at ANY depth. When pressure builds up in the differential, the air will blow out by way of the breather cap. If the cap functions properly, then it will close immediately after expelling the hot differential air. Think of how the exhaust/muffler works under water...same principle...that is, you don't worry about your exhaust under water, right? The hot air pressure from the exhaust is enough to push the water out of the muffler (your muffler does NOT drown when submerged). You do NOT have to worry about water going into the differential IF the cap functions well.
The POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE BREATHER CAP is that dirt/mud/dust may get under the cap and, thus, doesn't let the cap close completely. When this happens, you can have water get into the differential. That is, the cap may pop open to let the hot differential air out, but it won't close completely due to dirt/mud attaching to it.
Hope this helps.