Driving through water
- Thread starter Sphonaut
- Start date
If you submerge the top of the diff in water, you should replace it immediately, unless you have a diff breather relocation kit or hose or aftermarket breather like this one:
And even if you don't submerge it completely, it would be wise to change the oil out as soon as you get back. There's no real way to check if you got a little or a lot of water into the diffs without actually pulling the drain plug, as no amount of staring into the fill hole will make you confident enough to say its clear of all water!
If you're doing this more than twice a year, it would just be cheaper and smarter to get the relocation kit and not worry about it again!
Just ordered 4 of these. My supplier has them for $12 plus shipping (3.20). Comes with the parked fittin and bellow. Barbed fittings do not require the clamp. Once on you should not be able to remove. Picks to come when mine get here.
Saker
Senior Member
If you submerge the top of the diff in water, you should replace it immediately, unless you have a diff breather relocation kit or hose or aftermarket breather like this one:
And even if you don't submerge it completely, it would be wise to change the oil out as soon as you get back. There's no real way to check if you got a little or a lot of water into the diffs without actually pulling the drain plug, as no amount of staring into the fill hole will make you confident enough to say its clear of all water!
If you're doing this more than twice a year, it would just be cheaper and smarter to get the relocation kit and not worry about it again!
I don't know if I, personally would use this gizmo.
Just doesn't look like it has the volume capacity or integrity.
Just sayin
carlomagne
New member
just thought i'd add a picture
We ran them about ten years ago on out rock crawlers. Dana 60s. I suspect the lesser volume of air ad oil in the smaller Toyota axle will have less expansion than we had in the larger vehicles. As far as integrity, well that's a good point. I never had one longer than about three years. So it's very possible these things will break down rather fast compared to just a hose.
Bump this thread in three years and I will give you an update. Lol
Saker
Senior Member
Copy that....
I don't suspect fuel line braking down or the filter I used....
Hope you have no issues!
DesertCanyons
New member
If you submerge the top of the diff in water, you should replace it immediately, unless you have a diff breather relocation kit or hose or aftermarket breather like this one:
..., it would just be cheaper and smarter to get the relocation kit and not worry about it again!
The problem with this bellows expansion/contraction contraption is that the air in the diff needs to expand as it gets hot. How much air is in the diff and how hot does it get. If that is an inch long, it's probably not large enough for the expansion. And what happens when you park in cold weather after warming the diff up on a drive? The breather relocation is a better option.
1engineer
Moderator
You could calculate that...
philsey
New member
fixed
Based on ambient air temp of 50 degrees and a diff temperature of 250 degrees...(expansion coefficient .00039 per degree)
Gear Oil expands approximately 10% @ a 200 degree temperature increase.
@ 250 degrees air has an expansion coefficient of 1.91.. Using PV = nRT we determine air will expand roughly 1.6%
(250+273)/(50+273)=1.6%
So at 2.3 quarts of oil (133 cubic inches) and roughly 44 cubic inches of air. your total volume after expansion; (133*1.10)+(44*1.016)=191. An increase of 15 cubic inches with a 200 degree uptick in temperature.
Please feel free to double check me... I literally got my engineering degree online. But based on the above increase of 200 degrees (an absolute guess) that bellow would have to be able to hold a volume of 15ci. this does not take in to account the actual compression of the air in a closed system. Someone who did not get an online degree with the aid of google will have to figure that part out.
Fixed
Last edited:
LandCruiser
New member
Contrary to popular belief and TV commercials, water is bad for off road vehicles.
You can drown the wheel bearings, T-case, transmission, and diffs.
Get breather mods and avoid water like the plague, or get an older vehicle that's easier to drain/change/service.
You can drown the wheel bearings, T-case, transmission, and diffs.
Get breather mods and avoid water like the plague, or get an older vehicle that's easier to drain/change/service.
adam2562
New member
i know i'm probably gonna get ridiculed for saying this.. but... I've been in much deeper than 14" of water numerous times.. the deepest i've been in the hood for a split second went under the water line as i splashed in and nailed it to get out quickly since i didn't know it was that deep.. talking with people about this sore subject i've come to my own conclusion (feel free to bash if you don't agree) that if you don't spend time sitting there in the water, the diff isn't going to cool down rapidly and suck in water through the breather. Now.. that bring us to another issue.. getting stuck... don't go solo.. have people nearby in case you get stuck in deep water (or sit(park vehicle) in it like some people like to do) i myself have enjoy sitting in a stream for no good reason (it wasn't high enough to get in the diff). when you sit in it.. this will definitely cool the pumpkin down over a short time. so in conclusion, if your powering thru water holes/streams i think you're ok as long as it's not a wiiiide stream where your pumpkin will have time to cool down and be submerged. and ofcourse other things on the truck such as bearing and what not won't like the water either.
Intruder
New member
I agree with Bubbles. Avoid it if possible and if you can't, then cross at the shallowest and shortest part. Spending too much time in rivers is also bad for fish, and around here that's the sort of thing that will get you fined and get trails shut down in a hurry.
Disagree. Up here where the water can be quite cold in the mountains even in the summer there's plenty of temperature differential (no pun intended) to suck water in. And it doesn't necessarily get sucked in through the diff breather - it's more likely to be through the seals.
BettysNephew
New member
Take it from an old timerthat has ruined more than one differential and a transfer case, the more you stay out of fording water, the longer your vehicle will last. Breathers will let water in, seals will also let water in at times and prevent it from escaping. The best thing to do is avoid it if possible. If you cannot avoid it assume the worst and change fluids at the earliest possible time. Oil is cheap compared to metal parts.
help
hello all,
Im new to the game all around, first 4x4, first 4runner and today was the first time I went off roading. Have had the car (2016) for about a month and half. I have a basic 4x4 SR5 and stock all around. As the day went by my ego got bigger. There was this puddle, thought I would make it but 10 feet in and I got stuck. Literally. My brother went to get help and was able to flag down T4R TRD. He pulled me out. I was submerged for about 20-30 mins max. the water was at the bottom of the door edge. After I got home my buddy told me to check the REAR DIFFERENTIAL BREATHER, and suggested I might have to get it check out or serviced.
I have 3 questions:
Anyone know anything about these before I modify it?
Do I have to get it replaced or serviced for any damage?
And how long can it be submerged?
hello all,
Im new to the game all around, first 4x4, first 4runner and today was the first time I went off roading. Have had the car (2016) for about a month and half. I have a basic 4x4 SR5 and stock all around. As the day went by my ego got bigger. There was this puddle, thought I would make it but 10 feet in and I got stuck. Literally. My brother went to get help and was able to flag down T4R TRD. He pulled me out. I was submerged for about 20-30 mins max. the water was at the bottom of the door edge. After I got home my buddy told me to check the REAR DIFFERENTIAL BREATHER, and suggested I might have to get it check out or serviced.
I have 3 questions:
Anyone know anything about these before I modify it?
Do I have to get it replaced or serviced for any damage?
And how long can it be submerged?
AZTrail
New member
I would get the rear differential fluid replaced this week.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Go to the local parts store or walmart, buy 4 quarts or so of whatever 75w90 gear oil they have. Do you have a ratchet with a 24mm socket? If not, buy that too. Oh, and a bucket. Drive home, look up instructions and drain your rear diff (after removing the fill plug). Everything look reasonably clean? Good, now refill until it comes out the fill plug and roll on. Does it come out nasty and watery? Refill and plan on repeating the process in another week or so until it comes out clean.
There is no set time on how long it can be underwater, popular consensus is seconds, not minutes and you'll be fine. I've been through deep water quite a bit on my motorcycle with a vent on the final drive just above wheel centerline. I've never got water in there, then again, I don't stop and sit in the water either. A splash and dash, you'll be fine.
This has been more or less what I go by as well. If you are crawling around on a trail, your 3rd member shouldn't be THAT hot anyway unless you're pre running or something crazy at highway speeds, then diving into pools. Additionally, that housing is pretty thick and will take a few seconds to cool enough then pull the heat from the fluid (and axles and the gears etc) and transfer the heat to the water before you're going to be sucking in water from an oil gasket.
Even if you do get water into the axle somehow, you are not going to have a full on explosion of the diff five minutes after forging. All the vulnerable components are still soaked in diff fluid which does not like water at all and will be repelling it like crazy. You'd want to get it changed pretty soon especially if you're at risk of freezing of course but you won't burst into flames.
My first truck was a '83 4X4 SR5. Because I was an idiot and a teenager, the entire time I owned it I never changed the fluids at all. I drove that thing 70-80K on top of the PO's 140K miles without so much as a squeak or complaint. Now of course this is not how I treat my trucks now, but these things are designed to be abused and neglected and just like your trusty hound, be ready to go every time.
