Fording water

[Jernik]

The breather mod isn't (primarily) about the low breather on the electronic actuator for the locker. All Toyota 4Runners whether equipped with a locker or not have a one way valve instead of a breather on top of the rear diff. The one way valve allows hot gases to escape as the diff gets hot in normal day to day operation and prevents water from getting sucked into the diff even if submerged.

Problem is, a lot of people have water in their rear diff fluid after dunking their rear diff and sometimes even when the rear diff wasn't submerged and only had water come a little way on the pumpkin. The reality is the one way valve almost never fails - it works as intended. The problem occurs when a hot rear diff is dropped into cool water causing a sudden temp change. The one way valve holds and a strong vacuum is created as the hot gases cool and pressure drops in the pumpkin. Water is sucked into the rear diff through the seals. The pumpkin/one way valve or even the seals don't have to be completely submerged to allow this to happen.

It doesn't happen every time. Often just a little water gets in, but eventually the fluid is degraded and the lack of proper lubrication starts allowing things to get torn up. If you keep playing in water you WILL eventually get it in the rear diff and if you don't get the fluid changed relatively quickly you will start tearing stuff up.

This is the only place Toyota currently uses this one way valve - the front diff, transfer case and transmission all use 2-way breathers run high on the fire wall. While you are running a higher breather for the rear diff it only makes sense to tie in the breather for the locker actuator to keep it out of the water.

You don't have to take my word for it - it takes just a few minutes. Wait till the 4Runner has cooled down from any recent driving and unscrew the one way valve from the top of the pumpkin. You won't have any trouble hearing the diff sucking air once you get the breather loose....

There are numerous threads on this forum about the subject, a search should turn up a lot of reading.

Regards,

David

Thanks for the clarification. :cheers:

 

[shufly09]

I swear, some of the people on this forum are the biggest over calculating pussies I've ever seen

Quite a lot deeper than I thought, but once I committed, I had to push through. Luckily no water got in the intake, but it did get into the rear diff (I hadn't done the mod yet). If you plan on going through water deep enough to cover the rear diff, expect to get water in it if you don't have the mod done!

 

[scanny]

Problem with water crossing that you not always know what's under water, check out FJ Cruiser at 2:10. Just to illustrate that water crossings should be taken slowly and there's always a chance of a surprise.

 

[Jhalko]

I prefer the water I travel through to come in the frozen white powder variety. Preferably on skis and not in my truck, but both are fun.

:smow:

 

[Intruder]

Problem with water crossing that you not always know what's under water, check out FJ Cruiser at 2:10. Just to illustrate that water crossings should be taken slowly and there's always a chance of a surprise.

I wonder what he thought he'd accomplish by continuing to spin his tires?

 

[KidVermicious]

My water crossings tend to look a lot like this - a 10 yr old pic I had of my previous trail rig I just happen to have on my google drive. Depends a lot on time of year. In the summer it's pretty easy. Those are 35's so it's maybe 32" deep? In the spring you could add another foot at times. In the winter it might be frozen with 2 feet of ice. My newer trail rig sits a bit higher, so it's not much concern. I'd do it in my 4runner - probably will run the same trail this summer if I get a chance. Slow is always preferable. Also - clean clear mountain water is a lot easier on things than mud.

Where is that at? I don't recognize it.

 

[skimr]

Alright, how many of you use my patented "bent stick" method of checking water depth and bottom conditions?

Ok Mr 1 E. I'll bite. Remember the need for pictures

 

[STX4Runner]

I wonder what he thought he'd accomplish by continuing to spin his tires?

And why did he veer off to the driver's side and not follow the two other vehicles before him that crossed without incident?

 

[wfo9]

So many people think water crossing are fun. Not my thing. If its mandatory, I'll try to find the safest line.

Here are a few quick examples.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JqU_iOU3pL4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Notice the hwy above, Think he really needed to make that crossing?


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6BCkYQ3kIj4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Another Mandatory crossing. I'll be he paid for that mistake.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mKR-yNJ7oYg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Another obvious mandatory crossing for good reason.

There are a million of these "I've got a truck built for water videos."

 

[1engineer]

I have never been afraid to turn the truck around. I have carried my bike across many deep creeks though.

 

[crapper1979]

Quite a lot deeper than I thought, but once I committed, I had to push through. Luckily no water got in the intake, but it did get into the rear diff (I hadn't done the mod yet). If you plan on going through water deep enough to cover the rear diff, expect to get water in it if you don't have the mod done!

I would have loved to have been there to watch this! Looks like fun!

 

[Stifler]

stifler is not amused!

 

[KVA]

I wonder what he thought he'd accomplish by continuing to spin his tires?

It was like the water show at the Bellagio, lol. Poor guy that tried to give that guy a hand got a little soaked...no wonder he went before him the second attempt.

 

[Intruder]

Poor guy that tried to give that guy a hand got a little soaked...no wonder he went before him the second attempt.

Yeah if that was me I would've just told him now he has to find someone else willing to pull his sorry ass out.

 

[chmura]

Yeah if that was me I would've just told him now he has to find someone else willing to pull his sorry ass out.

Same here.

Did he even have 4x4 enabled? Looks like he didn't. I'm sorry if you are doing a crossing that big you need to have 4wd enabled before you even start it. I sometimes enable the diff lock too. Everything helps in an emergency situation like this.

But sorry the driver was an idiot of that car. I'm sure he panicked and kept doing that when he saw water coming into the cab.