Inner fender lining trimming

[4x4mike]

Doing a little reading here this morning and came across a few posts with damaged/hydrolocked engines. There were a couple of items in common with these damaged engines: 1) the water was described as a puddle to 1 foot deep and 2) the 4Runner had trimmed inner fender liners.

I had a question about #2. When folks trim inner fender liners; where are they trimming and how much is usually taken off? Prior to my lift I removed a small (about 3 square inches) portion of the rearward fender liner on both sides of the vehicle and a small portion (about 2 square inches) of the front bumper towards the bottom.

I don't do many deep water crossings but want to avoid water induced engine problems. Is it common to trim more than I have trimmed? And has trimming occurred in similar locations?

 

[blackoutt]

Most of the trimming people are referring to is when they install an aftermarket offroad bumper. Then they are trimming the entire front portion of the liner off since there's no plastic bumper cover to mate up to anymore and you can't just leave the liner flapping in the wind. With the liner cut for a front bumper and going too fast through water, this is what causes water ingestion. Less worry if you have the fender liner mostly intact in front of the wheel, the air intake scoop inside the fender points forward. The main lesson is drive through water at an appropriate speed.

 

[4x4mike]

Thanks for the info.

I came from a 3rd gen where the intake pointed backwards and I assumed the 4th gen did the same. It makes sense that with a large portion of the front of the liner removed water could be driven up the liner and into the intake.

I've got a C4fab bumper but am able to maintain most of my factory bumper and liner. Thanks again.