Ripping through puddles?

M

mike1305

New member
It's been pouring rain out here where I live, so there are a few parking lots around town that form big puddles where clogged drains are. Needless to say, I enjoy ripping through them.

Recently, my check engine light went on, and the scanned read "left bank O2 sensor". I had the code erased. Then last night, I was going through a relatively deep puddle (between a foot and two feet) and afterwards my engine's rpm's slowly went down, but I wasnt suprised beciase i thought i might have let some water splash around under the hood. the engine was normal a few minutes later. Then on the way home, I was accellerating and all of a sudden the engine kicked down to 2000 rpms and the engine light went on.

Does anyone know of any problems directly related to driving through deep water like that?
 
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the only think ive done relative to that is sucking water in through my intake and flooding the engine. you may need to blast the water out with an air hose or let it dry form a wile. ive flooded my engine once and i just had to drain out my K and N.
 
I don't think you hydrolocked your engine because the engine didn't shut right off. But if your engine is hydrolocked and doesn't start, just hope you didn't throw a rod.
 
4RUNN!N said:
I don't think you hydrolocked your engine because the engine didn't shut right off. But if your engine is hydrolocked and doesn't start, just hope you didn't throw a rod.
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that doesnt sound fun. :eek: I haven't started it yet today but i don't think that is the problem.
 
YOu might have just soaked your air filter, and restricting air flow. Chedck your filter. If you hydrolocked your motor, you would know, it wouldnt start. So if its able to run, then its something other then hydrolocking it.
 
Jay said:
YOu might have just soaked your air filter, and restricting air flow. Chedck your filter. If you hydrolocked your motor, you would know, it wouldnt start. So if its able to run, then its something other then hydrolocking it.
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yep, that's exactly what it was. the engine light stayed on for a few more hours then went off when i was filling up gas, so i popped the hood and the filter was pretty wet.
 
and that my friends is why you dont blast through water but rather create a controlled bow wave.
 
lee said:
and that my friends is why you dont blast through water but rather create a controlled bow wave.
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I second that...


As much fun as it is, it's just not worth destroying the engine.

Went through too deep a puddle in my ex-gf 92 Toy pick-up and hydrolocked it. That was the last time that motor ran.
:bash:

Sounds like you were lucky this time.

Good luck!
 
snorkels are a good thing to have, although i still have destroyed my alternator and starter due to some really deep water though.... you are lucky, remember, the 4runner isnt a submarine.... unless you get a snorkel....
 
Phil79886 said:
Where can you get snorkle?
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I'll be willing to bet that there are some crafty folks here that have made their own out of a CIA and some extra piping. Im sure if my car wasn't so new and in good condition and I was feeling adventurous I would probably try to make my own. The hard part would be slicing through the hood...
 
Phil79886 said:
Sorry 1 more thing what is hydrolocking????
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when water gets in your engine. Some kid from my school recently drove his 87 integra through the same puddles I was going through and all in all he needs a new engine. I don't know exactly how it works.
 
this is where i got my snorkel from, i paid 285 about a year and a half ago, so the 15 dollar increase in price isnt bad, now keep in mind you arent going to win any beauty contest with a snorkel on the side of your runner, but everyone will turn there heads and ask "what is that" and then you can inform them of what it really is or make something up and mess with them.

http://www.4by4connection.com/snorkels1.html

you dont need to drill through the hood, just the fender or the passenger side. i love having one and it has saved my motor more than once, so if you have to drive through deep deep water, get a snorkel and bite the bullet.
 
Phil79886 said:
Sorry 1 more thing what is hydrolocking????
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Hydro locking in a nut shell. Its when your air intake ingests water from a large puddle or river crossings. The water is sucked into your engine and into your cumbustion chambers (cylinders). Air can be compressed, which is what happens when your engine runs, along with the fuel and spark, which creats combustion.

Water doesnt compress like air does. So what happens is your piston is trying to compress the water, it is like trying to take a 2 liter bottle and trying to squeeze it until it bursts. In this case of your motor, what bursts is your valves bend, valve springs snap, and your connecting rods snap. Which usualy results in a blown motor. This isnt good for anyone but the mechanic or the guy selling you a new motor. Hope this helps.
 
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