Wading kit - without snorkel

duncanpage4 · Mar 1, 2014

I know the subject has been thrashed out on this forum in many different threads but after all the flooding some people have suffered this winter I thought perhaps it was a good idea to install a wading kit.

I know we're told the Hippo will float before it starts to need a snorkel, but when cleaning out the rear diff yesterday I noticed what I think is the diff breather pipe.

So...has anyone fitted a wading kit i.e. tubes to the breathers on the rear diff, gearbox, IRD, etc and a manifold to connect them all and at least bring them high up into the engine bay if not up through a snorkel?

If anyone could post some pictures I'd appreciate it.

bukko · Mar 1, 2014

I'm interested in this as well.
For example is there any way of protecting the alternator?
There must be a way to make a waterproof casing for it...

Kizzeh · Mar 1, 2014

It might get a little bit hot then. Bringing the breathers up is the easy bit. But you might get fed up of having a spare alternator in your boot

duncanpage4 · Mar 1, 2014

Kizzeh said:
It might get a little bit hot then. Bringing the breathers up is the easy bit. But you might get fed up of having a spare alternator in your boot

Why would you have to waterproof the alternator?
I thought I was just the spark plugs you had to protect if you have a petrol engine.
Does a diesel need protecting in the same way or will it cope so long as the air intake is higher than the water level & the gearbox/diff breathers don't get water in them?

duncanpage4 · Mar 1, 2014

Rear diff breather currently hangs on chassis just above the rear diff.

Could attach to where it enters the diff case

Then run along the underneath clipping into the spare clips either above or below the brake lines

The bring it up into the engine bay & into a breather manifold where the IRD & Gearbox breathers can be linked.

Then it's only one hose that needs to be kept above the water level, either somewhere near the ECU box or taken out the wing through a snorkel.

Anyone know the size of the breather holes in the Rear Diff, IRD & Gearbox?

Kizzeh · Mar 1, 2014

duncanpage4 said:
Why would you have to waterproof the alternator?
I thought I was just the spark plugs you had to protect if you have a petrol engine.
Does a diesel need protecting in the same way or will it cope so long as the air intake is higher than the water level & the gearbox/diff breathers don't get water in them?

Just put a joiner or make a new pipe for the rear diff and poke it through the back where the tow bar electrics go and run it above the rear lights. Pointless trying to run it along the car especially if it got caught and leaked.

Alternators don't like water. Water and electrics don't mix. Also dirty water will act as a grinding paste for the brushes in the alternator. freelanders have low alternators.

duncanpage4 · Mar 1, 2014

What does this guy do with his alternator?

Kizzeh · Mar 1, 2014

http://askpete-hella.com/tag/alternator-damage/

duncanpage4 · Mar 1, 2014

Kizzeh said:
http://askpete-hella.com/tag/alternator-damage/

Any idea how I can move my alternator??!!

SES88 · Mar 1, 2014

One of the lads on another forum started selling some breather extension kits, I have one. Brought my rear diff breather up to the engine bay to match up with the IRD breather and so on, ran the rear breathers up the fuel line brackets as said.

All you really need is some flexi plastic tubing and some connectors.

As for the alternator, encase it and it'll get too hot...it'll be fine wading until you stop and water gets in the bay, keep moving and the car just pushes most of the water away without any problems. But really, standard wading depth is only 400mm, can be 500mm with your lift kit and big tyres fitted, and I had mine through 750mm ish last week without problem

matacaibo · Mar 1, 2014

duncanpage4 said:
What does this guy do with his alternator?

He replaces it regularly

Thats my manual freelander at the Driffield show a few years ago, it survived this but I wasn't so lucky at the Peterborough show, alternator failed after driving through the muddy water on the offroad course. Replaced another one on my Auto Freelander just a few weeks ago but I don't respect the 400mm max wading depth at all

Kizzeh · Mar 1, 2014

Still....it makes a bloody good picture does it?

Kizzeh · Mar 1, 2014

400mm is to the top of the wheel nuts. I just measures and I think I've taken mine to about 500-550mm down the side I the car past the doors. The bow wave was the little line around the front bumper just below the headlights. I was on my way home and it started off at a sensible depth then right near the End it started getting deeper. Better to keep going than try and stop and turn. I then went home and got in my range rover and it didn't seem like anything

SES88 · Mar 1, 2014

I had water up to the top of the wheel arch plastics last week

Bear in mind LR will be playing it safe with their recommended depths

Kizzeh · Mar 1, 2014

I think if I knew I had extended breathers on and snorkel I would end up going a lot deeper and it costing a lot more money if it goes wrong

Hang on top of your wheel arch plastics? With the lift kit? Blooming eck

SES88 · Mar 1, 2014

Kizzeh said:
I think if I knew I had extended breathers on and snorkel I would end up going a lot deeper and it costing a lot more money if it goes wrong

Hang on top of your wheel arch plastics? With the lift kit? Blooming eck

Yup, had a tide line pretty much matching the swage lines in the middle of the doors. River depth guage said 2ft 6, which is 750mm, was deep! Both me & John (matacaibo above) crossed, he chose the deeper part too, and my car is higher than his!

longdog · Mar 1, 2014

matacaibo said:
He replaces it regularly Thats my manual freelander at the Driffield show a few years ago, it survived this but I wasn't so lucky at the Peterborough show, alternator failed after driving through the muddy water on the offroad course. Replaced another one on my Auto Freelander just a few weeks ago but I don't respect the 400mm max wading depth at all

It killed my alternator

duncanpage4 · Mar 1, 2014

matacaibo said:
He replaces it regularly Thats my manual freelander at the Driffield show a few years ago, it survived this but I wasn't so lucky at the Peterborough show, alternator failed after driving through the muddy water on the offroad course. Replaced another one on my Auto Freelander just a few weeks ago but I don't respect the 400mm max wading depth at all

Awesome photo though!!!

I doubt I'll ever take on anything that deep but I would think a 2" lift kit, modular rims & large tyres & a breather kit will be fine for most flooded roads then.

My little town is fine but everywhere else around here is flooded from the water running off the Downs!

matacaibo · Mar 1, 2014

The problem with the TD4 engine is that the Alternator is lower than the Power steering pump & AC compressor which was fine in its original homes, the BMW 3 & 5 series, all it had to deal with were puddles & car washes, I think LandRover should have insisted it be moved above the other belt driven stuff. Clean River water won't do it much damage because Fresh water isn't a great conducter of electrickery, salt & muddy water is what does the damage.
The next problems you will have is wheel bearings if you do a lot of wading, they are supposed to be sealed but new spares, even genuine Land Rover spares are poor quality when compared with the originally installed ones.

Nodge68 · Mar 1, 2014

duncanpage4 said:
Any idea how I can move my alternator??!!

Get a V6, it's at the top of the engine, level with the strut tops!!

Wading kit - without snorkel

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