I realize driving through deep water is not the ideal place for our trucks nor for any vehicle for that matter. Its been raining heavy here in the east for the past 48 hrs. and there has been lots of flooding. If I were to drive through a flooded street, up to the middle of the door, what would be the ill effects? Other than the fact that water will come through the cracks. This is just a pass through not hanging out in it. Or what are some of your experiences?

Thanks....I've got some idle time tonight.

 

I drove through at least 30" of water in Houston a while back... the truck sounded like a marine diesel, just burbling away underwater.

Just be careful hitting deep water at speed - besides the hydroplane danger, the water can splash up into the alternator and kill it until it dries out thoroughly... that's when I discovered that low voltage (~9VDC) will keep the injectors from firing properly before the lift pump quits putting out usable pressure!

 

If you steadily without stopping keep moving at a moderate slow speed into and through the deep water then the bumper and a covered grill may displace and force the water to move away from and around the unit, and thus prevent moisture from getting onto and adversely affecting the engine's electrical systems. Many years ago a relation of mine drove a big old Chrysler station wagon through a gravel bottom creek ford crossing flooded by a beaver dam that backed up the water. The water was about fifty to 75 feet across and two feet deep. The water pushed by the front end of the car came up to near the top of the car hood as it steadily slowly plowed through the water, but the spark plugs did not get wet. Just do not enter the water fast and allow the tires to splash it up from under the car onto the engine's electical system.

It would be wise to change the Lube oil in your differentials, transmission and transfer case if you drive in lots of deep water, especially if the unit stops in deep water, as the gear oil and fluids becomes contaminated with mosture and then prematurely wear out the gears and bearings. Our son bought a 72 Blazer from Louisiana that had been used to back a boat trailer into deep water and also it was driven in shallow water at times. The lubricants were not changed very often and our son had to get the differentials and transfer case all rebuilt. He is also replacing the original 350 engine with a brand new updated factory fuel injected engine and replacing the original automatic transmission with a newer rebuilt transmission with over drive for better gasoline mileage.

If I do not have to drive into and through deep water, then I drive around the liquid. I am land locked all the time; nevertheless, I still change the lube oil in my vehicles' differentials about every 75k to 100k km if they do not work hard and about every 50k to 75k km if they work hard.

If a diesel truck stops or is parked in deep water it probably could get water into the fuel tank. My fuel tank vents are piped up to and vented at the fuel filler pipe level. I always top up my fuel tank before I park my unit for the evening to prevent moisture condensation accumulating in the fuel tank. A hot working engine also boils accumulated moisture out of the engine oil. Water in diesel or lube oils or fluids is damaging to an engine and drive train.