A query about fords....

bighairypict · Post by **bighairypict** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:39 pm

....the wet kind

I avoided a road I regularly travel on today because it floods in the kind of weather we've been having. Not a problem in my last vehicle or usually on the bike but I'm not sure about the new Bongo.

Does anyone have any experience of driving through water? How deep can I go before I start having problems?

B*Witched Blingo · Post by **B*Witched Blingo** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:42 pm

I wondered that too. With th scoop at the front so low down. Good question I hope someone can answer it.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:46 pm

But isn't the air inlet right up under the bonnet lid?
About 4ft off the ground.

alphabetter · Post by **alphabetter** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 7:55 pm

scanner wrote:But isn't the air inlet right up under the bonnet lid?
About 4ft off the ground.

There is an air scoop at the bottom as well, but as far as I know this just directs air on to the intercooler so probably can put up with being a bit wet.

Having watched many episodes of Scrapheap Callenge I've come to the conclusion that diesels are remarkably tolerant of water.

roosteruk · Post by **roosteruk** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:52 pm

If you fit a long pipe from the air intake and one from the exhaust, a diesel engine can be submerged to whatever depth you want....as long as the air intake and exhaust are out of the water.
You don't need an alternator either.
A diesel engine, does not require and electric once running, as long as fuel cut off solenoid is open.

B*Witched Blingo · Post by **B*Witched Blingo** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:54 pm

Will a deep puddle affect the intercooler inlet. I must admit it has worried me. We seem to be flooding quite often on the M65 in places and some areas are quite deep. You don't always see them in the dark until your in them.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:17 pm

The intercooler air scoop is scooping up gallons of water all the time you are belting along a wet road and all it does is change it from air cooled to water and air cooled as does the water radiator and air con radiator as well. Water doesn't affect them at all as it just goes straight through the fins the same as the air does any other time.

Where you mustn't get any water is into the air intake to the engine, if enough is ingested it will enter the cylinders and if more gets in than the volume of the combustion chamber at TDC either the engine will stop or a piston will come out through the block AND the engine will soon stop.

If each cylinder is 2500/4cc and the compression ratio is approx 20:1 2500/4/20=31.25cc

So 32cc of water sucked into a cylinder would be enough to wreck an engine.

roosteruk · Post by **roosteruk** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:17 pm

Here is a rough schematic how an intercooler is incorporated into the air intake system.
It shows that water should not affect an intercooler.

roosteruk · Post by **roosteruk** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:21 pm

scanner wrote: Where you mustn't get any water is into the air intake to the engine, if enough is ingested it will enter the cylinders and if more gets in than the volume of the combustion chamber at TDC either the engine will stop or a piston will come out through the block AND the engine will soon stop.

So 32cc of water sucked into a cylinder would be enough to wreck an engine.

Thats called hydraulic'ing,(sp) where a piston cannot compress the fluid, so something goes Bang !!!! with severe consiquences

BongoMTBer · Post by **BongoMTBer** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:19 pm

Yes, I broke my Dad's ol' Astra TD when I drove through a big puddle at speed. It ingested the virtually incompressible water and cracked the head..... ooops!

B*Witched Blingo · Post by **B*Witched Blingo** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:39 pm

Flippin heck.. I better print that then.. Looks complicated... I aint blonde really I just act like one.... Sorry and all that......No seriously Mr A mentioned it to me the other day.. Also would anyone recommend a safety mesh being place over to stop small stones from penetrating the scoopy bit or are we being a bit over protective......

alphabetter · Post by **alphabetter** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:50 pm

Just to clarify - the intake labelled "air" on this diagram is actually the high one in the Bongo. The low intake on the bongo just spreads cooling air round the outside of the Intercooler. As has been pointed out above it should matter if this cooling air is wet.

B*Witched Blingo · Post by **B*Witched Blingo** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:23 pm

Oooh Kay..... Urm. I'll read it all again and then just show it to Ady.... He'll understand.... Thankin you very muchley...

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:02 am

I've traversed two foot of water in the bongo Chell&ady,I slowed my speed to match the speed of the bow wave,as it is less likely to get a wave off water flowing over the bonnet this way...minimising the chance of the air intake ingesting water...

bighairypict · Post by **bighairypict** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 12:25 am

that about answers it, I think

I hope my overcautious nerves settle down before too long but it helps to know there are a few people about who have some experience and knowledge to share

thanks folks