Driving a Vantage through flood waters
Discussion
MaverickV12 said:
I think with the AM's, as long as you know where the air-intakes are and you don't let water go over the bonnet, you'l be ok.
Sorry, but I just don't get this. How does knowing where the air intakes are affect the car's ability to go through deep water?The car's capability is what it is, the driver knowing the intakes are about 12" above the road doesn't mean the car can go through water that's 18" deep. It might be OK with a quick splash through that depth, but the water is going to rise pretty quickly, and once it cover the intakes, the car is dead. Driver knowledge won't change the way that water behaves
I very quickly found out how suddenly an engine can hydrolock due to water intake.... In quite shallow water too
Company car Rover 220 SDi making gentle progress through a flood, using the crown of the road to stay as high as possible..
Lorry comes the other way, I have to dive left into deeper water, plus bow wave from d
head lorry driver = instant hydrolock.
Company car Rover 220 SDi making gentle progress through a flood, using the crown of the road to stay as high as possible..
Lorry comes the other way, I have to dive left into deeper water, plus bow wave from d
head lorry driver = instant hydrolock.MaverickV12 said:
I just measured the bottom of the air-intake to the floor and its a full 18 inches.
No wonder I was wading through 12 inches without a sweat.
Maverick, where do you think the air intakes are? They're low, on either side -- at the same level where you picked up some pond scum. Look at the cutaway DB9 -- it's the opening in the dangling black box.No wonder I was wading through 12 inches without a sweat.
yvr said:
Look at the cutaway DB9 -- it's the opening in the dangling black box.
Sorry guys, let me clarify, I have a DB9, the cutaway is a DBS / Virage, can someone confirm? Assuming its a DBS, the air intakes are lowerer than my DB9. Are the air intakes actually in the black airfilter box?My DB9 intake is NOT a hole in the air filter box, it is very curved tube from the side of the airfilter box up into the main front grill. About 18 inches to the bottom of the intake.
yvr, if you look at the main grill, to the side, close to the head light, you will see an oval intake, all according how old your car is and assumming it is a DB9 not a Virage or DBS then you should see your intakes.
Just looked at this old photo my my car
You can see the air intakes just where the bonnet meets the wings.
Looking at the photo of the cut-away DBS, I'm not so sure the in-take is a hole in the airfilter box, it also looks like a curved tube from the bottom of the filter box terminating in the front main grill.
Is the DBS significantly different to my DB9 ?
You can see the air intakes just where the bonnet meets the wings.
Looking at the photo of the cut-away DBS, I'm not so sure the in-take is a hole in the airfilter box, it also looks like a curved tube from the bottom of the filter box terminating in the front main grill.
Is the DBS significantly different to my DB9 ?
yeti said:
This is the stupidest thread ever to appear here.
Don't drive your Aston through a flood. Why risk it?
Loving the 'it'll be fine over the bonnet' comment
I'm with you on this one - the thread seems to be who can drive through the deepest water without hydrolocking their Aston.Don't drive your Aston through a flood. Why risk it?
Loving the 'it'll be fine over the bonnet' comment
I could give an explanation of the hydro dynamics involved with creating a 'bow wave' and why there is still water behind and either side of the bow wave but I'll wait until someone's succeeded in wrecking their engine.
Why wouldn't you just use the Range Rover when the weather / roads are that bad?
yeti said:
This is the stupidest thread ever to appear here.
Not the stupidest - but its up there. To be far to the OP I think the question was genuine and in the SW even when it hasn't rained for a few days and you felt it might be safe to get the Aston out then you can still come across flooded roads. Where the thread went wrong was those who made it a d**k measuring contest with how deep the water was that they were prepared to wade through. Good luck to them but I'll stick with the RRS for the time being. 
Stupid thread it is not! So long as it isn't snowing I use mine most days and as such don't have a range rover for when the going gets tough....
I'm genuinely interested for the one occasion when it might come up. You never know. I am not advocating people should drive through flood water btw.
forewarned is forearmed etc
I'm genuinely interested for the one occasion when it might come up. You never know. I am not advocating people should drive through flood water btw.
forewarned is forearmed etc
MaverickV12 said:
Just looked at this old photo my my car
You can see the air intakes just where the bonnet meets the wings.
Looking at the photo of the cut-away DBS, I'm not so sure the in-take is a hole in the airfilter box, it also looks like a curved tube from the bottom of the filter box terminating in the front main grill.
I agree that the actual air inlet is behind the upper grille, but it's sort of a snorkel affair to feed the air filter box much lower down. The air filter box is screwed together plastic and I wouldn't want to count on it being watertight under pressure.You can see the air intakes just where the bonnet meets the wings.
Looking at the photo of the cut-away DBS, I'm not so sure the in-take is a hole in the airfilter box, it also looks like a curved tube from the bottom of the filter box terminating in the front main grill.
DangerMonkey said:
Stupid thread it is not!
Not aimed at you, just some of the replies 
I spent Christmas in Devon in the Disco, had I driven the Aston (pressies didn't fit in it) then we might have experienced a few issues when out and about.
A cheap winter hack is great value compared to the cost of a new engine. Especially when you'll get your money back on said hack come the spring
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