driving in floods

[egor110]

When considering driving thru floods what is it you have to watch out for?

Is it the water going back up the exhaust pipe or something else?

I'm looking at changing the car and a big consideration is where i live floods, just wondering if a forester or galaxy would be ok or best to stick to a 4x4.

[rallycross]

Try to find a car with an air intake that is not located at the bottom of the engine bay.
the exhaust is not the problem.

[300bhp/ton]

egor110 said:

When considering driving thru floods what is it you have to watch out for?

Is it the water going back up the exhaust pipe or something else?

I'm looking at changing the car and a big consideration is where i live floods, just wondering if a forester or galaxy would be ok or best to stick to a 4x4.

Where do you live that it's really an issue? Presume it can't be in the UK as nowhere in the UK suffers such predictable flooding that it should count as an issue for commuting or driving about.

[onlynik]

Something with a snorkel will help

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[Toaster Pilot]

300bhp/ton said:

Where do you live that it's really an issue? Presume it can't be in the UK as nowhere in the UK suffers such predictable flooding that it should count as an issue for commuting or driving about.

Certainly is in Tewkesbury and surrounding areas - you just won't hear about it when it's not prolonged and damaging!

Saying that, the roads are closed when they're beyond the point a normal car can handle - my little Picanto did surprisingly well late last year...

[TITWONK]

egor110 said:

When considering driving thru floods what is it you have to watch out for?

Is it the water going back up the exhaust pipe or something else?

I'm looking at changing the car and a big consideration is where i live floods, just wondering if a forester or galaxy would be ok or best to stick to a 4x4.

No, it's the air intake that shouldn't get wet!
Google 'hydro lock' for an explanation! Keep the intake up out the way with a snorkel and the whole car could be submerged if you so wished

[egor110]

300bhp/ton said:

egor110 said:

When considering driving thru floods what is it you have to watch out for?

Is it the water going back up the exhaust pipe or something else?

I'm looking at changing the car and a big consideration is where i live floods, just wondering if a forester or galaxy would be ok or best to stick to a 4x4.

Where do you live that it's really an issue? Presume it can't be in the UK as nowhere in the UK suffers such predictable flooding that it should count as an issue for commuting or driving about.

near exmoor, there are 2 roads into where we live and both roads flood.

[300bhp/ton]

Toaster Pilot said:

Certainly is in Tewkesbury and surrounding areas - you just won't hear about it when it's not prolonged and damaging!

Saying that, the roads are closed when they're beyond the point a normal car can handle - my little Picanto did surprisingly well late last year...

We have odd winters that are very wet, but then it can be a decade without such flooding.

If the op is really worried, then a diesel Land Rover with a snorkel is probably the most robust thing for deep water use and a daily.

That said, in any car, knowing where the air intake is and electrics are, is a rather key point.

[egor110]

maybe i should go for a citroen with the suspension that raises?

[A.J.M]

Budget?

Otherwise, the car you want is the new L405 Range Rover, it has a wading depth of 950mm. Which is more than any other landrover bar ones with snorkels, plus they don't leak water in.

[Toaster Pilot]

300bhp/ton said:

We have odd winters that are very wet, but then it can be a decade without such flooding.

If the op is really worried, then a diesel Land Rover with a snorkel is probably the most robust thing for deep water use and a daily.

That said, in any car, knowing where the air intake is and electrics are, is a rather key point.

Not just winter - there were catastrophic floods in summer 2007.

[Gafferjim]

As everyone says, it's the air intake you need to worry about, water going into the exhaust only becomes a problem if the engine stops with it under water to a depth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr8eEWyKQHM

[300bhp/ton]

Toaster Pilot said:

Not just winter - there were catastrophic floods in summer 2007.

If it's catastrophic flooding, then I doubt which car you use will make any odds

[egor110]

Budget - cheap max 2k.

Looking at hyundai santa fe , honda crv, subaru forester (all the farmers around here have bashed up foresters so i guess they must be able to get around ) also looking at people carriers but not sure if the air intake would be high enough compared to the 4x4's.

[300bhp/ton]

egor110 said:

Budget - cheap max 2k.

Looking at hyundai santa fe , honda crv, subaru forester (all the farmers around here have bashed up foresters so i guess they must be able to get around ) also looking at people carriers but not sure if the air intake would be high enough compared to the 4x4's.

The thing is, you can't just generalise cars into groups for this. You need to look at individual models.

Many soft roader SUV's are not aimed or even able to go off road, so despite their looks may well not be suitable for this kind of thing.

[orangesrule]

My old seat ibiza used to have its air intake behind the light....terrible for performace, excellent for wading....once went through a flood about 10m long, with the water lapping up the bonnet. wouldnt dare that in my bmw, with a direct air feed from the grill.

[DocArbathnot]

egor110 said:

maybe i should go for a citroen with the suspension that raises?

I tried this with a BX. But left the air intake in the summer position (basically an air scoop underneath the car)..............................

[davepoth]

Best car for floods would be a Peugeot 306 with the mechanical pump. Buy a bit of rubber tube for a snorkel, and you could drive around with the roof covered if you had scuba gear.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

onlynik said:

Something with a snorkel will help

Helpful Kitty

[s p a c e m a n]

• Diesel

• High air intake