The Importance of Checking Holes

[Paaji]

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, but have been very preoccupied with other things.

So I go out for my first 4wd run in months yesterday, to my favourite track in Tas - Margate Plains.

Come down the hill to a water hole that I have been through probably 8-10 times on previous trips, and think nothing of going in for a dip to wash some mud off.

Normally it comes to just over sill height, sometimes as high as the headlights when it's been raining.

See this pic: i95.photobucket.com/albums/l123/jaypaaji/Margate%20Plains%20Jan%209%202007/02.jpg

Well, little did I know that someone has been up there with a digger, and made the hole REALLY deep.

I drove in slowly as usual, but she started to drop very quickly, and then I'm sliding in under brakes. At that point I shut down the engine real fast.

The pic was taken after 1 busted snatch strap, and I had been towed out of the danger area. Picture the car tilted a further 30 degrees forward, and the water line at the base of the windscreen! OMG!

Here I am trying to see why the engine wouldn't turn over:
i95.photobucket.com/albums/l123/jaypaaji/Margate%20Plains%20Jan%209%202007/03.jpg

I checked the hole after my poor Mu was cleared, and the area just forward of where I stopped was about 5-51/2 feet deep.

Pulled off most of the intake, found traces of water in the filter canister, pre-turbo piping and in the turbo; nothing much to worry about. Hmmm.

Then I take of the pipe leading to the intake Plenum, and oh crap - the Plenum is completely full of water. I'm guessing some of those old pipes don't seal very well.

It was a very long tow home - cheers to Matt (Pajero doing the towing), and Andrew (Disco doing the following) for all your efforts.

So apparently I have won the award in my local crew for most damage done to a fourby. Yay!


P.S. Also trashed my iPod - water came over the centre console.

[daisy]

even a snorkel wouldnt have helped if the other intake pipes arent sealing. better go check mine now! hope not too much damage!

[geeves]

Dont leave water in the cylinders any longer than possible as rings will rust and sieze very quickly.
Take the glow plugs out and spin the motor over on the starter which should clear most of the water. Blowing compressed air down the holes wont hurt either. check all your oils for water contamination change if needed. Refit glow plugs and with any luck it will start and run ok. Expect some smoke to start with and some diesel knock but if it doesnt clear by the time it warms up or if it sounds like its trying to get out shut down and consult experts. Change all your oils and fit a snorkel.
good luck

[Paaji]

You're a champion Geeves!

Reading horror stories over the years, I had figured that the engine was royally stuffed.

I can't find any trace of water in the oil, so maybe all good.

Going to run it into the garage now, and try clearing it by your method.

Thanks again,
Jay

P.S. The funny thing is, I have been umming & ahhing over putting a snorkle on it for the last 2 months (trying to find cash).

[geeves]

It took me several years to fit a snorkle as well Filled the air cleaner several times but luckily water never got any further. Your not out of the woods yet. If the engine did get water in the cylinders and tryed to compress it you could be looking at broken pistons. bent rods etc but these will be obvious. We had a jeep here in Wellington that lunched its v8 following a Mu and vitara through a fire pond Bill was $15000 but insurance paid. They have the intake in a place that is inteligent only in deserts

[caffa]

Hey Paaji,
Good to hear from you again. Hope all is well with the truck and nothing too terminal ... keep us informed...

[Paaji]

Thanks for the welcome back.

Changed to engine oil yesterday. Seems to be running sort of OK, but blowing a bit more smoke than usual. Also found lots of sludge in the dipstick tube. Going to change the oil again after 1000k's.

The from diff filled with water as well, so have changed that. Was blowing oil out of the breather.

Took it for a decent drive today - looks like the auto filled up through the dipstick! Dammit. Was boiling when I got home, and there fluid everywhere! Going to change that as well. Sheesh.

Bottom end should be OK. I believe I got it shut down before the water got in.

I'll just keep driving it and see how it goes.

Thanks all,
J

btw, to give you all an idea of how deep it was, the oil catch can which I was in the process of fitting (can mounted but not plumbed), filled up as well! It was in the back corner of the engine bay, as high as it can go.

[geeves]

Sounds like you might of been lucky. Still do a compression test as soon as you can Any low cylinders might have cracked pistons or damaged rods. Water in an auto trans can do a lot of damage esspecialy if its not clean. Change the filter in there at the same time or at least consider it an urgent change if youve already changed the oil in there. Some auto specialists have a power flush system that forces clean oil into all the places that cant be drained in normal use. It costs a bit but might save your box. When you open the auto trans sump to do the filter clean the sump well and if theres anything that looks nasty in there put it in a plastic bag and consult an auto trans specialist.
Does yoour insurance cover your car where you were? If it does it might be worth getting a mechanics opinion and seeing if its worth putting a claim in.
If you leave this and the engine has a major melt down in a few months because of damage done in the hole the insurance co will hide behind "You didnt tell us soon enough"
Ive known a few people to claim insurance on water damage

[Vineboy]

This is a good lesson. ALWAYS take a passenger.
1. To open gates.
2. To walk through water/bogholes etc to "take a photo of me driving through" Little do they know your true intentions


Andrew