how deep can my p38 go safely?

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bazzo

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just bought a 98 4.6 HSE....

Winter is coming and my route to work often floods in the winter, with no easy way around. I had a toyota surf 3.0 diesel last year and it waded through with water up to the handles nearly (3ft) WITHOUT ANY MODS.

The handbook says 20".. but how deep will they go and still remain dry inside, and without causing damage?
Obviously i would not want dirty flood water coming in, are the door rubbers good, any known leaks?

I do not really want to do any specific mods, just want to know if they are waterproof and to what depth?

Also.. anyone in devon know of any green laning clubs?
 
The biggest risk with going any deeper than the official depth is not the carpets but the engine, suck some water in and you could have a very big bill or a write-off. The only real way to protect the engine is to go with a snorkel, which as you'll see from the posts on here, you'd have to build yourself as there is no off the shelf one; although there were rumours at one point of one from Bearmach, and another under development in Oz, neither have materialised.

In terms of body integrity, that's largely down to attention to detail in past maintanence, e.g. making sure any seals disturbed during works were replaced properly, and that door/boot seals etc aren't damaged. Also that any additions or mods were done and sealed properly where they pass through the body.

I've gone almost to the tops of the wheels (29/30" with standard fitment), but it's not something readily recommended, and entirely at your own risk. A radiator/grill blanket can help create a good bow wave in front of the car and limit the water level in the engine bay. Certainly if you should find yourself stopped in water DON'T open the doors, climb out the window, water damage to the ECU's under the seats would be very expensive.
 
What is the proper way to wade through water. there are a few lanes that get quite flooded an it would be a shame to have to go round them.lol

I have never done it before so i would need a dummies guide if you will.

cheers
 
P38 DUB said:
What is the proper way to wade through water. there are a few lanes that get quite flooded an it would be a shame to have to go round them.lol

I have never done it before so i would need a dummies guide if you will.

cheers
Click to expand...

Anything more than 2mm or heavy rain is likely to drop you to your bump stops in my experience as the height sensor connectors do not like being wet, stupidly they are located low down on the chassis:eek::eek:
 
I cut a sheet of 3mm plastic to fit behind my radiator and headlamps, and made a bracket to lift the k&n cone filter on my 4.0 as high as I could, so it was touching the underside of the bonnet, Vaseline on the connectors I could get to, air bags and stuff, then was driving the off road test track at bruntingthorpe all day, the day before when we went to set up there was alot of rain and the water section flooded heavily, the P38 still did it though, even when the water was level with the bonnet, I think if you didnt know what you were doing or lost momentum it'd have sucked some in but as it was it managed it fine, the standard air box sucks from quite low down, so address that and you should be fine, I had no water at all come in all day, whereas the guys in 90s going round were up to their knees in it!
 
So altho these cars can go almost anywhere its best to keep them away from water.
 
P38 DUB said:
So altho these cars can go almost anywhere its best to keep them away from water.
Click to expand...
NAh itll be alright.WD 40 is your friend tho
100_wan2.jpg
 
A bit of balls initially to form a bow wave, then back off a bit and let the wave run ahead a little bit so your in the trough behind the wave peak, then match its speed and keep with it, the gap between you and the wave also gives you enough room that when you get to the other side you have space to start climbing before the wave comes back at you and wipes you out, does that make sense? Check your door seals, coz mine was up to the handles and none came in but I'm sure it'd be very different if there was a tear in one of the seals, the p38 was designed to do everything any other landrover product could do so no reason why not, try and find someone local to go out with so you don't get stuck on your own, and try to avoid stopping in the water, as that'll cause problems, once you get in, keep momentum, don't let your bow wave escape, but stay behind it
 
if your planning on going through deepwater a lot put some vaseline on the door seals,it does work so long as there is no rips in them,it also keeps the rubber on the seals more durable as the rubber tends to harden after time causing them to fail
 
My brother had BECAM problems by getting in the vehicle with snow on his boots, dont think i would take my Range Rover in any water more than 2 inches deep
 
Thanks for all the advise guys... I will definatly check all the door and boot seals..
Any further advise on any electrical connections. locations etc would be helpfull.

I will almost definatly end up in some pretty deep floods, it happens every year..
As i mentioned, last year my toyota surf had water up to the handles.. and it was for a good 300yds! Only to find that at the end of the lane a bloody suzuki vitara had been abandoned, mind you, good job it was there as there was a dip in the road and the water was only about 2ft from its roof!!! The Toybota had to reverse about 50yds and turn around in the torrent!! It never missed a beat though. Pity they are a bit agricultural. Obviously it was a diesel. I dont expect the rangie to perform that good, if the water is too deep ill go around!!
 
How deep can you go? It`s a bit like the song says:
`How do you know you can`t swim,
until you have drowned?`
You`ll know exactly how far you can go, after you`ve gone 1" too far!
Sorry, not much help is it.
 
gtland said:
How deep can you go? It`s a bit like the song says:
`How do you know you can`t swim,
until you have drowned?`
You`ll know exactly how far you can go, after you`ve gone 1" too far!
Sorry, not much help is it.
Click to expand...
LR drowned it for you, then they tell you in the handbook.
 
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