Driving in deep water - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

muleears · #1 11-12-2009, 01:42 PM

We're experiencing our first nor'easter of the season. It has been raining steadily here for the last two days and many roads are flooded. After being at work for a couple of hours they decided to close due to the flooding. To get home I had to drive through several areas where the water was quite deep. In several places easily over a foot, and in some places considerably more. What damage am I risking to my car by doing so? The car did misfire a few times which perplexed me. Is there any danger to the transmission either by flooding or the additional load from pushing water? I was driving the E300.

pawoSD · #2 11-12-2009, 01:45 PM

A foot deep to 18" should not hurt anything if you are going slow. Trans breather is way up on top of the trans, same for the diff.....any deeper than 18" I would say is risky for a W210.

The rugged W126's sit higher and are more capable in such situations.

#3 11-12-2009, 01:55 PM

I killed an alternator in my 300D 617 by driving through about 8-10 inches of water.

muleears · #4 11-12-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

I killed an alternator in my 300D 617 by driving through about 8-10 inches of water.

Was that from water splashing on it?

I drove quite slowly in the water, shouldn't have been splashing. But I made quite a wake!

Why would my engine have stumbled a few times?

F18 · #5 11-12-2009, 02:05 PM

The only risk that i would think would be some leak through on an old wheel bearing seal or cracked dust boot on a brake caliper or lower ball joint with them fully submerged. There should not have been any signifiacant splash up into the engine compartment with the splash pans all intact.

tbomachines · #6 11-12-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F18

The only risk that i would think would be some leak through on an old wheel bearing seal or cracked dust boot on a brake caliper or lower ball joint with them fully submerged.

X2, I'd be wary of the wheel bearings...mine started making some noise after traveling through deep water.

#7 11-12-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muleears

Was that from water splashing on it?

I drove quite slowly in the water, shouldn't have been splashing. But I made quite a wake!

Why would my engine have stumbled a few times?

Probably some splashing, but the alternator is pretty low on my car. I certainly didn't do it on purpose, nothing good can come of it.

TMAllison · #8 11-12-2009, 02:31 PM

18" might be deep enough to get to the bumper; if so, the wake may have caused you to ingest a bit of water causing the miss. A leak in the intercooler plumbing below the rad could cause the same.

muleears · #9 11-12-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMAllison

18" might be deep enough to get to the bumper; if so, the wake may have caused you to ingest a bit of water causing the miss. A leak in the intercooler plumbing below the rad could cause the same.

I suspect a leak in the intercooler plumbing, so I think you are right on, Terry.

Driving through that much water sure reduced my braking power for a few feet!

Front belly pan is in the garage

JimFreeh · #10 11-12-2009, 02:43 PM

Where's your air intake located?
Some are quite low and can ingest water.

My Benzes are all under cover. For weather like today's, I bring out the big guns, the Dodge-Cummins 4WD.

It sucks today, my attached garage is getting water in it, about half my 5 acres is under water, and I've got my Airstream nestled up against the windward side of my 2 car fabric garage. Glad at least the shop is on high ground, but I'll need to wade through around 6" of water to get to it.... Looks like this weather will continue through tomorrow, we're expecting around 12" of rain from this nor'easter.

If it were warmer, I'd get out the inflatable boat and let the girls paddle around.

Jim

#11 11-12-2009, 02:45 PM

I hope you weather ends soon, I'm going to be near Richmond all next week.

snookwhaler · #12 11-12-2009, 02:49 PM

This is about 6 to 8 inches in the Fording Basin. Sounds like you went through quite a bit more.

I would be worried about the wheel bearings, the brakes, water getting into plugs or holes (hidden braces/spaces) in the floor pan, the fluids and the alternator (already mentioned). On the 123 the alt. is mounted low. Not sure about that one.

It probably would not be a bad idea to do a quick check of all the fluids (especially the trans. and diff.) to see if anything looks weird (milky). Then pull the wheels one at a time to inspect the calipers, clean/regrease the pads and inspect the wheel bearing seals. Those calipers can get $$$ if they seize up.

brandlj · #13 11-12-2009, 02:53 PM

Here in NE Louisiana we have had the wettest Fall that has ever been recorded, with a lot of flash flooding in our area since Labor Day. On the horrible, rainy, flood days, I would drive the 300sdl. The air intake is very high up on the front of the radiator and my belly pans are intact, except for the rear one which is missing in action. ( Can't seem to find a used one anywhere ) My 2007 BMW 530i on the other hand has it's air intake for the motor down low in front. I would be very afraid to drive in deep water with it.
In fact are you ready for this? A friend has a 2009 BMW M3 and he came upon a flash flooded area in his subdivision 3 weeks ago and drowned his M3. It was at night in a driving rain storm. He hit the water at about 30mph and it was about 18 inches deep. The car immediately went dead. The BMW dealer is draining alll fluids etc... but I believe the insurance company will total it due to internal water damage to the motor.

JimFreeh · #14 11-12-2009, 02:58 PM

Most of the chassis and suspension is designed to get wet.

When fording deep puddles or if the car is allowed to sit in deep water, seals like the wheel bearing seals are NOT designed to be underwater for an extended time.

A far more serious problem is if the water gets deep enough to hit the diff and trans vents, as that allows water to pour into the oil.

I would not be concerned about the brakes or chassis if all you are doing is fording the deep water.

Think about it, if the braking system is designed to keep very high hydraulic pressure contained, how will the static pressure of water permeate the seals? Of course, sitting in a flooded area and fording a flooded area are two distinct and separate circumstances.

Jim

muleears · #15 11-12-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snookwhaler

This is about 6 to 8 inches in the Fording Basin. Sounds like you went through quite a bit more.

I would be worried about the wheel bearings, the brakes, water getting into plugs or holes (hidden braces/spaces) in the floor pan, the fluids and the alternator (already mentioned). On the 123 the alt. is mounted low. Not sure about that one.

It probably would not be a bad idea to do a quick check of all the fluids (especially the trans. and diff.) to see if anything looks weird (milky). Then pull the wheels one at a time to inspect the calipers, clean/regrease the pads and inspect the wheel bearing seals. Those calipers can get $$$ if they seize up.

Yes, the water was quit a bit deeper. I know I was pushing it with my front bumper. I figured if the gasser in front of me could make it so could I!

When (if) it stops raining I'll check the fluids, thats a good idea.

Jim, My two acres is about a third under water but the shop is dry. Unfortunately it is so full of junk I can't fit the cars in!

IIRC the air intake is just under the top edge of the grill. I don't plan on driving through anything else like this tomorrow. If it is still like this I will take a vacation day and not risk the car.