There is a road in upstate NY (AdirondackState Park) that crosses a sometimes dry, sometimes swollen inlet stream that leads to a nice hiking & camping trailhead. My question is, how deep can the water be to allow a safe drive across? The water is not flowing when there (except slowly rising or falling level). One time, I was entering and walked into the water to find it was knee deep (18-20"?) and chose not to drive through it.

 

I searched the forums and didn't find anything related. Any help appreciated. I just found this forum. My first Subaru was an '84 4wd wagon purchased new while I lived in Colo. I did lots of camping in CO and Utah. I now own 2 Legacy Outback wagons. Do lots of skiing (XC), canoe/kayaking and hauling kids to/from college.

I swear I read somewhere that the fording depth for a Forester was 18". I don't know what it is for an Outback though. I imagine it'd be about the same. How wide is the stream?

its bent rod city and a long walk home.

Make sure to disconnect the electric fan wires just before fording. If it has a mechanical fan, remove it temporarily (Its like 4 small bolts). The fans will flex iff they hit the watter spinning, and can hit the radiator. Don't go deeper than the opening into the airbox. Measure the hight of the opening into the airbox, subtract 2 inches, and mark a stick with the height. Before fording the stream, stick the stick in the brook and check depth. If you hit the water fast enough, would you skip across like a stone?

Avoid going in over the center of the wheel hub. Yes, this is playing it safe, but unless you raise your air intake, you are taking a small risk, with BIG consequences.

 

You should also consider that higher water levels will flood the car body panels. What's in that water??

Bob K, the Subemarine commander...

 

I don't think the fans are an issue unless you barrel thru it.

I grew up with Jeeps and just sold my last one a year ago. when you ford a stream it is a fine idea to disconnect the fan as the water will even bend a steel one into the radiator. As mentioned stay way away from the ignition and intake with water. Jeep sixes had the ignition on the side of the engine and you could flood that before hitting the intake. I listened to others and never got a bent rod, holed radiator or stuck in a stream. Don't ask me about the quicksand. Know what the bottom is and how deep it is and the stick is a good idea. I used to walk it with wading boots.

I've forded a creek once in my 76 with the water going up to the door handles and had dry feet and everything cause as long as your making a wake and pushing the water gently (unlike WRC Turkey (hopefuly some of you guys did see that one on speed)) it shouldn't wash into the engine bay but make sure you keep moving though

Momentum is key.

 

I regards to the spark system, I find the b/c the DIS is sitting on top of the intake manifold all that heat helps them dry pretty fast. I have sprayed my engine down w/a hose w/no firing problems.

 

Water in the intake is more of a concern.

 

Like Baja said, just keep the car moving and you should be ok.