Water Crossing: How high are the DIFF Breather Tubes on the

trayson · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2006 1:13 pm

My wife was driving over to the beach this morning. She had to do a couple of water crossings. The water got up to a level of 2 to 2.5 feet deep.

I knew she'd be okay with the intake, as that's really high on the KJ.

She's stock height on a non "pre-lowered" 2002.

I of course advised her to NOT push in the clutch while going through the water (it's a 5-spd).

The one thing I don't know about is how high her diff breather tubes go.

Anyone have any input?

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:15 pm

The breather tubes are mounted high compared to most vehicles but 2-2.5 is pushing it. In my owners manual, it recommends water crossings no deeper then the wheel hub. On the same note I have made crossings as deep as the wheel arches. The diff fluid wasn't pretty...

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:46 pm

My rule of thumb is.. When in doubt.. Change the fluids.. Don't forget about the breather for the transmission and the transfercase... Anytime I have been playing in water or mud.. I always take the time and change the fluids if they look milky from water.. And even if they don't and I am not sure.. I change them anyways... Better to be safe then sorry...

HTH

Ben

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:54 pm

The front diff breather is under the battery tray. Kinda high. Easily extended.

The transfer case diff is run ALL THE WAY to the auto tranny's dipstick tube. VERY HIGH.

The rear diff is run up to the gas tank area. Kinda high. Easily extended.

The transmission diff for those of us with auto trannies, is the problem! It's basically just a few inches above the tranny and impossible to get to without dropping the tranny! ARGH!

Always a good idea and very cheap insurance to just change fluids after any real water crossings.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

AdamIsAdam wrote:

The transmission diff for those of us with auto trannies, is the problem! It's basically just a few inches above the tranny and impossible to get to without dropping the tranny! ARGH!

I was able to extended it. It was actually alot easier than I though. You can not get to it from below though.

It is behind the engine right underneath the drivers side head. You can't see if from the top, but you can easily get a hand to it. Just need to crawl on-top of the engine a bit. Pull out the little the little spash gard. Slip in a vacuum tie already connected to a longer piece of hose and it is done. Actually took me less time then the rear diff.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:29 am

Eddo wrote:

AdamIsAdam wrote:

The transmission tube for those of us with auto trannies, is the problem! It's basically just a few inches above the tranny and impossible to get to without dropping the tranny! ARGH!

I was able to extended it. It was actually alot easier than I though. You can not get to it from below though.

It is behind the engine right underneath the drivers side head. You can't see if from the top, but you can easily get a hand to it. Just need to crawl on-top of the engine a bit. Pull out the little the little spash gard. Slip in a vacuum tie already connected to a longer piece of hose and it is done. Actually took me less time then the rear diff.

REALLY!?! Wow!

I guess it's time to practice what I preach and extend all of mine, espeically if I'm going to do the Pine Barrens Jamboree this year (very wet).

Thanks for the tip.

We need a "extend the breathers" tech section. We had one before the move.

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:00 pm

I would have to say they are pretty high check out these pics mine is the Renegade

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:45 pm

you call that high? Check out the mud line on this pic:

And it got deeper, and pretty consistent at that depth.

trayson · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:08 pm

Thanks. Well, it was in fact around 2 1/2 feet deep because it covered the wheels.

I'm going to check out the fluids in the diffs...

Now, if you want bragging rights for deep, here's a picture of my TJ:

It's riding on 35" tires w/ 4.5" springs and 1" body lift. Can you say snorkel? :twisted:

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:36 pm

doesn't count. Not a KJ. Sorry. This is www.lostkjs.com not lostTJs.com or anything else.

trayson · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:17 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

doesn't count. Not a KJ. Sorry. This is www.lostkjs.com not lostTJs.com or anything else.

Okay, Okay, you got me.

Here's my new rendition of "KJ water crossing":

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:33 pm

not THAT'S funny!!!!!! :lol:

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:08 pm

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) wrote:

I would have to say they are pretty high check out these pics mine is the Renegade

did you have any milky fluid in your diffs or tranny after that?

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:32 pm

Want a tip, to avoid having to open your rear door in the water you should hook up your strap BEFORE you go out and throw it into the KJ via the window. Then if you get stuck like that, you can open the window with the key fob (in Park) and just throw it to dry land like this:

It's also helpfull if you happen to need a tug to the side for those tight turns out of a stream around some tree roots like this:

white04kj · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:32 pm

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) wrote:

I would have to say they are pretty high check out these pics mine is the Renegade

How did you manage to get the interior completely dry after that? I ask because I managed to do almost the same thing earlier today... :roll:

and I need to get everything dried out, it's still a bit damp.

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:35 pm

shop vac and blow dryer (i know from experience) also helps if its middle of summer and you can leave all of your doors and windows open. By looks of the pics it wasn't summer so he might have some frozen carpet if he didn't act quick...

trayson · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:53 pm

white04kj wrote:

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) wrote:

I would have to say they are pretty high check out these pics mine is the Renegade

How did you manage to get the interior completely dry after that? I ask because I managed to do almost the same thing earlier today... :roll:

and I need to get everything dried out, it's still a bit damp.

Personally, I would

-Use a shop vac to get as much water/mud out as possible
-Take out the carpet if possible to dry
-If the carpet won't come out, get a product called Dry-Z-Air. It's usually used in RV's and has crystals that attract the water and they collect in a plastic container beneath the crystals

Now, when I swamped my TJ, it was a bit easier... I have no carpet and the entire inside of the tub is done in Herculiner. I took out the two "Catchall" floormats I had in, covered the seats w/ garbage bags, taped a garbage bag over the dash, and pressure washed the interior of my Jeep.

trayson · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:02 pm

I went to a local shop and had them check the fluid in my diff's & Tranny. A-Okay. No milkyness whatsoever.

Life is good. And, since I have a Manual Tranny, there was none of the usual worry associated w/ the Auto's breather.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:25 pm

trayson wrote:

I went to a local shop and had them check the fluid in my diff's & Tranny. A-Okay. No milkyness whatsoever.

I'd be warry of their ability to really see inside the diffs. Depending on how long you were in the water and how comfy you are with the risk versus the cost of just changing the fluids now.

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:41 am

trayson wrote:

AdamIsAdam wrote:

doesn't count. Not a KJ. Sorry. This is www.lostkjs.com not lostTJs.com or anything else.

Okay, Okay, you got me.

Here's my new rendition of "KJ water crossing":

AHAHAHAHA

Water Crossing: How high are the DIFF Breather Tubes on the

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