Taylor Bite waterhole

[bruiser_2]

Been back a couple of weeks from moreton, had a fab time until found water at track to taylor bite. walked through and only up to knee height. i am only 5 ft 11. been through water much deeper than this in previous ute but alas not good for bravo's apparently. got to other side of bulwer and temp went ballistic. no air con, wife unhappy, whats going on! open bonnet, pour water in,going out same speed as goin in! looked and found five plastic blades of fan gone and great chunks gone out of radiator. Not good on a sunday,let alone on moreton! got replacement fan and radiator sent and fitted thanks to local at bulwer. ta dave.cost 1 ctn beer(labour) and transport on micat.Still under warranty but still in discussion with Mazda. Wonder what depth a turbo diesel with snorkel can go to?

[Brett1907]

Bad luck Bruiser2.

Tying a cheap tarp accross the front of your car will prevent this from happening again. It is a common problem, since the fan is designed to force air towards the radiator, the fins are too weak for the water. Rather than the fan forcing the water, it goes the other way around.

If you can keep enough of a bow wave up it may also prevent the problem. Michelle's Sacks also sell a fitted cover for water crossings, just remeber to remove the cover/tarp when you cross the water or the car will cook.

Sorry it can't fix what has already happened.

By the way, when I was a kid in the NT, my dad used to go through creeks with water up to the windows. Yes, the bonnet was completely submerged.

Brett

[SeaHunt]

I don't like your chances with the warranty claim.

But I understand where you are coming from.
If its meant to be a 4wd you should be able to go 4 wheel driving in it without worring about 2 foot of water or even 3 foot. Is it an electric fan? (new ideas are not always the best).
It wouldn't happen in my ute. Fan is steel and its inertia driven so if it hits water it slows or stops and the motor keeps going.

[GBC]

Bruiser,

No chance for a warranty claim, however it is an insurable event.

I have first hand experience with this happening - not fun. I had to engage a forensic engineer to prove my claim as the insurance company said it couldn't happen.

A common misconception is that the fan drives forward through the water - incorrect.
If you are going slow enough for the water to crowd the area between the radiator and the fan, that is the correct speed for the clutch to slip, and it won't do any damage.

What generally happens (this is all second hand from the engineer) is that the vehicle impacts the water with a few revs on (say 1500), the water actually fills the voids in the radiator fins temporarily, causing a vacuum between the shroud and the radiator. The fan blades then actually torque themselves forward through the air ind impact the radiator.
I'm not sure I fully understand the theory, and maybe I haven't recanted it correctly, but when he told me and the assessors it all made perfect sense.
If you need any info for a claim, feel free to P.M. me.