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How Deep is Too Deep?!?

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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 07:03 PM
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Default How Deep is Too Deep?!?

Okay, this is not my first C5, (my second, actually) and I am wondering..........

My car is my DD, it is not lowered, and we all know that since they are bottom-breathers hydro-lock from aspirating water is a distinct possibility!!

We have some fairly deep dips at intersections and driveways here in town and have been getting quite a bit of rain in recent days. Out on the state highways I drive, sometimes the barr ditches will overflow and create a deep runoff across the road.

Okay. Now that I have set up the scenario, here is my question. Just how deep is deep enough for me to worry about when I have to creep through water in my 'Vette??

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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 07:11 PM
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Your exhaust is lower than your air intake so if the water is above your exhaust it's too deep. If the car can't poot it'll get backed up and die.
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Corvette_Ed
Your exhaust is lower than your air intake so if the water is above your exhaust it's too deep. If the car can't poot it'll get backed up and die.
Yeah, but as long as it is running steadily, the water will not enter the exhaust far enough to do any damage or cause trouble. I have driven many 4X4s through deep enough water that the exhaust was well under water. You just don't back off of the throttle!!!!!! The other end however is a completely different story.

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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by DSTURBD
Yeah, but as long as it is running steadily, the water will not enter the exhaust far enough to do any damage or cause trouble. I have driven many 4X4s through deep enough water that the exhaust was well under water. You just don't back off of the throttle!!!!!! The other end however is a completely different story.

DSTURBD
In that case I'd say you'd want to make sure you stay out of water that would reach the PCM. The last thing you want is for that to get flooded and short out on you, which it will probably do if you submerge it.
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Corvette_Ed
In that case I'd say you'd want to make sure you stay out of water that would reach the PCM. The last thing you want is for that to get flooded and short out on you, which it will probably do if you submerge it.
Oooooohhhhh!! Good point!!!!!! Okay, so how high is that? Anybody know just how deep is too deep for the average stock 'Vette??

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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by DSTURBD
Oooooohhhhh!! Good point!!!!!! Okay, so how high is that? Anybody know just how deep is too deep for the average stock 'Vette??

DSTURBD
Do you have the car lowered at all? The PCM sits an inch or two above the floor panels so I wouldn't go much more than that.
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 08:17 PM
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The stock C5 is not a bottom breather. It gets it's air from under the hood.
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 08:22 PM
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Just what he ^^^^ said. The factory air cleaner is in front of the radiator shroud, in the engine bay. As long as you aren't traveling through 2 feet of water I don't see an issue lol. If you have a vararam, or vortex then you're limited to about a foot. That will then decrease if you lower the car. Just don't drive through standing water?
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 08:26 PM
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I would buy a K&N style filter to give you more peace of mind, rather than having a stock-style paper filter.

K&N style filters are essencially waterproof. They have an oily coating which repels water. Many motorcycle guys run exposed K&N filters in the rain with no ill effect.

Now, if you completely submerged the filter, it would probably suck in some water, but I would imagine it would choke the engine out before it actually hydrolocked.
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 08:29 PM
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Wait - What???

You drive your Corvette in the rain
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by PhysicsDude55
I would buy a K&N style filter to give you more peace of mind, rather than having a stock-style paper filter.

K&N style filters are essencially waterproof. They have an oily coating which repels water. Many motorcycle guys run exposed K&N filters in the rain with no ill effect.

Now, if you completely submerged the filter, it would probably suck in some water, but I would imagine it would choke the engine out before it actually hydrolocked.
You'd be surprised.
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 09:31 PM
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Maybe you could get a snorkel setup like Jeeps?
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted by n8dogg
Just what he ^^^^ said. The factory air cleaner is in front of the radiator shroud, in the engine bay. As long as you aren't traveling through 2 feet of water I don't see an issue lol. If you have a vararam, or vortex then you're limited to about a foot. That will then decrease if you lower the car. Just don't drive through standing water?
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 11:20 PM
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Originally Posted by oh1vette
Wait - What???

You drive your Corvette in the rain
Rain?

Sounds to me like he drives in a lake...


I think you'd need a lot more water than to just get the cars feet wet before anything bad happened. But I'm sure if you spend enough time asking for trouble, you'll find some. Usually works out that way.
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Old Sep 27, 2012 | 11:50 PM
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These cars have inverted snorkels. Not very deep if lowered!
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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 10:44 AM
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Here's a pic posted by a forum member years ago. He and a buddy were headed to a race and both made it through this obstacle without hydrolocking. I believe he mentioned he was running a Blackwing intake. I would definitely not recommend doing this as many have hydrolocked in water much shallower.

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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 10:58 AM
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If you keep the stock air inlet tubes you'll be OK in most cases, some of the aftermarket stuff is dangerous.
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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 11:13 AM
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Just dont drive it in the rain! Problem solved!
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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Patches
Here's a pic posted by a forum member years ago. He and a buddy were headed to a race and both made it through this obstacle without hydrolocking. I believe he mentioned he was running a Blackwing intake. I would definitely not recommend doing this as many have hydrolocked in water much shallower.

I'm sorry but that guy is a moron.
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Old Sep 28, 2012 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Mike94ZLT1
I'm sorry but that guy is a moron.
No apologies necessary.

He was a lucky one, though.
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