Water Issues.

[Tonkatoy.]

Please help. Today I drowned my TJ. Long story short, brakes failed and as I went in I hooked reverse and tried to get out but stalled. Couldn't restart. Engine was under water and water spewing in cab. Got pulled out and got water out of vehicle. When I started it there was heaps of steam out exhaust. And gurgling sound in air box. Whipped air filter out. Water in box and filter was wet. I tried to start with air box unattached and it started fine so I drove home. It was driving fine and steam stopped out exhaust. Radiator not bubbling and no clouding in engine oil. Engine did feel down on power thou. Any thoughts what I should do or why it would be underpowered? Currently just drying everything out?

[zukmeista]

Compression test would be a good start, should tell you if you have bent any rods.

[Crash bandicoot]

you started it without clearing the cylinders and intake..... yep. Compression test then Dump the oil and filter(and brake fluid too by the sounds of it)

[Crash bandicoot]

And tell the handbrake you want a snorkel for christmas.

[derk]

when you drown the next motor pull all the plugs out first then wind it over to get all the water out of the cylinders and make sure you stand well back the water will take your eye out if your trying to look down the holes to see what comes out

[lax2wlg]

She'll take a damn solid rodgering the old AMC I6. Low comp. ratio of 8.8:1, it shouldnt mind a bit of water.
Pull plugs and crank her over to see if anythings still in there.
Also the cylinder comp. for that engine should be no less than 100psi, a variance of 25psi between cylinders is considered acceptable.

[Tonkatoy.]

And tell the handbrake you want a snorkel for christmas.

Have a snorkel but can't be sealed properly as there was heaps of water in air box. Thanks for all your help.

[TJ]

Pictures or it didn't happen....

Where were you in Waiuku?

[Tonkatoy.]

Pictures or it didn't happen....

Where were you in Waiuku?

Phone was sitting in the bottom of the cab so no photo's so yay it didn't happen
Check out The weekend activities forum for further update as it was the day after Waiuku back home.

I think I dodged a bullet though as I pulled the plugs and no water. Sprayed electrical cleaner everywhere and started it last night all good but still a major gurgling noise which concerned me. Shut it off more investigating and I found a whole lot of water in bottom of snorkel hose and a split in flexible snorkel hose. Emptied that and bobs your aunty. Still going to do an oil change before I drive anywhere though. (PS After reading this go and check your flexi hose for holes)
(...........No don't wait do it now)
(Go on off you go)

[derk]

as far as dodging bullets go the damage is done when you try and re-start the truck with the bores full of water coz the old physics teacher taught us air compresses but water doesn't hence the reason con rods bend when you have a bit of water in there. If you've had it running there wont be any water left its all forced out the exhaust with the exhaust gasses..... best of luck that it'll survive to live another day a compression test will give you a good indication if you bent anything

[Tonkatoy.]

as far as dodging bullets go the damage is done when you try and re-start the truck with the bores full of water coz the old physics teacher taught us air compresses but water doesn't hence the reason con rods bend when you have a bit of water in there. If you've had it running there wont be any water left its all gone out the exhaust with the exhaust gasses..... best of luck that it'll survive to live another day a compression test will give you a good indication if you bent anything

Yeah I am not sure if the bores did full up as surely I wouldn't have been able to drive home or if the steam was just a little bit that went through air intake but not enough to damage.
I will still get a compression test done for peace of mind.

Besides live and learn and I know what to do next time (Hopefully it won't happen again).