What Technically Limits The Expy/F150 'Water Fording' Depth?

Expedition Dave · Jan 17, 2021

What Technically Limits The Expy/F150 'Water Fording' Depth?

Please let's keep this thread clear of the usual warnings of going through water and just limit it to the technical as to what limits these two platforms...

Here are the facts as I have read repeatedly:

1. Ford says water is not to touch the bottom of the F150/Expy wheel hubs (10-12 inches?)
2. The Expy has vents in the F/R diffs, transmission, and transfer case (maybe?) which can limit it
3. The air intake nozzle for the F150/Expy 3.5s EBs draw air from the space between the hood & grille, so hydrolock (water in the engine) seems to be not the immediate issue.
4. 3. The F150 Raptor fording depth is 32 inches (+/-)

Rumors say it is the electronics for the transmission, where the axles meet the diffs, or the vacuum portion that locks the front wheels for 4WD.

scottdm · Jan 18, 2021

Seems like the best way to avoid speculation would be to find documentation of resulting damage caused from someone who has tried deep water fording. If water leaks past the seals on the front/rear diff, transfer case, etc fluids would need to be changed to avoid long term damage. The breathers for the front and rear diffs are above the level of the hubs (front is is brake booster, and rear is near the spare tire). I have copied a link from an F150 forum on this topic that mentions that the axle seals will leak if fully submerged and fluids should be changed if this occurs to avoid future issues. https://www.f150forum.com/f118/maintenance-after-water-fording-394251/

AofJ · Aug 18, 2023

Good info. Has anyone hooked up the ARB breather and elevated the location for the axles and hubs? Just curious how easy it was. I’m about to for my ‘94 F350 and looks super easy.

sjwhiteley · Aug 18, 2023

Ah, this is an old and short thread. I've driven through a 'river flood' running across a road with a depth of 8-9 inches without problems except debris getting completely caught under the underbody 'guards', especially the carpet/felt piece under the transmission.

rd618 · Aug 18, 2023

Expedition Dave said:
What Technically Limits The Expy/F150 'Water Fording' Depth?

Please let's keep this thread clear of the usual warnings of going through water and just limit it to the technical as to what limits these two platforms...

Here are the facts as I have read repeatedly:

1. Ford says water is not to touch the bottom of the F150/Expy wheel hubs (10-12 inches?)
2. The Expy has vents in the F/R diffs, transmission, and transfer case (maybe?) which can limit it
3. The air intake nozzle for the F150/Expy 3.5s EBs draw air from the space between the hood & grille, so hydrolock (water in the engine) seems to be not the immediate issue.
4. 3. The F150 Raptor fording depth is 32 inches (+/-)

Rumors say it is the electronics for the transmission, where the axles meet the diffs, or the vacuum portion that locks the front wheels for 4WD.

To do this without damage the vents and lowest wired harnesses are your lowest point of failure.
Wheel hubs are an easy to identify and likely accurate assessment of maximum safe water fording depth.
Additionally, most the vents/wires/etc. are not designed to be waterproof, but to be water-resistant. So even going to the depth of hubs or axle, you can overwhelm the water resistance in some situations.

What Technically Limits The Expy/F150 'Water Fording' Depth?

Expedition Dave

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AofJ

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