Diff breathers

[Tom109]

Maybe? But I won’t be spraying that filter with water, and it’s super protected from splashing.

 

[bnebenda]

If one is using atmospheric breathers, there is an unfortunate corner case where you might have worn seals (but not actually failed) and the water will be pushed through because of the pressure difference while submerged. This would not happen with the original breather.

For that coner case a viable solution would be to maintain a slight (regulated to approx. 500mm water depth or 5 kPa) overpressure using a pressure reducer and a small compressed air reservoir from which you can draw clean air in case the diff is quickly cooled down and hence would otherwise create an underpressure inside.

 

[OzyGrenie]

Diff breathers position, NOT raised air intake as it's not a snorkel!

The concept of any water crossing (ocean or river) is 'pushing' a body water in front of the vehicle at moderate speed. With a good bow wave, the engine bay is not entirely filled.

With experience, the optimal position for diff breathers is the highest position on the fire wall just under the bonnet. An added blind / tarp over the front really helps (old school).

Oh yes, I learnt the hard way drowning my first 4x4 in 1982 after heavy rain while not having a clue following the trip leader wrong tyres, not able to drive up the embankment, then reversing back up stream finding a huge hole!!

Like in factory fuel or air filters, don't entirely trust factory breathers is either especially heavy off road use or when facing multiple water crossings near wheel depth.

The Grenadier is truly a great 4x4, however it's not designed to be a submersible and the factory unsealed raised air intake is not a snorkel!

 

[DaveB]

Diff breathers position, NOT raised air intake as it's not a snorkel!

The concept of any water crossing (ocean or river) is 'pushing' a body water in front of the vehicle at moderate speed. With a good bow wave, the engine bay is not entirely filled.

With experience, the optimal position for diff breathers is the highest position on the fire wall just under the bonnet. An added blind / tarp over the front really helps (old school).

Oh yes, I learnt the hard way drowning my first 4x4 in 1982 after heavy rain while not having a clue following the trip leader wrong tyres, reversing back streams not able to cross!!

Like in factory fuel or air filters, don't entirely trust factory breathers especially when facing multiple water crossings near wheel depth.

The Grenadier is truly a great 4x4, however it's not designed to be a submersible!

I owned a Suzuki Sierra back about 40 years ago and was a member of the Sydney Landcruiser club.
An old hessian bag under the bonnet catch was what I used for water crossings.
Flipped up onto the bonnet when not needed and down in front of the radiator when crossing water.
No snorkel or diff breathers
I went everywhere the Landcruisers went except once.
Water a bit deep and fast and I started to float away.
Opened the downstream door and let the water in.
She sank, hit bottom and drove out.
Very lucky indeed.

 

[TheDocAUS]

I owned a Suzuki Sierra back about 40 years ago and was a member of the Sydney Landcruiser club.
An old hessian bag under the bonnet catch was what I used for water crossings.
Flipped up onto the bonnet when not needed and down in front of the radiator when crossing water.
No snorkel or diff breathers
I went everywhere the Landcruisers went except once.
Water a bit deep and fast and I started to float away.
Opened the downstream door and let the water in.
She sank, hit bottom and drove out.
Very lucky indeed.

Very lucky! Great story though.

 

[samnt650]

Been reading this thread... Am I correct that, if you want to do away with the factory breather, you'll need to MacGyver the parts? By my count, the truck needs Rear, Transfer Case, Transmission & Front...

 

[Ron50]

I owned a Suzuki Sierra back about 40 years ago and was a member of the Sydney Landcruiser club.
An old hessian bag under the bonnet catch was what I used for water crossings.
Flipped up onto the bonnet when not needed and down in front of the radiator when crossing water.
No snorkel or diff breathers
I went everywhere the Landcruisers went except once.
Water a bit deep and fast and I started to float away.
Opened the downstream door and let the water in.
She sank, hit bottom and drove out.
Very lucky indeed.

Had the same experience in the Wenlock with a Feroza. No trouble on the way north but a little off line heading south. With the flow from the left at least I could open the door easily; it would have been much harder if the flow had been from the right.

 

[PDX_Keith]

Anyone sell a kit yet. Those m10 air fittings are a rare bird in the USA

 

[OzyGrenie]

I owned a Suzuki Sierra back about 40 years ago and was a member of the Sydney Landcruiser club.
An old hessian bag under the bonnet catch was what I used for water crossings.
Flipped up onto the bonnet when not needed and down in front of the radiator when crossing water.
No snorkel or diff breathers
I went everywhere the Landcruisers went except once.
Water a bit deep and fast and I started to float away.
Opened the downstream door and let the water in.
She sank, hit bottom and drove out.
Very lucky indeed.

Can't forget a mates Suzuki Swift (being very light), drifting sideways on a river crossing up in Kosciusko, we had to tie (front & back) to other 4x4s to safely cross. Then Dane driver and car drowned it again later on, was a rescue mission then.
Another occasion in a metre deep in snow (with chains) after crossing the Murray River.
Most of us eventually learn both in driver experience & vehicles limitations.
Lessons learnt are essential

 

[Tom109]

Anyone sell a kit yet. Those m10 air fittings are a rare bird in the USA

McMaster-Carr has many M10x1 PTC fittings.

 

[GN4HIR]

33A: breather plug inner valve version made of brass - Nostrali

www.nostrali.it

 

[Greasemonkey]

There is a new video about Diff. Breathers by Aigle Off Road. The flow of air into the axle described there is exactly like what I experienced with my axles when I replaced the original breathers.

View: https://youtu.be/6w5a_i1z63U?si=PRXrK6kpSMHoB_Lr

 

[INEOS OG]

This is what I learned many years ago:

The factory-installed differential breather - which is not raised but is located on the differential housing - can get clogged by driving thorough mud, or under other circumstances. If the breather gets clogged, and you are driving under conditions in which the inside of the differential is heating up, the rising pressure cannot escape through the breather. Under such conditions, differential oil typically gets forced down one axle shaft, and out the axle seal.

When driving through cold water, pressure inside the differential can drop. If the breather is plugged with mud or sludge, it is possible that the pressure will equalize by sucking water in through the axle and pinion seals.

This answer. I am not rerouting my diff breathers to keep water out, I have faith the carraro breathers do this really well, too well actually, talking to my friends at Agile Offroad.

The techs changing diff covers in the shop report pressures higher than expected as the stock cover is removed. They report air rushing from the axle housing when the cover seal is broken which could (and has) resulted in pinion seal leakage. They report this has happened on off roaded and not so off roaded rigs.

For me, getting the breathers up above above the point water may intrude is an added benefit.