Dust ingress - well it was a problem !!

[calipex]

Hi everyone - I was worried out dust ingress a few months back ..... not going to be a concern for a little bit ......

Just thought I would share this pic of the Plenty Highway today after some spectacular rain over the last 24 hrs. This is the turn off to Mt Riddock station - water water water as far as the eye (chopper!!) can see - all the creeks in the area are raging and looks like someone has gone crazy with a green highlighter - bit of a contrast to the normal dry red and black dirt.

Standing looking at all that water over the crossings today got me thinking that I should have just fitted the snorkle all that time ago.

Cheers

Cam

[old Jack]

Great Photo! it is amazing how quickly the country greens up with a decent soaking.

After the roads are open, you need to be careful driving through any standing water that is dirty. The silt particles held in suspension within the water will clog your Radiator, A/C, ATF and Intercoolers and cause overheating.

So any water deeper than 300mm that can enter your lower air scoop should be avoided or a blind fitted to prevent this dirty water from passing through the heat exchangers.

cheers, old Jack.

[Joedan]

Great Photo! it is amazing how quickly the country greens up with a decent soaking.

After the roads are open, you need to be careful driving through any standing water that is dirty. The silt particles held in suspension within the water will clog your Radiator, A/C, ATF and Intercoolers and cause overheating.

So any water deeper than 300mm that can enter your lower air scoop should be avoided or a blind fitted to prevent this dirty water from passing through the heat exchangers.

cheers, old Jack.

For the uneducated could you please explain what this lower air scoop is as I have never heard of it? Just crossed some creeks over the weekend so this piqued my interest. I only know of the air filter entry just under the bonnet.

[old Jack]

All modern 4wds have split grilles so the there is an upper and lower grille. On the Challenger the lower grille (air inlet scoop) provides airflow to the intercooler, ATF cooler and the lower portion of both the radiator and A/C heat exchanger, it is when dirty slit ladened water is channeled through this scoop/lower grille and the the water in forced through the heat exchangers, the water evaporates and leaves a deposit of slitty mud that dries and blocks the air passages in the heat exchangers and it is this that causes over heating at a later date.

Also the PC Challenger has a different grille than the PB and provides much less protection of the heat exchangers so they are more susceptible to blocking and damage. Both the upper and lower grilles benefit from mesh bug screens and if venturing off road a strong mesh insert in the bullbar (no matter what make of bullbar) to add further protection to the lower air inlets.

cheers, old Jack.