Water fording prep help.

I’ve got a 2017 tacoma off-road and I’m trying to figure out all the things I should do before water fording. I’m currently not looking into a snorkel yet but all other helpful tips such as repositioning the diff breather valve would be helpful.

 

Snorkel is for dust, not water.

Diff breathers, proper speed is all you should likely need to know.

Keep the water wall in front of you if it’s over the axles.

 

Ok cool. What’s the max height before I’ll start having other problems? I’ve read pages mentioning the transmission breather, transfer case, breather and even problems with the starter and alternator. All of which are high enough unless I get in excessive deep water. Should I worry about those?

 

Just the breather on the rear differential. The front differential and transfer case breathers are higher up in the engine compartment (you'll have bigger issues if you get water in them).

 

That’s what I figured. So the diff breather is the only thing that needs to be relocated

 

Correct

 

So, here's a question for you folks: water temperature and water fording.

I've crossed a few creeks this winter in PA and VA. none with high enough water to come up past the center of the hub since it is winter time and water levels were low. BUT, just thinking thermal effects on hot metal: Would you think there is an effect of getting ice cold water any higher than that level? Say, crossing a 30-40 foot wide bed with about 20 -25 inches of water during the winter where some of the water spray may hit the engine compartment? Would you think that prolonged exposure like that could potentially crack a block? I mean, when I flush the radiator of my vehicles, I've been told to wait until the engine gets cold again before putting water to flush the rad. BUT, would that sudden cold water and volume of cold water spray onto hot surface damage the engine?

It doesn't seem to happen with slush because most of the slush and crap hits up agains everything else below the engine so we probably woldn't see it. there's salt spray all over my t-case and skids but nothing on the engine block. Much water doesn't seem to hit the engine at a water crossing either, but just What if. didn't see anything on google. Only thing that ever comes up when I search water fording is Russians doing crazy things in rivers with their vehicles.

I'm not a big fan of water fording: do it if I have to, have fun when I do, but don't necessarily go looking for it. Just wondering.