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Just to be sure...wading the diesel

5K views 21 replies 17 participants last post by  rex shield 
#1 ·
Hello all,
I'm pretty sure it's evident that the DEF injector makes the Jeep a puddle hater, but has anyone done any creek crossings or wading of water at any level and survived? Living in the Northeast we like to get some serious rains, and in my past rides I welcomed washing off the underbelly on occasion.

Seeing that Joaquin is about to hit us hard am I simply asking for trouble driving on wet, semi flooded conditions in the diesel? Is it pretty much a guarantee that if that wiring/injector gets wet it's game over?
 
#3 ·
Is it pretty much a guarantee that if that wiring/injector gets wet it's game over?
Unprotected (ie: no plate) it is not so much a question of wet as it is applied force. For example, I believe that it should survive a gingerly entry/exit into standing water. Where it fails utterly and catastrophically is when water is sprayed onto the affected area, so like 96.38% of the time.

I broke the injector driving on roads with about half an inch of water on them (South Florida Deluge), and post Dom's Plate, have not had an issue in same/worse conditions.
 
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#4 ·
Does is also apply to the "fix" Jeep made for later 2015 models? Mine is finally built and should be here a a couple of weeks. Just wondering if I need to get the Dom armor plate for the DEF.
Thanks
 
#6 ·
No problems hitting deep standing water - but would not attempt it without Dom's DEF plate.
 
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#8 ·
I live in South Tampa Bay area and did not know anything about the DEF injector untill last week when I joined here. It rains like hell here and I am constantly driving through some serious wetness and never had a problem(obviously). Now I don't have 4wd so I am not worried about ripping it out offroad but I can personally tell you rain water is not the enemy.
 
#9 ·
Deep standing water taken at speed will break off the injector - it's only a matter of time....
 
#19 ·
#17 ·
I sense a good story here...do tell ?
 
#15 ·
I too have both Doms shield and the DEF injection harness shield. With the DEF system having been installed almost as a afterthought - the way the bits and pieces hang below the lowest parts of the car is ridiculous - this gives me a piece of mind. Money well spent, but in hindsight it something that should be factory installed.


Sent from NSA Surveillance Van #574
 
#16 ·
I don't think the 2015 + need them as much as say the 2014s. Which was a know issue and there zip tie fix was a joke.

2015s have an upgraded version of the zip tie fix. They provided a bracket the covers the section where the def line comes across( under) the uni body frame rail. Hat section I feel was the main reason why the injector/ harness would rip off. When hitting water at speeds, the splash or force of water will leverage itself between the frame and the harness, in turn breaking the injector( weakest link, plastic).

But knowing how expose this area is even with the new bracket in place( harness/ injector still exposed) scares me. A branch or any kind of road debris still has he ability to knock it off. Take a look for yourself.

The good thing about the new oem bracket is that it proves my point on my plate that drilling into frame (2014s) would not be a bad thing( they copied my idea somewhat). Also it brought more value to my plate because it kinda shows that I kinda knew what I was doing lol. Makes it easier for 2014 owners to drill into frame. And for the 2015s + they have a hole in frame that they don't have to worry about drilling into.
 
#20 ·
I have dom's plate, but never got around to installing it. I just did a 2 day Jeep Jamboree and rubbed the skid plates many times as well as spent some time in deep mud and water. I had no issues. Vehicle Car Off-roading Regularity rally Mud
Motor vehicle Vehicle Car Natural environment Off-roading



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#21 · (Edited)
I have dom's plate, but never got around to installing it. I just did a 2 day Jeep Jamboree and rubbed the skid plates many times as well as spent some time in deep mud and water. I had no issues. View attachment 61709 View attachment 61711


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I do not have Dom's plate - mine's a 2014, with Nov 2013 build date. I looked underneath to check the DEF injector and mine does not appear vulnerable. It certainly does not hang below the other nearby undercarriage elements.

When I see standing water and no people nearby, I head for it and fly through. It's the inner kid in me I guess. So far it has been fine. I hope it stays that way. I will want to go through water like what you show, amr40509. Send some to California, will ya?
 
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