Experienced? Or just down right crazy...Or both?

That was in PA a few years back. I remember that.

 

As long as the water isn't too deep and there is still pressure pushing the exhaust out you are ok. His air intake is high enough that the water doesn't effect it. Diesel engines don't have an ignition system like gas ones do so you don't have a problem there either. (Diesel uses compressed air mixed with fuel to ignite the fuel.) The only problem you would have is with the batteries and other electrical systems if they got wet. My Peterbilt I used to drive would have been bad for this because the batteries were in the side box. I had to drive through less water than this and it always had problems afterwards.

 

......Crazy

 

Had to get those chickens across the road.

 

Crazy? no. Experienced, certainly not. Stupid, YES. Best case scenario, he knows that he now has to change +- $300 worth of gear oil (two diffs and a trans) but more likely lacks the experience/knowledge to know that until the first gear box piles up from water contamination. Either a company driver or a, too stupid to succeed and soon to be out of business O/O. "And because he made it, proved he wasn't stupid". Really? that's like saying that because somebody gassed up their car while lighting a cigarette and don't cause an explosion proves that they weren't stupid. This driver reminds me of a saying my grandmother used to use, "he thinks stupid is smart".

 

Fuel tanks are going to have water in them, including the reefer, all the gear boxes are going to have water in them too. Steer axel hubs probably took a little in also, trailer too. Can't see the air intake on the other side but bet it close if not in there too. Big picture ain't looking real bright this genius.

 

He is also lucky.. no telling the condition and integrity of the road under the water.. he is lucky that the road was able to sustain the weight of the truck.. but, he did not know that.. and the next guy that attempts it on a flooded road somewhere may not be as lucky..

 

Yeah, when you have hot axle housings and they hit the cool water and start to cool off it creates a vacuum that will suck water past the seals. Hard to beat the cool factor of fording through some water but you will pay for it.

 

I bet if you asked the driver about it he would have said "I didn't think the water was that deep".