Can a regular (non rally) mach-e drive through flooded roadways?

[shadowsjc]

In an ICE vehicle, it's not recommended to drive through several inches of water because the water can enter and damage the engine block, rendering the motor useless. Since the MME has no engine block, and the HVB are sealed, is it OK to drive through several inches of rain? Or are there other issues to watch for?

(Yes I know not to drive though creeks, lakes, etc. Referring more to city streets that get backed up with water during heavy storms)

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[AtomicInternet]

Electric cars and floods: everything you need to know (electrifying.com)

Though it’s not an exact science, some actually believe electric cars are better suited to driving in standing water than cars with combustion engines. This is because petrol or diesel cars can easily be stopped in their tracks by water flooding into the engine via air intakes.

 

[hybrid2bev]

In an ICE vehicle, it's not recommended to drive through several inches of water because the water can enter and damage the engine block, rendering the motor useless. Since the MME has no engine block, and the HVB are sealed, is it OK to drive through several inches of rain? Or are there other issues to watch for?

(Yes I know not to drive though creeks, lakes, etc. Referring more to city streets that get backed up with water during heavy storms)

The owners manual discusses this and describes Fords recommended depth you should be able to drive through.

I may or may not have observed a MME successfully driving through water that was deeper than curb height.

 

[HuntingPudel]

I’ve driven the Blazer over a bridge that was >30” under water. I had guidance. Nothing happened to the engine or anything. I did have to change the oil in the differentials since they were completely submerged in muddy muck. The transmission and transfer case breathers and all engine access points were above water level, so nothing needed changing there. So, slow and steady is fine for ICE in water. Just don’t drive off of the bridge. ??

That said, I wouldn’t drive my MME through that even with guidance. It would be swamped. I wouldn’t have an issue with 8” of water though. The transaxle oil would likely need to be changed due to water ingress, just like the Blazer’s differentials. ?‍?

 

[Mach1E]

People do it, but really……. Just don’t.

Forget whether or not you CAN.

Reasons you shouldn’t-
Brakes- all that gunk in the water isn’t great
Battery- it’s water resistant, not water proof. All those wires and connections really don’t like lots of water. Corrosion isn’t your friend.

You also don’t know what’s under that water that you don’t want to run over. And sometimes it’s deeper than you think.

And lastly?

Fire. It’s not a “fake news” concern. It’s real. Every time we have hurricane surge in Florida, electric cars end up in flood water and spontaneously combust.

If you want to see what this looks like, watch this video of a Tesla that accidentally slid down the boat ramp. Even the ocean couldn’t put the fire out.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/the-ocean-can’t-put-a-battery-fire-out.30935/

https://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-x-rolls-itself-into-a-fiery-watery-end-1850998617

But to the OP’s question of “several inches?” Yeah that’s no big deal.

 

[Trick.Mach-E]

In an ICE vehicle, it's not recommended to drive through several inches of water because the water can enter and damage the engine block, rendering the motor useless. Since the MME has no engine block, and the HVB are sealed, is it OK to drive through several inches of rain? Or are there other issues to watch for?

(Yes I know not to drive though creeks, lakes, etc. Referring more to city streets that get backed up with water during heavy storms)

Just go for it.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

People do it, but really……. Just don’t.

Forget whether or not you CAN.

Reasons you shouldn’t-
Brakes- all that gunk in the water isn’t great
Battery- it’s water resistant, not water proof. All those wires and connections really don’t like lots of water. Corrosion isn’t your friend.

You also don’t know what’s under that water that you don’t want to run over. And sometimes it’s deeper than you think.

And lastly?

Fire. It’s not a “fake news” concern. It’s real. Every time we have hurricane surge in Florida, electric cars end up in flood water and spontaneously combust.

If you want to see what this looks like, watch this video of a Tesla that accidentally slid down the boat ramp. Even the ocean couldn’t put the fire out.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/the-ocean-can’t-put-a-battery-fire-out.30935/

https://jalopnik.com/tesla-model-x-rolls-itself-into-a-fiery-watery-end-1850998617

But to the OP’s question of “several inches?” Yeah that’s no big deal.

I'll add one more to your cautionary list: A friend's sister died when her car was swept off a flooded bridge. The water wasn't moving particularly fast, but it floated her car and she was a goner. It doesn't actually take all that much water to float a car, though more for an EV since they weight so damn much.

 

[S.K]

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

 

[RickMachE]

The owners manual discusses this and describes Fords recommended depth you should be able to drive through.

I may or may not have observed a MME successfully driving through water that was deeper than curb height.

This ^^^

There is only one reason to drive through standing water deeper than what the manual recommends - escaping a threat to life. "Getting home" is not a reason.

Years ago we lived in an area that flooded enroute to our home. Parked on high ground, walked around water on lawns, wife picked me up on other side. Others stayed in hotels.

 

[ack154]

You also don’t know what’s under that water that you don’t want to run over. And sometimes it’s deeper than you think.

This is always the biggest concern for me. If the road is washed over - you may not even know if that part of the road is still there.

 

[Mach1E]

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

The water coming in through the glove box….. ?

 

[HuntingPudel]

This is always the biggest concern for me. If the road is washed over - you may not even know if that part of the road is still there.

Exactly why I had a spotter guiding me over that bridge and I guided his truck over. ??

 

[Bruboy]

NO

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