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Remember to air down

Remember to air down




Carova earlier today.

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RE: Remember to air down




OK - what am I missing? How does an engine fire start from not airing down?


RE: Remember to air down




OK - what am I missing? How does an engine fire start from not airing down?

Tim-OBX


Engine strain to push through the sand at higher air pressure, because tires sink in. Lower air pressure helps the tires to flatten out and ride higher over the sand and not have to push as hard.


RE: Remember to air down




I think in most instances due to overworking the transmission because the driver didn't air down, the overheated transmission fluid blows through the seals, igniting on the hot transmission housing. The engine cooling system will overheat also.


RE: Remember to air down




OK - I am going under an assumption it was not either of those. Just my guess - I know each are possible but the truck would be way deeper IMHO.
Poor maintenance is my vote. Like the guy whose tire came off on his Jeep on the WBM bridge last year.




RE: Remember to air down




" the overheated transmission fluid blows through the seals, igniting on the hot transmission housing."

There's a long history of reports of Jeeps blowing overheated ATF fluid through the vent and then it hits the exhaust or something else hot and burns up the vehicle.

Google something such as "jeep fires due to overheated transmission on beach"

________

Fwiw,
"Do all transmissions have a vent?"
"All transmissions have a vent to maintain equal barometric pressure inside of the transmission."


RE: Remember to air down




OK - I am going under an assumption it was not either of those. Just my guess - I know each are possible but the truck would be way deeper IMHO.
Poor maintenance is my vote. Like the guy whose tire came off on his Jeep on the WBM bridge last year.

Tim-OBX


Transmission fluid will flame up like lighter fluid on a hot Manifold - can happen fast


RE: Remember to air down




OK - I am going under an assumption it was not either of those. Just my guess - I know each are possible but the truck would be way deeper IMHO.
Poor maintenance is my vote. Like the guy whose tire came off on his Jeep on the WBM bridge last year.

Tim-OBX


That was his entire real axel if I remember correctly.


RE: Remember to air down




OK - I am going under an assumption it was not either of those. Just my guess - I know each are possible but the truck would be way deeper IMHO.
Poor maintenance is my vote. Like the guy whose tire came off on his Jeep on the WBM bridge last year.

Tim-OBX


Most people ignore their transmission fluid. Old fluid heats up. When it gets hot it comes out the dipstick. The dipstick is near the manifold. BOOM fire.

If you drive on the beach air down to prevent the strain on your transmission.

Do not ignore your transmission get it flushed once a year if you drive regularly on the beach.

ALways always have a fire extinguisher in your beach buggy.

And also look to add a Transmission Fluid Cooler if you don't have one already if you plan on driving on the beach, it will prevent this from happening.


RE: Remember to air down




As a side note, the air station at OIFC is no more for the time being. The entire area at the north end of the marina is plowed up in preparation for the new marina store. There are plans for another station to be built eventually, but as of right now, no air at Oregon Inlet.

Beech




RE: Remember to air down




OK - I am going under an assumption it was not either of those. Just my guess - I know each are possible but the truck would be way deeper IMHO.
Poor maintenance is my vote. Like the guy whose tire came off on his Jeep on the WBM bridge last year.

Tim-OBX


Most people ignore their transmission fluid. Old fluid heats up. When it gets hot it comes out the dipstick. The dipstick is near the manifold. BOOM fire.

If you drive on the beach air down to prevent the strain on your transmission.

Do not ignore your transmission get it flushed once a year if you drive regularly on the beach.

ALways always have a fire extinguisher in your beach buggy.

And also look to add a Transmission Fluid Cooler if you don't have one already if you plan on driving on the beach, it will prevent this from happening.

Bill


No doubt. I also put a dedicated tranny radiator on all three of our 4wd vehicles just to be sure.


RE: Remember to air down





Most people ignore their transmission fluid. Old fluid heats up. When it gets hot it comes out the dipstick. The dipstick is near the manifold. BOOM fire.

If you drive on the beach air down to prevent the strain on your transmission.

Do not ignore your transmission get it flushed once a year if you drive regularly on the beach.

ALways always have a fire extinguisher in your beach buggy.

And also look to add a Transmission Fluid Cooler if you don't have one already if you plan on driving on the beach, it will prevent this from happening.

Bill


Lots of modern vehicles have "sealed" transmissions that do not have a dipstick. Some will tell you that the fluid never has to be changed, which is not true. It doesn't have to be changed as often. Consult the manual.

Airing down does not prevent strain on the transmission. Driving on the beach puts strain on the transmission, period. Just like towing does.

Most manufacturers advise against flushing. And any good mechanic will if you have high mileage.

Transmission fluid cooler is a good investment if you do a lot of anything besides drive a vehicle on improved roads.

For what little it costs, a fire extinguisher is the best investment you can make. Car, home, boat, RV, tractor...




RE: Remember to air down




Airing down does not prevent strain on the transmission. Driving on the beach puts strain on the transmission, period. Just like towing does.

Stumpy


To elaborate a bit... if you don't air down the tires don't "float" on the sand. You get stuck. You spin. The transmission heats up. You spin some more and the vehicle continues to sink and the transmission is now sitting in the sand. You spin some more and now the transmission heats up exponentially and the fluid boils. If you have a transmission dipstick, yep, out the tube it goes. Dipstick or not, you'll probably crack the transmission and/or ruin the seals.


RE: Remember to air down




If the sand is soft and you’re under 20 mph there’s no reason not to use 4 lo, It’s easier on the transmission and it will have more fluid flow.
Put your differentials to work.



RE: Remember to air down




i guess they wont be complaining about the cost of the rental


RE: Remember to air down




I have a solution. Buy a truck with the snow plow prep package. Transmission cooler and larger alternator will be included. Mine also has a transmission fluid temperature gauge. If the trans gets over the engine temperature, (+-210) it’s time to pull over, open the hood, turn on the heat full blast, and let it idle. Don’t shut down the motor because it will get hotter when shut down, before it cools.
And of course: Don’t be a clown, air down!


RE: Remember to air down




A group of young guys insisted on not airing down, all of em but driver got out to push.
Air down. It’s kinder to your car and to the ones following in your path


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