Question:

Has anybody considered what it would take to extend the air intake on the newer exploreres around to the top of the engine?  What would it require and what would the performance penalty be? Maybe these are naive questions from a car tyro but it has to better than a seized engine. Jeff Price

Response:

I’ve wondered and would like to know also…(‘95 4×4 XLT) but I am also curious about how big a problem this really is.  Only documented case I’ve heard was from a huge storm in Boston where I guess 6 Explorers had hydro-lock.  I’ve read all the posts about how the intake is located poorly and some folks are really concerned now about driving through "puddles" thier old car could have handled, but I also haven’t heard of any other problems from anybody using appropriate caution.  I can’t believe all the Explorer owners of the world read this group and now have been warned, but I can’t find anybody else that has had the problem. MikeG

Response:

>I’ve wondered and would like to know also…(‘95 4×4 XLT) but I am also >curious about how big a problem this really is.  Only documented case I’ve >heard was from a huge storm in Boston where I guess 6 Explorers had >hydro-lock.  I’ve read all the posts about how the intake is located >poorly and some folks are really concerned now about driving through >"puddles" thier old car could have handled, but I also haven’t heard of >any other problems from anybody using appropriate caution.  I can’t >believe all the Explorer owners of the world read this group and now have >been warned, but I can’t find anybody else that has had the problem. >MikeG

I once drove a rented 1996 Explorer through puddles deep enough to submerge the headlights and had no problem, but I drove *very* slowly through them.  I suspect the hydrolocking occurs when the accelerator pedal is pressed way down and the engine sucks water into the air intake.  To be on the safe side, coast through puddles you encounter on the road, or drive through them with the engine speed as low as you can make it.

Response: