Waterproofing a petrol engine

[cms tojo]

Hi guys,

Does anyone have any tips on how to waterproof a petrol engine?

I have a petrol 80 series that started to miss in some deep water/ slosh over the weekend, Typical of a wet ignition system.

From what I have read so far, its just a matter of using sealant (silicon or similar) around the dizzy cap and on the boots on each plug lead.

Anyone got any comments?

Obviously going around is preffered but not always an option.


cms

[Pog]

Do you even have a dizzy?

[cms tojo]

Yep

the 1fz-fe sure does have a dizzy..

[Pog]

Well thats certainly unexpected for a modern engine! An old trick is to use a rubber glove with the fingertips cut off and tape it very well onto the dizzy and leads. But being a 6cyl you might need to find a 7 fingered glove :D

[pavadrin]

if you have an onboard air system you can hook it up to blow compressed air through the dizzy. this will create a pressure difference preventing the water from entering. for everything else a good coat of lanolin, however be careful as it a magnet for dirt and grim

[Mudrunner's4WD]

i no this sounds stupid but it works spray ya whole engine bay and elextronics with inox all ya dizzy and wire conestions it works awsome

[Shonky]

Check the rear of the base of the distributor housing, there is a hole about 3-4mm in diameter, find a suitable hose and stick it in there and glue in place and run it back up on the firewall, as for the leads, spray a bit of Inox on them at the connections if you feel the need, but I'd be surprised if water could get into the H.T. leads at the distributor, the clips hold the rubber boots down fairly tight and should seal them well.

Another popular mod is to move the coil up to a higher position from where it is, or buy a plastic container, cut slots in it for the wiring to run through and place the coil in the container and seal up where the leads run into it.

[et4wd]

A mate ( or 7) that i know has a 80s petty.
All he did was plumb a small 90 degree airline fitting into the bottom of the dizzy and then hooked up a bit of 6mm air line to the connector and then to his compressor under his seat.
He has also pulled the cap off and siliconed it back on, dont think he has done much else and it works very well in water that stopped a couple of other 80s on the weekend.
It's pretty simple to do, a bit of time a few cans and ya should be right.

Good luck,

Steve.

[cms tojo]

Just fitted some extended breathers to the holes in th back of the dizzy and ran them up nice and high.

Found my wet engine misfire was a dodgy coil lead the previous owner had left for me :s

[chrisso83]

wont silicone on ya dizzy make it hard to pull off and check/change at a later date??

[bad_religion_au]

wont silicone on ya dizzy make it hard to pull off and check/change at a later date??

how often do you pull a dizzy? especially a non-points one... not often enough to worry about the 2 minutes of scraping old silicone surely...

[bad_religion_au]

A mate ( or 7) that i know has a 80s petty.
All he did was plumb a small 90 degree airline fitting into the bottom of the dizzy and then hooked up a bit of 6mm air line to the connector and then to his compressor under his seat.
He has also pulled the cap off and siliconed it back on, dont think he has done much else and it works very well in water that stopped a couple of other 80s on the weekend.
It's pretty simple to do, a bit of time a few cans and ya should be right.

Good luck,

Steve.

would want to mount the compressor higher than the floor... a bit of water seepage into the intake of the compressor, and you'll be pumping water INTO your dizzy

[Pog]

would want to mount the compressor higher than the floor... a bit of water seepage into the intake of the compressor, and you'll be pumping water INTO your dizzy
I think the compressor would stop before then..

[bad_religion_au]

I think the compressor would stop before then..

i've seen them not stop

[derrilex]

Also check the very basics. Check your lead resistances and your dizzy cap for cracks. Check the rotor aswell. The high tension will go the earth via the path of least resistance so any weak link will be made a lot worse with any moisture. PS, never steam clean / hose an engine with the plugs down the centre as you wont get all the water out and when the motor heats up it creates steam which start dropping cylinders out. A dollar for every car detailer thats made the mistake.

[Pog]

never steam clean / hose an engine with the plugs down the centre as you wont get all the water out
Depends on the motor. My 3RZ is fine with it as all the leads are well sealed.

["turbo"]

as said above all i have done is move the coil to a much better spot and dont have many probs now but dont really go in deep water that much,
when the coil was in its standard spot i was wishing i got a diesel

[toy yoda]

the 4y in my 4runner comp truck will sit and happily idle for ages underwater

rubber glove on dizzy and cap is siliconed on....leads have a wipe of silicone on plug end ( can get to them on the 4y) and the coil is inside cab behind glove box

simple yet effective.........obviously it does minimal milage so the stuff doesnt get a heap of heat ect!!

[Dezza80]

My petrol 80 has problems too with water crossings, and having my own offroad track it is embarrasing when i exit the bog hole and i cant get the engine to rev over 2200rpm with out it missin then dying till the revs fall down to 1400 before the ignition kicks back to life.

might try some of the suggested tips

[Sir Snagger]

Get a water bra :D Got one for christmas now gotta find somewhere to use it. Not much water in WA at the moment.

[Pog]

Get a water bra :D Got one for christmas now gotta find somewhere to use it. Not much water in WA at the moment.
Bra's are used to avoid the fan driving itself through the radiator. They aren't all that effective for waterproofing electrical components.

[stingers]

I have a 22re in my 1990 4Runner and use plastic shopping bags and zip ties on my dizzy and coil. Works great for me anyway.

[Sir Snagger]

Bra's are used to avoid the fan driving itself through the radiator. They aren't all that effective for waterproofing electrical components.

Not entirely but it's better than nothing. definitely not gonna help when you can't see out the windscreen :D

[leethal]

A product I have used with a lot of sucess is "Corrosion Guard" its made by Mercury Marine (Quicksilver Accessory) simply spray over your electrics. It drys to a clear semi hard film a bit like Tectyl clear.

It seals very well, hell some of the rescue boat outboards I have seen literally drowned in salt water yet keep running well at least till they swallow some water, but after pulling the plugs, crank them over to empty the water, refit the plugs and fire up again, no electrical problems from being wet. You can get it from any Mercury or Mariner outboard dealer.

A little left field I know but its a great product designed to protect engines in a very very wet enviroment :thumb: