What’s the deepest water you could sensibly drive a diesel Octavia in would you think? We had a lot of rain here last night and this morning and a lot of the area was flooded. Nothing that bothered me, just ploughed on through, until I got to a ford out in the forest. The roads were empty so I couldn’t watch to see if anyone else was driving through, the water was flowing over it very quickly and there was white water rippling over the top. I wasn’t sure whether to proceed or not. There were no signs up to say that the ford can sometimes be unsafe, but it didn’t look good IMO.

There was a depth measuring stick to the side, from memory I think it said nearly 2 feet deep. I decided to turn around and go another way as it wasn’t far out of my way and I didn’t like how fast the water was flowing.

What would you say would be a sensible maximum depth to prevent damage to the engine, bumper and other flimsy plastics, ABS sensor electronics etc?

General advice on road cars is up to the hubs, but in theory with a diesel, it's up to the air intake - i.e. level with the headlights on your car. Less than two feet in either case, anyway!

What would you say would be a sensible maximum depth to prevent damage to the engine, bumper and other flimsy plastics, ABS sensor electronics etc?

Personally ,I find six inches enough.

Ooh matron.

Up to the air intake might be OK in still water, but certainly not in fast flowing water!! You were lucky-you could have been swept away/on your side!

I've been watching video footage of the floods in Queensland, Australia-bl**dy scary! Cars (some with people still in ) bobbing along or being turned over & over-not fun!!

Up to the air intake might be OK in still water, but certainly not in fast flowing water!! You were lucky-you could have been swept away/on your side!

I've been watching video footage of the floods in Queensland, Australia-bl**dy scary! Cars (some with people still in ) bobbing along or being turned over & over-not fun!!

Yes, I live for boats, I have a boat and I sell them for a living so I'm well aware what moving water can do, hence my concern. I would have thought there would be a warning sign though if it ever did get dangerous...

Yes, I live for boats, I have a boat and I sell them for a living so I'm well aware what moving water can do, hence my concern. I would have thought there would be a warning sign though if it ever did get dangerous...

Fair enough! That footage put the 5hit5 up me-I have friends living there. I'd just hate to see a good car ruined-even if it is blue.... :p

Oh & whoever was in the car

On a more serious note, regarding warning signs, sometimes here in Ireland we'd be lucky to get a warning sign for a hairpin bend sometimes.. :(

The current manual has guidance which shows the underside of the sills - so 150mm for most octavias.

I'm sure I remeber a post here a while back with guidance from Skoda customer service for the Scout - the rule of 50:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/145454-water-fording-in-octavia-scout/page__p__1820565__hl__wading__fromsearch__1entry1820565

Edited 17 January, 201115 yr by London Les

I had my old mondeo written off from the floods a couple of year back. My missus was going through some deepish water and some **** in a 4x4 came rushing passed and through water into the inlet, this caused a crack in the head and the insurance wrote the car off.

The main problem with trying to cross a fast flowing stream, is that most cars have a certain buoyancy in deepish water (for a short time anyway) and the weight only has to come off the wheels to a small degree for the flow of water to take over, and away you go!!

Mac

150mm = 6"

Oooh medical facility supervisor

Hit it fast enough and get a good bow wave going you will be fine

I would have thought there would be a warning sign though if it ever did get dangerous...

Vandalised, stolen or just washed away, there are lots of reason why the warning sign might not be there.

Vandalised, stolen or just washed away, there are lots of reason why the warning sign might not be there.

Well yeah, but there's usually an excess of road signs! I was a bit surprised when I came up to the ford and thought to myself, "well, what do I do here then!?"

Hit it fast enough and get a good bow wave going you will be fine

Have to keep an eye out for icebergs though, there wasa film about that . . .

Ha! Looks like someone risked it and didn't make it!!!

As seen on BBC Weather in the south today....

If someone else goes through it dosent mean to say you will, a friend used that theory a few years ago, watched a pug 206 go through so followed in her 306 & killed it. I would agree on abiout 150mm of water & go through on tickover. If you want to attempt 2 feet of water take a good book, something to read whilst waiting for the lifeboat

Ha! Looks like someone risked it and didn't make it!!!

As seen on BBC Weather in the south today....

Could they use the roof box as a boat ??

Looks like they could have done with a Voyager.....

If you want to attempt 2 feet of water take a good book, something to read whilst waiting for the lifeboat

Pah! With emergency services like ours, you'll be rescued in no time!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PrXIm58GWQ

Oh wait, hang on...

Well yeah, but there's usually an excess of road signs! I was a bit surprised when I came up to the ford and thought to myself, "well, what do I do here then!?"

If you've got to think about it, turn round and go back.

If you've got to think about it, turn round and go back.

+1

If you do risk it, and the worst happens. Don't bank on your insurance company paying out.