Heavy rain lately and that plenum

[Busboy]

Even though I regularly check my plenum, I thought I would check it today after the heavy downpours lately, especially where I live in the South East, and surprise surprise , An inch of water was evident, so I took off the rubber bung that I had fitted and gave it a damned good rodding with the bamboo cane that I have made especially for the purpose and drained it out. Just how many non members who don't know about this important job are oblivious to this? !.

[bikerdude666]

I'll be honest I'm always amazed by the number of people here who do find water in the plenums! I've had the car just over 3 years now, checked them maybe 6 times at most, and always been bone dry. And I thought the diesels were supposed to be the worst!

[chris75]

Ditto I do check my plenums but not all that frequently , but in nearly 12 years of ownership I have never found any water in them I do live in an urban area and park on a treeless drive , so perhaps that's a factor
I definitely recommend keep on checking however .......

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by bikerdude666

I'll be honest I'm always amazed by the number of people here who do find water in the plenums! I've had the car just over 3 years now, checked them maybe 6 times at most, and always been bone dry. And I thought the diesels were supposed to be the worst!

Its the diesels ECU which makes it more susceptible, their plenums are no worse for flooding than the rest.

[roverbarmy]

My lower plenum drains have had "The Snip" which helps avoid crud build up.
Ouch!

[Busboy]

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

My lower plenum drains have had "The Snip" which helps avoid crud build up.
Ouch!

I've heard of this mod before, I believe that where the drain tube comes out of the bottom of the plenum, the tube has a diagonal cut to the end, when you say ' the snip, does this mean the tube is cut more square, and hence has a wider exit for water?

[Lord of Hog]

All bone dry in mine despite the rain over the last few months. Take the grommet off the spy hole and have a look in ... lovely daylight visible through the far end of the drain tube. Trot round to the other side and it's all nice and dry there too. Jules mod on the O/S + gutter mesh 'n' silicon on the near side + a damn good rodding every month = lovely dry ECU.

[Woof25]

The answer is simple you go to your local aquariam shop or go on ebay and get the foaam filter that fits over the heating element in the tank its a foot long and 4" x 4" and its posibble to divide it in four lengthways and fit at each end of the scuttle, it is sufficent to do this for two cars. No disrespect to jules and his method Ifind this method very effective the smallest leaf mould is trapped but water runs through freely and in 3 years I have not had a problem.
Oh and you can wash the silt out in washing machine best idea I ever had and proud to share with you all.

[Lancpudn]

Thanks for the heads up on Plenums Busboy I've been meaning to get around to checking mine so I've just done them.

It looks pretty clean & dry in there except for a few leaves.
I used a stick with double sided tape stuck to the bottom to pick those big leaves up, it works a treat

I rodded the drain with a length of bicycle brake cable then blew out the remainder with the air line, I also blew out the side drains too.











Edit: It seems not before time too! the missus has just taken the car out of the garage & there's a mound of leaves on the floor where I rodded the plenum.

[Alan123]

Mine are part of my weekly checks so they are checked weekly.

I know it sounds extreme but all the talk of plenum flooding makes me paranoid & for how long it takes there's no excuses