In these days of having to ford roads suffering from flash flooding, I was wondering if anyone knows if there is an official Subaru wading depth for Outbacks?

Hi mate welcome to the forums I believe it's about 1ft 8" without a snorkel fitted might be a little deeper 

http://www.car-specs.za.net/car-spec-detail.aspx?n=subaru_outback_2.5i&year=2004&month=10&car=2701 it said 460?? 460 what I don't know.

Ah, that would be 460mm or about 18". Good to know.

Thanks, guys

I was close enough :) I did read one guy said he got through water just below his head light's with no problem but wouldn't want to risk trying anymore. I remember I tried once in a Ford Cortina Estate was about a foot deep it didn't end well :( wet feet and a stuck car :)

yup cortinas electrics and water was never a good mix - all the wigglies would swim away

I had to climb out the window and jump on to the side it was a narrow off road track :) And that is where it stayed until a farmer pulled it out :D 

went to a network q rally in the 90's and parked car on the road side in a forest and when I came back the car was in a river LOL think about 20 of us ended with wet feet. worth it to warch colin and rich go though... :D

Haha 

The engine air intake is just behind the bonnet / grill gap, and the alternator is on top of the engine so assuming your spark leads are properly sealed from the water the car should be able to go in headlight deep!

 

I'll let you know come winter how it went...

Spark plugs? What are they?

 

(should have mentioned my Outback is a diesel)

 

:-)

There you go then - should be no problem up to your headlights :P

Soooo looking forward to the follow up videos/pictures from this :D

I've only ever had my Outback as high as the sills, but I am concerned about how well the spark plug caps seal. These days there are plenty of flooded roads around here so the last thing I want is to splutter to a standstill in the middle of one.😉    

Apparently you also have to be careful of the rear diff - the breather is low, and you may ahve to check/change the oil in it if you drown it. It is possible to extend it a bit higher.

On 7/29/2021 at 11:15 AM, Pete_W said:

Apparently you also have to be careful of the rear diff - the breather is low, and you may ahve to check/change the oil in it if you drown it. It is possible to extend it a bit higher.

I was quoted, by the dealer, that the OB wading depth was 580mm.  He did have to get back to me with that info. after my question, so presumably he found a Subaru source? That's more than my old yeti (380mm) but obviously less than most 'full-on-' 4x4s which are usually 700mm and well above for some.  Having said that the Ssangyong Rexton is a pathetic 300 mm according to SSangyong GB source!!!

Rufford Ford webcams regularly show why it's ALWAYS best to avoid water... Sunk!

 

I have an XV and live in Suffolk which floods regular. I had a Peugeot 2008 which had a 150mm wading depth and was surprised that I could not find a published wading depth for the XV. I have driven through some flooded roads and bottled it a couple of times too. The dealer told me one customer flooded her XV and got water in both the cabin and gearbox.