Roof Rack + Snorkel = Overland?

[MTG]

Hey, Wayoflife, know of any decent mod shops in the DelMarVa region? Methinks it's time to get that lift.

Do it yourself. This way you'll have a greater understanding of your rig and will know how to fix it if it breaks while wheeling it or overlanding as the case may be.

[wayoflife]

^^^has nothing to do with a lift. I'm pretty sure it has to do with AT fluid "boiling over" and coming in contact with the motor or exhaust. Pre-2012's owners can do a lot to prevent this by installing a tranny fluid cooler (first mod I did, cost like $60), and by actually paying attention to how much fluid they have. I could be wrong, but I think the 2012's come with an external cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

What Sharkey said. The fires you have heard about have nothing to do with a JK being lifted. In fact, several of the fires occured on stock JK's. While no official cause or reason has been attributed to the fires, from what I have personally seen, it is most likely being caused by the transmission boiling over and pumping ATF onto the cats and/or exhaust cross over as mentioned.

Do it yourself. This way you'll have a greater understanding of your rig and will know how to fix it if it breaks while wheeling it or overlanding as the case may be.

I agree. For how small of a lift you are planning on installing, doing it yourself is not only cheaper, it will give you a chance to learn more about your JK.

[Vulpine]

^^^has nothing to do with a lift. I'm pretty sure it has to do with AT fluid "boiling over" and coming in contact with the motor or exhaust. Pre-2012's owners can do a lot to prevent this by installing a tranny fluid cooler (first mod I did, cost like $60), and by actually paying attention to how much fluid they have. I could be wrong, but I think the 2012's come with an external cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

Since I have a stick, I wouldn't know. But WayofLife did point out that any lift at all could cause a transmission fluid leak and if that fluid is thrown around by the drive shaft, it's not hard to envision some of it hitting hot exhaust pipes which is where those reports I have read seem to imply the fire as starting--under the body rather than in the engine compartment.

I'm not saying you're wrong--I simply don't know--I'm only saying WaL's description also sounds valid.

[Vulpine]

I agree. For how small of a lift you are planning on installing, doing it yourself is not only cheaper, it will give you a chance to learn more about your JK.

Would love to, but HOA where I live won't let me do it in my driveway/parking slip and I don't have access to a garage with (or without) lift to work under her myself. I'm stuck with having to either pay for the work or getting lucky and finding another Jeeper that's willing to teach me in my neck of the "piney woods."

[Sharkey]

But WayofLife did point out that any lift at all could cause a transmission fluid leak and if that fluid is thrown around by the drive shaft, it's not hard to envision some of it hitting hot exhaust pipes which is where those reports I have read seem to imply the fire as starting--under the body rather than in the engine compartment.

When did he say that? I'm not sure why or how a lift could cause the transmission to leak. Are you sure you aren't confusing WOL's statements about driveshaft boots tearing and spitting grease with the transmission leaking? I'm not sure what reports you have read, but in every picture I have seen of a burned JK, the fire started in the engine bay or perhaps just below the firewall (in which case I would postulate that the fluid boil over travelled down the AT breather line from the engine bay and then dripped onto the exhaust.)

[MTG]

When did he say that? I'm not sure why or how a lift could cause the transmission to leak. Are you sure you aren't confusing WOL's statements about driveshaft boots tearing and spitting grease with the transmission leaking? I'm not sure what reports you have read, but in every picture I have seen of a burned JK, the fire started in the engine bay or perhaps just below the firewall (in which case I would postulate that the fluid boil over travelled down the AT breather line from the engine bay and then dripped onto the exhaust.)

The real question is not whether a lift can cause it to leak, but rather whether a roof rack or snorkel would prevent it from doing so?

[Sharkey]

The real question is not whether a lift can cause it to leak, but rather whether a roof rack or snorkel would prevent it from doing so?

Lol. Actually, since some people run their breather hoses to the airbox when they install a snorkel, I guess it's theoretically possible that they couldn't get a boil over onto the engine or exhaust. Dammit! Now the discussion must end because we have conclusive proof that snorkels make an automatic JK safer. All is not lost though, I guess we can still argue about standard transmissions.

[wayoflife]

When did he say that? I'm not sure why or how a lift could cause the transmission to leak. Are you sure you aren't confusing WOL's statements about driveshaft boots tearing and spitting grease with the transmission leaking? I'm not sure what reports you have read, but in every picture I have seen of a burned JK, the fire started in the engine bay or perhaps just below the firewall (in which case I would postulate that the fluid boil over travelled down the AT breather line from the engine bay and then dripped onto the exhaust.)

yeah, i don't ever recall saying anything about lifts causing tranny leaks and or fires

The real question is not whether a lift can cause it to leak, but rather whether a roof rack or snorkel would prevent it from doing so?

Lol. Actually, since some people run their breather hoses to the airbox when they install a snorkel, I guess it's theoretically possible that they couldn't get a boil over onto the engine or exhaust. Dammit! Now the discussion must end because we have conclusive proof that snorkels make an automatic JK safer. All is not lost though, I guess we can still argue about standard transmissions.

oh man, now you've done it and just when i thought this thread was starting to die down

[Vulpine]

yeah, i don't ever recall saying anything about lifts causing tranny leaks and or fires

Here's the post with the quote. Middle paragraph, your own words: http://wayalife.com/showthread.php?6...ull=1#post6854

The point was that causing a leak in that manner could cause a fire, not would. I didn't say either of you were wrong, only that you both put forward good descriptions of how it could happen--enough to make one want to ensure they don't make those mistakes.

I do have to wonder how they're getting transmission fluid boilovers if they're using stock JKs and no trailer attached--unless for whatever reason they're overfilling them? Then again, I thought new transmissions were factory sealed now.

[MTG]

Here's the post with the quote. Middle paragraph, your own words: http://wayalife.com/showthread.php?6...ull=1#post6854

The point was that causing a leak in that manner could cause a fire, not would. I didn't say either of you were wrong, only that you both put forward good descriptions of how it could happen--enough to make one want to ensure they don't make those mistakes.

Different issues.