I was out in 3200 today, between storms, to find flood water in a few places. Remembering that the air intakes are quite low - at front grill level - I kept to the crown of the road and crept through very slowly. What actually is the risk of swallowing enough water through the air intakes to cause a hydro lock? Anyone done it?! Not sure where the intakes are on the 4200 and Gransport. Did Ferrari raise them?
Lets put it this way. If you live in an area prone to flash flooding on country lanes for example and you hit some hidden standing water at low speed then it can easily kill your engine.
The 20 mph into a 4 inch puddle is enough. The air intake is just behind the chin of the front spoiler / bumper on the 4200. The design of the air box is garbage and they are often broken exposing the air filter. There are water waste gates on the back section of the airbox which is supposed to let any water escape. Problem with that is its after the air intake so you can guess where the water will head first.
Even if you tried to tip toe through 4 inches of water a wave / wake from another car will be enough to leave you dead in the water.
It only takes around 30 mls of water to be ingested into a cylinder and thats enough to hydro lock the car.
If you live in a high risk area then look at having the airbox removed and a K & N air filter on a short silicone hose fitted instead. There is a thread on here somewhere as a how to guide. Which moves the air intake about 12 inches higher off the ground.
I know from experience just how little water it takes.
Picture below is the airbox and you can see the filter circled. The flat panel you can see running left to right is the low chin of the bumper.
