Wednesday, May 04, 2016

New Ford Ranger’s Class-Leading Water Wading Tested in this Ford Ranger video


A bit busy today to be posting more articles. Here is one of Ford's articles on the Ford Ranger series of videos. Interesting. You can view it at their Facebook page here. Or you can go to their Ford Ranger website here. All of the four Ford Ranger video specials are there for your viewing pleasure.

PRESS RELEASE
Ford Ranger Presents: Built Ford Tough
Deep Water Test: New Ranger’s Class-Leading Water Wading Tested to the Limit



KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May. 4, 2016 – Deep in the jungle at a 4x4 testing facility in

Thailand’s Kanchanburi Province, a team of Ford engineers hover alongside a 1.25-million- liter

water tank. The location – the site of the third test of Built Ford Tough, an online documentary

series from Ford – was chosen to put the new Ford Ranger through a series of challenging

scenarios that would stop other trucks in their tracks.

“Ranger drivers are out there facing real-world challenges like river crossings and other water

obstacles every day, and we wanted to see how well the Ranger steps up in a few extreme

tests,” said Vince Gower, a Ford engineer who oversaw Ranger testing and development at

Ford’s proving ground in Australia. “We pushed the Ranger to the limit today, from shallow high-

speed crossings through to water wading as deep as 800 mm, all done with a full load.”

To successfully run through shallow water at higher speeds, a vehicle needs to combine smart

design that keeps crucial components dry with rugged durability. On the Ranger, critical areas

like the inner wheel arch on the right side of the vehicle – a barrier that helps protect the air

intake – as well as the bumper and lower air dam have been engineered to be robust and

capable of withstanding water impacts.

“When you’re entering into water at higher speeds, like if you encounter an unexpected river

crossing, that first contact with the water is like a hydraulic hammer,” said Gower. “It’s crucial to

make sure all components are properly secured and can take the impact. The Ranger dealt with

the 200 mm at-speed test with ease – even with a full load.”



The Ranger’s engine bay is designed with class-leading 800 mm water-wading capability in

mind. Critical engine components sit above the water line – including the air intake, alternator

and key electrical modules – to keep them out of harm’s way and to improve durability against

mud, dirt and sand ingress. All electrical connectors and modules are double-sealed to ensure

that even those below the water line will still operate when submerged. The engine bay water

capture area in the air box is also equipped with a one-way valve to discharge any water that

comes in.

“After we ran the 200 mm and 800 mm tests fully loaded without the Ranger breaking a sweat,

we tried something we’ve never done before: leaving the Ranger running submerged in 800 mm

of water for more than two hours,” said Gower. “There were zero engine or electrical issues, and

we drove it out with no problems at all. Even the fog lamps were entirely clear of condensation.”

The Ranger is equipped with breathers along the entire powertrain to get air to systems that

need it, while preventing water from interfering with vehicle functions. The breathers on the

differential, transmission and transfer case have been located specifically to allow the Ranger to

wade through water 800 mm deep. Furthermore, a curved design helps prevent splashed water

from getting sucked into the breathers when driving through shallower water at higher speeds.

And as the tests proved, even fully loaded, the Ranger doesn’t flinch from powering through

water thanks to its powerful and proven Duratorq diesel engine.

Proving the Ranger’s durability, even non-essential systems continue to work at depths beyond

the capabilities of lesser trucks.

“One other innovation in the Ranger is a horn that works fully submerged, with a design that

stops water from ingressing and disrupting function,” said Gower. “So even while cruising

through 800 mm of water, you can still use the horn and let everyone know the new Ranger is

coming through.”

Check out this episode at: Ford Malaysia Facebook Page

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