Welcome to the third and final issue of my 4x4 Driving Tips. Last week we discussed mud. Now we get wet, and go WATER crossing.

Water crossing can be more dangerous than you think. Knowing how high your air-intake is should be your guide to the depth you can go.

Look at the surroundings of the river. The chances are that if the area around the river is rocky, there will be rocks in the river.

There are a few basic rules you should always follow: Flowing rivers will have a more stable base than standing waters. If you struggle to stand in fast flowing water, the water will wash your car away. Check your manufacturers manual to see what the recommended depth of water for your vehicle is. When crossing deep and fast flowing water, check that your exit is safe and cross at a 45 degree angle, which will reduce the force of water on your vehicle.

If the depth of the water is higher than the height of the vehicle’s fan above the ground, the looming under bonnet spray might result in electrical failure. If you have to get through water that is this deep, it will help if you insert a plastic sheet behind the radiator grille to keep water away from the fan.

Once in the water maintain a steady speed, and try to avoid wheel-spin. Wet tyres are easily cut by rocks on the river bed. Dont change gear, as the sudden loss of momentum when pressing the clutch will cause the wake that's in front of your vehicle to splash over the vehicle.

Drive slowly through water with the minimum of spray. At walking pace a bow-wave will be formed, dipping down just behind the bumper area and keeping water away from the fan.

It is suggested to secure a tow rope to your vehicle before it enters the water. It will reduce the time that the stuck vehicle will be in the water. Remember, if your vehicle stalls, don’t try to start it.

Instead tow the vehicle out, remove the air filter and check for water. If the filter is wet, remove the spark/glow plugs and turn the engine over on the starter to remove any water.

Once you're complete your water crossing you should inspect the engine air filters. To get rid of the water that may have been sucked in through the breather valves, remove the drain plugs. You should also check the engine, axel and gearbox oil as soon as possible. If you notice that the oil is a slightly milky colour then that is your que that water is present. You'll need to drain the oil, flush it out with fresh oil or engine flush, and replace with new clean oil.

Use your common sense, examine your surroundings, and have fun!