Yes it can, but suck water into the intake and your buying a new engine, that being said I would still prefer a diesel.

 

Um, H2O does not compress. I've personally replaced a few engines (when I was a Tech, none were mine) due to bent OR shattered connecting rods. Most of the time the customer stated "I was just idling thru some water, not even touching the throttle."

Count yourself lucky if you have hydrolocked a petrol engine and recovered it only by pulling the plugs and drying it out.

I would follow what the owner's manual says and use common sense with water crossings.

Most of all, when you go on your fishing trip: TAKE AND SHARE PICTURES!!! And have fun!!

 

Is the top of the tires really a foolproof "safety" level?

 

NO!
You can still flood the engine, if you drive though any deep water wrong you are toast, slow and steady is the key, stop and yoru done, back up your done.
The tops of the tires is a good general rule, less risk but you will always have some risk.
Stop, shift the t-case into low, start slow and speed up just fast enough to keep moving, if the water is deep then you must go fast enough to make a small bow wake like in my video, to small a bow wake and you drown the engine, to big and the water can wash over the hood and flood the cabin.
The general rule of off roading is to drive as slow as possible but as fast as nessaccary.
And always be in the lowest possible gear to give you the max power and to help control speed if you come to a steep hill that you must go down.

 

Thanks for all the input, the 'Electronic Depth Control' was my concern.

Thanks

will take pix and (try) to post

Robert