Equipment Tests > Air Intakes

There are a few considerations for buying a snorkel set-up. The obvious question is whether you plan to go off-road where you may need to cross water. Not so obvious is the chance there could be water where you're not expecting it. Heading inland towards our great deserts, for example, may seem like the least likely opportunity to cross any water. But with the heavy rains that have been experienced in recent years, you may find roads deep under water and, if not impassible, they will probably require a good air intake system such as a snorkel to safely get through. The same applies to river crossings - you may think the areas you plan to drive in have only shallow water crossings, but rain can quickly raise the level of the water. A snorkel is cheap insurance. Another strong argument for fitting a snorkel for off-road use applies to certain vehicles that have poorly designed air intakes. Some Jeep Cherokee and Toyota HiLux models, for example, are known for their less than perfect air intake protection for water crossings.

But people who never cross water in their 4WD may still want to consider a snorkel - it's a good way of ensuring your engine gets cleaner air. Because it is positioned high up on the vehicle's body, the snorkel intake gets cooler air than an in-guard or engine bay air intake. And because it is placed so high, it is in an air stream less dusty than a standard intake position. Some snorkel manufacturers argue the cooler air means more power, better efficiency - which is a hard theory to argue with - but in practice the gains, if any, are minimal. Keep in mind that a certain snorkel might be the right design to fit your 4WD but not your model. Make sure that the snorkel has been airflow tested for your particular engine - a turbo-diesel can require more than 40 percent more air than a petrol engine. It also pays to look closely at how the connections are designed before a snorkel is fitted - if it looks and feels as if it has loose connections then you could risk dust and water ingress.

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Though the air intake looks more exposed on a snorkel, their manufacturers say no. Even in a tropical rain storm, they say, only a tiny volume of the impact moisture will enter the snorkel. Fitting a snorkel isn't as easy as fitting a new air filter. It takes about two hours, and involves cutting a large hole though the guard and attaching the snorkel to the guard and A-pillar. Though you could remove the snorkel to sell or transfer to a new vehicle when you sell your 4WD and get a panel beater to repair the holes, it is worth pricing a new snorkel first - it may end up not costing any more than the repair and they can add resale value to the vehicle. Whatever your choice, make the right one for your usage and your 4WD will last longer, and give you better performance and economy in the bargain.

 

 

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