Is this one of you lot pulling an Audi out of a ford?

wrote:

If the wadding depth is restricted by the gearbox/axle breathers on a standard jimny does this mean there is no point in fitting a snorkle unless you do the breathers as well?  I am gussing the air inlet is higher than 450mm on a standard car?

Robin

There is a point, but it is more complex. A raised air intake has advantages in sandy and dusty environments too. So it isn't always about water wading.

Also, if you drive sensibly through water you should create a bow wave, which will significantly lower the water level over some components. But depending on where you air intake is, it could still be vulnerable if you dip the entire nose under the water when entering it, such as going down a slope.

For water wading there may well be other things to consider aside from a raised air intake too, such as if the airbox is sealed and other items like wading plugs in the bell housing.

However, at the end of the day. If you end up going through some water that is deeper than planned, a raised intake is only going to be a good thing. You can always flush the diff oil at a later date. But hyrolocking your engine could wreck it in short order.

Bow wave, note how much lower the water level is behind the front wheels.

Now here’s a good question. I would say that snorkel head is facing the wrong way for a dusty environment and should be facing backwards so the dust doesn’t go into it.

jlines wrote: ow here’s a good question. I would say that snorkel head is facing the wrong way for a dusty environment and should be facing backwards so the dust doesn’t go into it.

I would tend to agree. Although for really dusty environments you can run a different heads that will prevent more dust ingress. But maybe at a cost of air flow.



I believe in places like Oz they also sell snorkel socks for dusty conditions.

The subject of snorkels for use in dusty conditions came up when a friend in Australia was speccing up a new ute to use on his sheep station. Roo bar? Check. Tray back? Check. Steel wheels and skinny tyres? Check. Snorkel?... 
There's no deep water on the station. A river runs through the middle of it, but it only flows for a week or 2 a year and you'd never attempt to drive through it. The rest of the time its dry sand.
Dust? I put it to him that the only time you drive in a cloud of dust is when following another vehicle, and in this situation the whole car is in dust, from top to bottom. When you drive solo the whole front of the car is travelling in clean air. So the height of the intake has little to no affect on the ingestion of dust. You're either driving in dust or your not. I persuaded him not to put a snorkel on his ute. That was 14 years ago, he still has the ute and still doesn't have a snorkel on it.
The Jimny draws air in behind the headlights. This area always seems to stay fairly clean, as do the air filters. But being near the front of the car does put it more at risk of submersion.

The question I tend to ask is would you buy a second hand vehicle with a raised air intake and be happy to believe the previous owner was keeping up the additional maintenance required from dunking the car eg all fluids inspected and replaced, seals and bearings inspected and replaced because I know I wouldn't. I do all required maintenance but I don't enjoy doing it especially laid on my back. I also believe most people are not even that diligent most will just drive through the water, be happy it didn't die and carry on.