Raised Air Intake Snorkels. Do they work? 

this only proves one thing. always be the car Infront.

Unless you are constantly going through DEEP river crossings in your 4x4 don't even bother to fit one. Even on the highway they suck in tons of crud, & much more that the standard air intake does. No matter what anyone says, they do nothing for performance because you still have the same size tubes running from your air cleaner to Turbo etc. But like everything that is related to 4x4's these days since Joe the suburban Weekend warrior started throwing away his cash hand over fist just to be the same or preferably better than his neighbor these stories about snorkels and other add-ons being a "Must Have" will continue to circulate. Most of them only say it to justify their purchase anyway, and in reality they know nothing about what they are talking about. Plus everything is 3 to 4 times more expensive than it should be. It's all mass produced in Asia for a pittance, even your Big name brands that come with a warranty (that you have already paid for in the purchase price) that is why you pay the big bucks, & not because these products are that much better. You know that 90% of money spent on upgrading 4x4's is just wasted money and their 4x4 & add-ons are hardly ever used for what they where purchased for. But ARB & the others absolutely love you for doing it.

1. Driving in front of the convoy / leaving enough space is way more significant to avoid a dusty air filter 2. This test should have been done between two HZJ75/78 troopies with the same air box design.

1) Getting the air intake out of the wheel arch or guard and up higher is always better. 2) This was a fair test because it compared a vehicle with an air intake up high outside and one with the air intake as standard inside the guard / wheel arch. If this test was 2 Pajero's and one had the standard air intake in the guard and the other outside higher up the result would have been the same irrespective of which was the lead vehicle. 3) One piece Safari Snorkels are the international benchmark standard and when fitted correctly offer a dust proof, water proof seal which provides clean air. 4) The small amount of dust sucked into a raised air intake is nothing compared to one inside the wheel arch. 5) To prevent any dust getting in your air intake use a standard Donaldson Pre-Cleaner. We've used them for years and they work great. 6) It's a myth that you get more horse power from an engine with a raised air intake such as a Safari Snorkel. The difference in temperature between air in a guard and air going into a snorkel head is negligible. It's also a myth that forcing air into a raised air intake gives you more power. Air still causes friction going around all those corners ! A 4wd (or traktor for that matter) is not an aeroplane - there is no co-efficient of flight. For a vehicle the air temperature (compared to a non-raised intake vehicle) is not worth considering. Rarely does a Land cruiser need to perform weight and balance sheets before take off. Your engine won't run any cooler or use less fuel because you fit a Snorkel. You simply end up with a cleaner filter and an engine that lasts longer. 7) If your vehicle has a 2 piece factory snorkel then you can make it better by sealing the joints with silicon or sikaflex. 8) Before any cross country trip you should check your entire air intake system and find any eaks where water and dust can get through and seal them properly. Check and tighten all screws and bolts too. 9) Rain and water entering a properly installed Snorkel is diverted and has no effect on the air intake system nor the engine. 10) We fit Safari Snorkels to reduce dust into the filter and potentially the engine. 11) Driving through deep water is not a problem with a Safari Snorkel.

Test is mute as the vehicle without snorkel was behind and got al lthe dust right in the face, the vehicle with snorkel should be behind if it should be a proper test or equal time behind

A snorkel is not a desert filter in itself. The snorkel is used to raise the ground level at which the air is taken in, to avoid water getting into the engine and cause a hydraulic lock, when passing flooded areas. A hydraulic lock will instantly destroy the engine on one single pistonstroke, because fluids can not be compressed, thereby presenting a stonehard decrease in pistonstroke. The conrod will instantly snap and the piston will be squashed. Desert filters are special filters to cope with and prevent high levels of hard matters (dust) in the intake air reaching the engine. These filters usually have a bowl on top at the intake (glass or steel) combined with a turbo or multifan acting filter. The turbo acting filter slings the light air mass outwards to the intake portings in the filter, while heavier foreign matters stay in the completely calm center of the mini tornado created by the turbo. From here it calmly sinks down to the bottom of the bowl.

I have plenty experience of desert and dirt road driving. Yes I can confirm a raised air intake makes huge difference. Try it for yourself first before making comments.

This taught me absolutely nothing about snorkel intakes.

Couldn't agree more - noticed a significant reduction in dust and grit in the air cleaner after having a snorkel installed on a LR 110. Good investment.

To be honest, a safari brand snorkel will help with convoy dust, but in the conditions driven in this video it's pretty ridiculous that they didn't fit a Donaldson Filter head. Sometimes 4x4 media leave a little to be desired when informing the public.

$8000 engine rebuild due to sucking in water or $300 snorkel which has the benefit of cold air intake ??

I always thought snorkels were for going through deeper water :D

lol , that a bit off for the purpose of a snorkel to compare a dust particles, The primary purpose is to cross water obstacles and secondary to get a cold air in and you know it . As for your experiment if you were driving behind the car that spitting the dust , the snorkel would of caught a much more dust. Plus the car behind you have a different filtration system . in your truck there is a small canister on the bottom on the filter box ya look there can you please check that how much dust in there? just FYI no hard feeling. ta-ta.

Snorkel, imo, is always a must when it comes to serious off-roading or overland. Why even have diff or trans breathers if you don't protect your precious engine? From not only water, but heat while on pavement, and dust.. And go further with precleaner heads if you tend to catch leaves or bugs with the classic ram head. Worth every penny. Go for the real deal, not the cheap unknown plastics. Nothing, but Safari on all my rigs.

Often snorkels here are turned backwards to avoid sucking in / having the dust forced into the intake. I wonder if that makes any difference?

Andrew, we need a new version of this video. We need to know if your opinion has changed or stayed the same.

Was the filter for the snorkel not beat clean twise?

Are they worth getting in UK where we dont get dust/sand? Also, will it improve MPG or performance out of a Hilux?

Actually when travelling behind another car, unless you’re tailgating it, the dust plume will be as thick from above your roof down to ground level. Dust gets pulled up higher by the suction from rear of your car. This has been the case on any slow speed dry dirt track I’ve followed on where there’s no air flow & it’s a closed in track or open, and also hi speed open track following at a safe enough distance plus and the breeze hasn’t blown the dust out of your path. Don’t believe the marketing hype of all the magical things snorkels can do. No power increase, no improved fuel economy for the non-high performance engines 4wds are fitted with. Provided they’re sealed to your air filter box properly, they raise the air in take level for safer water crossings and that’s it. Nothing more and nothing less. They do make your 4wd look better. That’s one more thing I guess.

Many thanks for your informative video. I'd be very grateful for your opinion on a cool air intake modification I'm thinking of making. I have a Hilux SW4 diesel 2008. The air filter is like a drum on the right and it receives air from under the wheel arch, which, even if the ill-fitting plastic liner with its fragile fasteners provided reasonable protection from dirt and rain thrown up by the wheel, I'd like to shift the air intake to inside the engine bay at the coolest, most protected spot. My idea is to block the orginal entry tube and fit another of the same diameter either forward to just behind the headlamp or at the right back corner of the engine compartment. Can you tell me which would be the cooler position and least likely to suck in dust and rain. Incidentally, I'm againt schnorkels for varios reasons, although they do look "sexy". I'd be extremely grateful for your expert advice on this project.

Andrew this is a old video...I dont know if you watch this comment What do you think about snorkels in high altitude??? . I live in Atacama desert and going trips to 4500 or more meters above sea level The long distance between the raise air intake and the filter... Should the engine suffer in presence of less oxygen??

not bad- but to really test how effective it is or isn't- you should use 2 identical vehicles- one with a snorkel one without. both vehicles using the same filter, the same engine, etc. Maybe the filter on the Mitsu is just that much better? who knows, maybe the Land Rover NOW has dirt laden oil- BUT we will never know....

David White agriculture tractors (part of Massey Fergussen probably absorbed into White by now) used a pre cleaner / filter on their diesel engines. Tractors are working in dusty dirty conditions always. The pre cleaner was a glass or plastic bulb with spinner vanes to spin the heaviest pieces out against the glass bulb before sending the air thru the air filter canister. The intake was located high on the hood at eye sight level. when you saw the bulb getting too full, you stop and knock it out. point being, if the top section of your snorkle is round, you could probably get a pre cleaner for low cost to attach up there. No wires or special fitting other than the hose clamp

A little more dust, the vehicle behind was showering in it.....crap

Nothing will ever replace the oil bath air filter of the Series Land Rovers .

Lol I thought those were for crossing streams!

I wonder what his definition of "similar conditions" is. Mine would be one vehicle goes ahead at least an hour before the other. I was surprised how little dust the vehicle behind picked up

Maybe not a fair test, but come on everyone we all know a snorkel is a worth while addition. No need to get up in arms!

Of course you want a raised air intake snorkel. But it would suck in at least as much in a cloud of dust as a factory set up. The snorkel is set up to negotiate water crossings. The OEM air intake is designed for balance in various environments. Air and dust have to make their way into the engine compartment in many vehicles, while others have a more direct "ram air" design. I am confident that some OEM designs would take in less dust following another vehicle than one with an after market raised air intake snorkel directly sucking in the dust cloud of the vehicle in front. " Mostly, the two vehicles were driving several kilometres apart." then: "There were vehicles in front of the Land Cruiser also. We were not the only vehicles on the trail." Um, all kilometers apart? Original set up may be better all around, as in rain and snow. Elementary my dear Andrew.

Just imagine how much better for intake if you use prefilter head on safari snorkel, ie 7 inch cyclonic head, so much better than ram head to prefilter out bugs, dust and water from driving in rain before they get to the filter in your air box.

Waterproof?

I had this question for all my life .... You answered it... Thank you

Unfortunately the test is not valid (as you pointed out yourself) you were the front car!

it is normal that the filter of the white 4x4 is filled ... it is behind the first 4x4 and picks up all the dust of the land cruiser

Hi Andrew, Ive been bouncing back and forth in my head, do i get Custom Snorkle or a genuine tradional snorkle from Safari? Which is better? Is one better then another based on Performance?

Car with the snorkel goes the next time, behind - then evaluate again.

Not similar conditions at all, one car leading the other following. I can tell you from my dirt bike riding experience the difference is massive.

if you want cleaner air why wouldn't you point the intake to the rear?

So the main use of a snorkel is to raise the air intake. Not filter desert dust otherwise there would be stuff all difference I could presume. Go through a creek crossing and see how far your car goes compared to old mates with the snorkel..

I have my intake turned backwards to reduce dust entry into my safari snorkel. I suspect any performance gains from having the ram facing forwards are negligible, at least on my LC80 turbo D.

Do you need one? no, does it look cool yes!

A lot but a lot more dusk!🤣

Is there snorkel kits for a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2.

Good point, snorkel helps because it higher, but if a car goes in front of you on a dusty road do your math.

those are new cars?

not quite fair since he was following, place him in the lead & then have a look at his

Snorkels are for deep water crossings that's what mine was fitted for on my landcruiser anyway. It didn't really help in any other way.

well, maybe if you banged up the first filter against a tire we could see a real comparison

could it be because these vehicles have the std air inlet inside the front mudguard? I followed a Toyota prado through 350km of dusty roads, his filter was full of dust, mine was almost clean. neither of us had a snorkel. So if your car has its air intake in the mudguard I guess you need a snorkel.

Perhaps this shows that the air filter on the non-snorkel vehicle was much more effective at trapping dust than the air filter on the vehicle with the snorkel. Surprisingly non-scientific demonstration.

So the only shot of the vehicles in the video was Andrew in front lol Why not show the vehicle without a snorkel in front?

If you had turned the head around facing backward you will see a lot less dust in it. Think about it and you will understand what I am saying

What was this supposed to prove? Be the lead car?

How not to clean your air filter

Hi Ronny, I’m a beginner. I just want to know as to what will happen if rain water gets in from snorkel intake? It is obvious that rain water will get in if the air intake is facing front. Will cheaper versions of such snorkels make problems?

A legitimate test would be wot two of the exact same vehivles doing same trail in exact conditions independently.

I think if the one with a snorkel was behind, it will collect same amount of dust

The height of the snorkel & the distance it sits away from the windscreen makes the most difference because that area is a very low pressure area on all vehicles.

So no big difference really. Colt was getting most of the dust.

he dust to air ratio is radically different for been in front, sorry but this test cant prove anything. If anyone is worried about dust in the snorkel they can try the sock that go on the intake which acts like a first filter.

I thought that water was supposed to come out

So let's say it does bring dust in side use car vacuum cleaner to auto clean that baby ASAP i just wanna know how the hell this doesn't bring water in on highway speed or very rainy day

If he drove infront of u you'd be screwed

just a stupid. why are snorkels are roof level?

OMG!! Its a miracle!! If your driving in front in clean air there is less dust ingress. Shut up and take my money.....😳

I want to cut a circle in my hood and bring the intake out of my car should I bolt something to cover it from rain or just leave it open cause I don’t drive my car in the rain I park it in my Apartments garage and take a bus

I dont think it was represented the right way first of all the vehicle were not the same brand so the air filter werent made the same way, second of all i cleaned my RAISED air filter AND ALL THE TUBING once and im down in canada so we have less dust than at there location the filter was clean but the tubing at the curves were pretty dusty got a say. Thats the main reason i cleaned it at the start cause i noticed a weaker air flow (thats how bad it was). so overall check the tubing to next time.....

Two different style cone filters ......

The only way to truly tell the difference is to run the same trucks, on the same trail, but switch the lead vehicle. Everything else is subject to speculation.

Well, he was trailing behind you though

Not exactly a fair test! The vehicle with no snorkel should have been in the front because of having no snorkel

The main reason for a snorkel is the engine to take cold air from higher than the engine bay area as driving slow most of the time when overlanding the engine takes hot air around even from under the fender.if installed properly it's good for water crossings

Through out just cleaning dust

dubious your right!!!

The second vehicle has alot more advanced air system, id expect it to catch more dust, plus it is the second vehicle even if there 1km behind they will still get heaps more dust.

You will need it if you have to cross a river.

The point of a snorkel is driving through water not dust

The f all dust really

BS, similar conditions.. try again..!

Why empty all of that on a WHITE CLEAN MAT

This proves nothing..

Pretty sure their used for water

duuuuuuuuuh.. obviously the guy behind has more dust.. stupid comparison.

bs. not a test, sales pitch

Why the fuck r u putting the dirt on a towel?

Wow. Not a very good test.

You learned nothing.The vehicle fitted with the snorkel wasn't driving through anywhere near as much dust as the vehicle without.PLUS, when driving through really dusty conditions the intake should be rotated 180 degrees

please redo the test as it was based pretty one sided. it didn't prove that the snorkel prevented dust. drive behind a vehicle for 6 days or whatnot then see how things look

What a stupid test

Similar condition my ass. Should have been 50/50 at least with this test leaning to the snorkel being behind more of the time. Results are flawed.

Leading versus following 👎🏼👎🏼

These must be the less scientific guys... your test proofs nothing, vehicles are not similar, exposure not the same... you wasted your time and mine

Worthless review

what a load of BS!

That's not what snorkel made for.