Joseph Baz replied:

Peter,yesterday i was given by A.R.B a new price list for W.A and the Safari snorkel(ss185HF) is quoted at 506-00 incl fitting and GST,tell you suppliers to sharpen the pencil,
foam filters are very good ,but the original is washable and readily avail from 230 dealers Aust wide
Cheers
Joe

Joe McDermott replied:

Peter - you obviously have already realised that the snorkels main use is to source clean(er) air from what is hopefully a less dusty part of the atmosphere. Keeping the air source above water level is normally a lower priority and I suspect that you would not be fording anything much deeper than 30cms with a caravan anyway !

So, if you are never going to be travelling dusty roads or deep fords the snorkel is not needed.

Foam air filters - This is more of an economics choice than anything, although the relative efficiencies are worth looking at.
Efficiency - Oiled foam filters will trap particulate matter as efficiently and a paper filter, but will retain that efficiency level for longer than paper filters and generally will flow more air as well.
Economics - Oiled air filters are re-useable and so save on the costs of replacing the paper filter every service. They are also user serviceable on trips, so if you do come across very dusty conditions, you can keep your filtration system up to spec much more effectively. As they tend to flow more air than a paper filter they can also keep up with engine demands more easily and a marginal improvement in consumption may be the result.
So, are foam filters worth it ? If you keep you 4WD for long enough to make the investment pay for itself in the cost of paper filters not used then Yes. Or if you are prepared to keep an eye on the filter condition and clean and re-oil as necessary then Yes as the engine will be breathing cleaner air and more of it.
Personally, I have fitted the foam Finer Filter to my truck, but I havent (yet) fitted a snorkel. However, with a Cape York trip planned for winter 2002 I will be fitting one.

William replied:

IF finer filters are so good... Why dont earth moving machinery use it???
There is a lot more filtering area in a paper filter (once you unfold it) than in a finer filter.....

George replied:

Not knowing the setup of a Prado I can only comment on my experience. My org. Toyota set up was very good with cyclonic spinner built into the guard and with a tarp across the front you could ford quite deep water. (over the bonnet in fact) I own a 80 series diesel and have fitted a sorkel and what was a quite vehicle is now very noisy, with the roar of intake noise. As for clean air, it picks up more rubbish and dust than before. Would I fit one agian ----- No Way. Spend your money on something practical.

Jim Sutton replied:

Snorkels are worth fitting if you are intending to drive through deep water. Prodos are pretty good waders when compared to other similar vehicals. You can also fit a precleaner to the top of the snorkel for very dusty conditions, however my experience with precleaners is that they effect your fluel consumption when travelling fast on highways. DO NOT fit a foam type air filter stay with Mr Toyotas paper element. (when foam filters become ladden with dust they are prone to beeing sucked inwards which creates a gap that uncleaned air can flow straight to your engine.)

John Wood replied:

Peter I have a 1992 3.0 litre petrol GQ Patrol, no power house for sure. I had used a foam air filter for 6 years or so and recently decided to replace it as it was starting to deteriorate. While waiting for new foam elements to arrive I replaced it with the standard Nissan paper filter. Suddenly the Patrol gained a new lease of life, smoother, better performance, cooler running and better fuel consumption. I thought that this was possibly due to the fact that the old foam filters were cactus . When I fitted the new foam elements the performance gains went away. I refitted the paper filter and the gains re-appeared. I now believe that the foam filter was strangling my engine. This may not be true for all engines or air cleaners but it sure was with mine. I now run with the paper filter and would only contemplate using the foam filter for an extremely dusty section of a trip. It is simple to take both filters with you and change in the field.

stephen mills replied:

I have a finer filter fitted and would swear that I use a lot more diesel and no increase in performance. I fitted it because the paper one blocked on a long trip and thought that a re cleanable one would be good- sales pitch and all that!
sorry will be throwing it out before next trip!
I have an 80 series diesel Toyota
steve