Rain into snorkel

G'day Keith,

The wet airstream goes into the airbox before the air filter where the water falls to a drain equipped with a 1-way valve of some kind (so that if the airbox is immersed, eg in a water crossing, the water can't get into the airbox and fill it.)

I have heard that some vehicles have only a drain hole and no one way valve.

On my Prado it's a rubber valve, I believe referred to as a duck-bill valve. They should be regularly inspected and cleaned at filter replacement time as the opening can get jammed open with rubbish. Something that most service departments ignore.

Cheers

I have been examining the whole snorkel thing Keith as I am trying to design a better system.

While at first they appear to have some advantages, sort of like speed cameras, when
you look at the total picture things are not quite so black and white.

My petrol patrol - and probably most others have a much more sophisticated water management system than you imagine and while rated to 700mm water they will actually take a pulse input water level of over a metre.

My Patrols airbox for instant spins the air from inlet and at bottom of the airbox is a rubber fitting that essentially drops water.
Its effectivily the one way valve Frank mentioned above.
It also has a plastic moulded pipe from the mudguard to the air inlet which has a 1Lt cavity below it so that the heavier than air water entering is diverted to this cavity and further prevents water
getting to airbox.

So even if a snorkel has inadequate water outlets then water is trapped by cars system.

However from what I have seen of snorkel installations the fitting from snorkel into cars air inlet is often not sealed and I suspect that what really happens is that water can leak out and hence will not build up - could this be a good thing ?

The question to be sure of is that if your snorkel is made water tight - then you had
better be sure of the downstream water removal.

Attached is a picture of Patrol airbox showing a rubber fitting at base to dump water post snorkel.

Second picture is a chance photo of Super Patrol just as sand spun up from its front wheel is about to enter snorkel.

The car would have been better off with a standard inlet.

The snorkel head has drains, the water is forced to the back of the head and runs out of those drains.

see here

http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Accessories/Snorkel.aspx

So long as you regularly clean the dead bugs , leaves etc out of the drains.
Regards Philip A

Thanks to all. I knew it was a dumb question!
Keith

KeithB
All that water which goes into a properly designed and effective snorkel head is/should be separated from the air and air should be the only stuff going down into the airbox. The water is gathered and exits through slots in the snorkel head.

Some are possibly better than others at removing water from the airstream. Of course the guarantee will always protect you anyway, they always do don't they?

Ross M

The design eliminates most of the water, depending on which manufacturer you get that is.

This is how the Safari head is supposed to work. I have driven in some serious rain and it seems to work. Air box is always dry, which is a good thing as the drain hole is plugged with sealant.

Not dumb at all Keith. For those that don't know...well now they know how they work.
In 35 years since the aframe pillar snorkel was first patented, and have used since then, I have never had water from rain cause any issues....even in the heaviest rain it's minuscule.
Brett...

Yes Keith the same thought crossed my mind. I fitted a slightly smaller sleeve inside the main part of the inlet pipe so it sat up about 15mm above the top of the inlet pipe without the top cap. When I fitted the top part I made sure that the any water that drained from the top part finished up in the grove formed by the external surface of the sleeve and the inside of the top part The water then drained out of small holes in the top part to outside and did not go down the pipe I hope you can understand the description of my modification but it work extremely well.
Where dust is a problem I fit an oiled foam boot over the air inlet of the snorkel. (Available from Autobarn) You would be amazed how dirty the oiled filter gets.
Cheers

An interesting post with some good responses. I live in a desert so lots of rain isn't an issue for me but if I were to travel through heavy rain, what would be the problem with turning the snorkle head around 180 degrees if possible (I have a Safari so I could) or does the air intake rely on air being rammed down the pipe. I also thought that the oil filter would be benificial in keeping out the water as well.
Cheers
Des