Do I need a snorkel?

Espy, did the Cape last 2 years (2 months each time), first without a snorkel and then with one (airflow).
Was towards end of dry both times and found deeper water first time when I didnt have snorkel. I didnt need the snorkel either time. Thats not to say I wont need it this year (Cape again)
Depends when you go up there, dry or wet.
Airflow work aswell as the others.
Personally I would (and did) go with a snorkel just to be a bit safer.
Phill

The police use a particular snorkel. What are the differences and why?

I am interested to find out why the police design needs to ensure that rain/spray from the front of the vehicle is not taken into the snorkel , but other aftermarket designs don't seem to worry about that problem. Also, does the police one have a Donaldson or siimilar filter?

Is it worthwhile making sure that the unit chosen will accept a pre-filter like the Donaldson? What unit would suit a 4.2 TD and the V8?

I hope this adds to the original query. Thanks.

EV700

The OTL can be done without a snorkel.

But I'm glad I had one when I got bogged in Nolan's brook.

The guy in the 100 series V8 who got bogged 10 minutes before me was not happy, because when the water started seeping into his nice new car he restarted the engine and put a rod through the side of the block.

Depends when you go and how wet it has been. Nolan's brook is often the deepest. Get out and walk the crossing. Usually if you go to the right hand it is much shallower. LHS has some sharp rocks if I remember correctly. Most people without snorkel get into trouble because they just plunge on in to each crossing because the last 5 only had a few inches of water. Do you need a snorkel, not usually. Depends if you want to risk being forced off the track because the water is a few inches too deep. If you have the dosh get a snorkel why stuff part of a trip that you may only do once.

Steve

Hi The Esplanade

In my opinion snorkel's are a necessary item on a 4wd, Not only for water xings but cleaner air intake as well.

I've put the safari snorkel on my trucks, I did 2 of them myself it takes about 2 hours.

The bigger problem would be water the xings, I have see many people come undone by xing water ways the wrong way.

I've seen some pics on some of the members my rig, that show people ploughing into water flat out to get the wow factor, In my opinion water xings can done in 2 ways the right way or the extremely expensive way.

The right way is to first walk the said xing to define the following (1) Depth (2) check underling surface, With a petrol it is a good idea to put a cover across the grill eg an old air bed, then approach the xing slowly and then drive across slowly using the least amount of revs as possible.

The extreemly expensive way is to go hard at the xing the reason being is, the risk of stalling the engine, stalling or turning the egine off once the exhaust is under the water, will suck water back into the engine and when you try to start it, it could possibly hydraulic the motor.

Another problem is when the engine bay fills with water and you increase revs the plastic fan blades flex forward into the radiator, I've seen resently a TD 100 series do this and the repair cost was over $2000.

Cheers Steve.

Certainly not required during the dry season although additional precautions like walking the creek & fitting a tarp may be required on a few of the deeper crossings after rain. If this is a one off trip I would suggest not fitting a snorkel but if you intend to do further deep crossings on future runs then it would be good value. Most who get water in the engine do so as they drive the creeks without a proper look. You must remember snorkels weren't even available for most vehicles back in the 80's yet they still got up to the cape. On an early trip we even had 2 Subaru's drive unassisted through all the creeks with nothing more than a tarp & a can of CRC.
Cheers Craig.............

I paid $600 to have an Airtec snorkel fitted to my 01 Jack before doing the Cape last June. I got stuck while crossing the Normanby River on Battlecamp Rd going into Lakefield. The cruise control went missing, as did the engine oil pressure gauge. Since we were towing a camper trailer I decided to skip the OTL. By the time we got back to Cairns I had to have the air con compressor clutch bearing replaced ($500). Over the following few months I had the starter motor rebuilt ($250) and had to replace the front wheel bearings ($120). The water I got stuck in was deep enough to come into the cabin, but I doubt it would have entered the air intake. Still, as some say, better to be safe. Enjoy. Tha Cape is great. Rob.

You will be doing some water crossings of varying depths as well so you not only need to consider a snorkel by diff breather extensions as well. Seems that everyone focuses on snorkels to allow the engine to breath easier in dust and water but often the diffs are forgotten and it is there that the highest probability of water ingress and subsequent failure is. No real difference between the two major brands with the Donaldson being really useful for "constant" running in very dusty conditions. But if you are not a regular off-roader in dust then it is not a necessary option.

As well if you are going to be crossing bonnet deep water then you will also want to consider the common sense preparations including preventing the viscous fan from spinning when in water and subsequently cutting out the radiator core. Simple solution is to restrain the fan just prior to entering the water and then remembering to remove it after the crossing

Regards

RobA

As has been mentioned a few vehicles suffered engine damage from water last year while we were up there. I put a fan blade through the radiator just before Twin Falls on a crossing that was not very deep and nursed the vehicle to Bamaga however thats a different story. I did blind up for Nolans though.

Steve T,
I did it on the OTL just before Twin Falls.

I reckon the cleaner air theory is load of garbage, but when you need a snorkel for water crossing ..... you really need a snorkel!

It would be a shame to ruin your trip by being ill prepared.

As far as brands go, Safari are probably the best finished, Airtek have an inefficient air ram & Airflow are very good value with a good ram.

When I was up the cape last year two LC100 V8's smashed through without snorkels, albiet with water blinds, all the way to the tip. Personally I would spend the extra dough as the cape is unforgiving and it is an EFI petrol motor. The cost of rebuilding one of those relatively high tech V8's would easily outwiegh a snorkel, as well the added security of a higher air intake for the dust is a deciding factor for me.

Having a squiz in the ARB catalouge (which just happened to be laying around) had a LC100 V8 snort at $613 (fitted) is worth the dosh.

Just my humble 3.5 cents worth.