Do I need a snorkel?

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 09:04
ThreadID: 44485 Views:3728 Replies:12 FollowUps:18
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I have a 03 V8 LC100 and am looking to go to the Cape either this year or next.
Do I need to get a snorkel for the OTL?
If so, what one is best? Safari, Airtek or even a Airflow. ( Found a site today selling these)
Any ideas would be great.
Regards
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Reply By: Ford Rodeo - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 09:27

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 09:27
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
AnswerID: 234413

Follow Up By: The Esplanade - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 10:09

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 10:09
Thanks forthe reply.
The airflow seem quite a bit cheaper than the other two. They look a bit like a airtek.
The safari needs the blinker assembly to be shifted as well on LC100's.
regards
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Reply By: ev700 - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 09:53

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 09:53
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
AnswerID: 234422

Reply By: Gerhardp1 - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 10:11

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 10:11
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.

AnswerID: 234425

Follow Up By: The Esplanade - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 11:41

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 11:41
Apparently around 10+ cars last year were destroyed at Nolans Brook. Is there a way to do the OTL without going through Nolan's? Can it be bypassed?
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Follow Up By: Member - Ross H (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 11:48

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 11:48
Just after Sam creek you can exit back onto the bypass road that way you can miss the worst of the corro's and still take in fruitbat and twin falls
regards ross
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Follow Up By: Gerhardp1 - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 12:03

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 12:03
Even though I got bogged in the Brook (I had a camper trailer on the back) I would do it again.

What would I change? - I'd stay further to the right (northbound), I'd have a snatch strap already attached ready for a quick hookup and tow at the first sign of bogging, and I'd keep all the windows closed to retard the water ingress a bit.

We assisted an old shorty Pajero without snorkel heading south - put on a blind, snatch strap connected - he drove fine till he hit the deep bit so he cut the engine and we hooked up the strap and pulled him through. The only problem was a bit of water had splashed over his distributor cap and leads (remember them?) which was cured with a good spray of CRC.

If you don't want to put a snorkel on, you can still get through with help (which we found was always available), but I'd still recommend fitting one for the extra security of being able to apply drive to help get out. Nolan's is sandy and easier to get pulled out of than a muddy bog.
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Reply By: Steve63 - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12
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
AnswerID: 234447

Reply By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 13:13

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 13:13
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.
AnswerID: 234462

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 16:41

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 16:41
Hi Steve, Could you please tell me how you can suck water into an egine through the exhaust ?
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Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 16:55

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 16:55
Its called back pressure.

Cheers Steve.
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Follow Up By: Grungle - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:13

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:13
What about on a turbo diesel?

Regards
David
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Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:25

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:25
Hey Grungle

I don't know much about turbo diesels, so I don't know.

I could however tell you a way to find out.

Cheers Steve.
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Follow Up By: donks1 - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:46

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:46
when we were up there last year a brand new cruiser dived into nolan's too quick and sent a wave of water straight down the snorkel..

result was a bent con rod, a boat ride home and guessing at about $10,000 repair bill.... maybe more.

not a happy camper

donks
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Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:50

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:50
Back pressure cause water to be sucked into the cylinders through the exhaust pipe !

It just can't happen !
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Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:50

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:50
That would be the WOW factor.

Or as I said above the Extremely Expensive Factor.

Cheers Steve.
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Follow Up By: donks1 - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:58

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:58
hey kiwi

next time you have the exhaust outlet under water, turn the engine off, and then restart it. wait for the bang.... believe me it can

donks
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Reply By: Crackles - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 16:43

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 16:43
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.............
AnswerID: 234517

Reply By: Robbg - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 17:38

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 17:38
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.

AnswerID: 234534

Reply By: RobAck - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:04

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:04
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
AnswerID: 234552

Reply By: Richard W (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:27

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:27
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.
AnswerID: 234561

Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:38

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:38
Hey Richard

Would your car be the one that I saw at Mobil Jabiru getting the 2+ grand radiator fix I have mentioned above?

Steve.
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Follow Up By: donks1 - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:50

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:50
saw the same thing with a disco just south of archer river. when we left they were waiting for a plane to deliver parts from sydney

donks
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Reply By: Richard W (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:57

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:57
Steve T,
I did it on the OTL just before Twin Falls.
AnswerID: 234572

Reply By: Shaker - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:57

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 19:57
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.
AnswerID: 234573

Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 20:11

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 20:11
Hey Shaker

I ran 1 of my 100 series without a snorkel for a year before I put a snorkel on, Trust me it does help with cleaner air if only a little bit.

Steve.
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Follow Up By: The Esplanade - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 21:36

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 21:36
I have been told that in dusty conditions other than running a Donaldson you are better to run a standard system than a snorkel.
Thanks for all the replies.
Extended diff breathers are a must.
Regards
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FollowupID: 495535

Follow Up By: David N. - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 12:49

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 12:49
Two of us with identical vehicles did extensive dirt miles last year, one with snorkel, one without.
HUGE difference in aircleaner dust- the snorkel was waaaay better.
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Reply By: BennyGU - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 23:44

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 23:44
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.
AnswerID: 234641

Follow Up By: BennyGU - Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 23:46

Thursday, Apr 19, 2007 at 23:46
Also I do have the Safari on the GU 2.8 TD.
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