If you’re not a 4×4 owner, when you hear the term “snorkel” your mind probably immediately drifts to images of coral reefs. But for 4×4 owners, it means one of the most inexpensive modifications you can make to your 4×4 and one that could significantly increase its lifespan, particularly if you do a lot of off-roading and long-distance driving. They look pretty cool too, of course.
Why install a snorkel?
A snorkel exists to quite literally elevate your vehicle’s air intake, which not only mitigates the impact of dust and water on the engine but takes in more fresh air to keep the engine cool. It works by moving the intake further away from the ground, where your vehicle will be kicking up plumes of dust and dirt. The raised intake also reduces the likelihood of water finding its way into your engine when crossing rivers and other shallow bodies of water.
Snorkel materials
4×4 snorkels will be engineered from a range of materials. The most common material used in commercial snorkels is Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), which is both durable and UV resistant, so you won’t see its colour fading over time, even if it’s regularly exposed to heavy sunlight. You might also find snorkels built from PVC piping. These are cheap and usually DIY builds that lack the affordability of their more expensive counterparts.
Snorkels can also be built from either stainless steel or mild steel, which is a lower-cost version of the former that looks comparable but doesn’t offer quite the same durability. Mild steel, however, is very prone to rust if exposed to the elements regularly. Stainless steel is perhaps the most durable option available and also the most expensive. They do, however, generate a lot more engine sound than other options, leading to a much louder driving experience.
Different types of snorkel heads explained
The head is the part of the snorkel where all potential contaminants are separated from the air before it enters the snorkel itself. The two most common types of snorkel heads are Air Ram heads and Vortex (or Cyclone) heads.
Air Ram – other known simply as standard head, this head lets the air ‘ram’ into the snorkel, as the name implies. The contaminants are then blasted against the side of the snorkel head and fall into the snorkel itself. They are then filtered through small vents in the snorkel body. These types of heads can face either forwards or backwards.
Vortex/Cyclone – The head you’re going to be looking for if you regularly drive in very harsh conditions, vortex heads utilise centrifugal force to separate the contaminants from the air. A strong gust is pushed up through blades that encourage circular movement. This pushes contaminants out and takes air in. It’s generally a more expensive option but is particularly useful for farmers or desert drivers. The Donaldson Cyclone and Topspin are among our top sellers and with good reason.
Image: myphotobank.com.au / Shutterstock.com
