Are you planning to hit the offroad tracks and do some adventure touring in your 4WD vehicle? Of course you are, that’s what it’s all about, right? The thing to remember is it’s not just the rocks and dirt, you have water hazards to contend with as well, and a lot of the most exciting destinations lie on the far side of ponds, streams, puddles, and rivers! But, if you aren’t prepared to get wet you will be in for some real heartache if your engine takes on water, when that happens the fun is over!
Fortunately, there is a way to turn your mighty 4WD into an amphibian with stainless snorkels that will draw in air from high above the mud, muck, and water so you can cruise through those mountain streams and bogs in style! Having your offroad beast outfitted with a snorkel doesn’t make it a submarine, but it will usually get you to the other side of the river!
Snorkels aren’t just about the water, here are some more benefits of using a snorkel on Your 4WD!
Cold Air Intake – Colder air coming from above the vehicle is denser, meaning that there is more oxygen content in the same volume which will allow for stronger combustion. The air isn’t passing through the radiator or engine bay so it’s not being heated before entering the airbox- pretty cool, right?
Increased Airflow – Having a snorkel will greatly increase the available airflow into the airbox because there isn’t any constriction point and there’s freely available air up where the air enters the snorkel. This increased airflow will make a big difference, especially if you’re planning to custom tune your vehicle by putting in oversized injectors and such. The snorkel will ensure there will be enough airflow to meet the needs of the increased fuel.
Pre-Filter Option – Snorkels are pretty good at keeping out dust on their own thanks to their elevation, but if you’re going to be driving through some major desert dust having a pre-filter installed might be worthwhile. Your snorkel provides you with that option, you can put a foam-type filter, like those Uni Filters on dirt bikes, right over the top of the snorkel- no more dust in your airbox!
Driving Through Water – This is the main event, the reason you decided to install a snorkel in the first place! While you can manage some shallow river crossings without a snorkel, even when the water is flowing over your windscreen and your 4WD is starting to float sideways, your engine might keep running just fine, but why change it when there is such a simple solution available? Water entering your hot engine will wreak havoc, and if you are crossing a flowing river during a total loss of power it will turn your expensive 4WD vehicle into driftwood that might make it to the other side, but will more likely be washed away downstream!
Don’t take that chance! Keep that water out with a snorkel!
