Snorkels, 90% cosmetic?
Discussion
I keep seeing Defenders - a few others, but mostly Defenders - with snorkels. I'm well aware of the purpose and usefulness of a snorkel, but a quick look at the vehicle in question: condition; age; tyres; driver etc would seem to suggest that at least 90% of the vehicles will never actually be in a situation that requires a snorkel. Seems a strange kind of fashion accessory to me, but are they becoming de rigeur??
Raised air intakes are one thing, snorkels are something entirely different.
Lifting the intake to roof level is an absolute must if venturing somewhere dusty as Land Rovers tend to create a cloud that hangs around at wheel arch level where the intake usually is.
Water is much heavier than dust so you'd need to almost submerge a Landy to get it to suck up some water, and there are other things that the water will kill long before it gets ingested.
In short, you need a raised intake if driving across dusty sand, or in to water.
I'd say 99% cosmetic in the UK.
Lifting the intake to roof level is an absolute must if venturing somewhere dusty as Land Rovers tend to create a cloud that hangs around at wheel arch level where the intake usually is.
Water is much heavier than dust so you'd need to almost submerge a Landy to get it to suck up some water, and there are other things that the water will kill long before it gets ingested.
In short, you need a raised intake if driving across dusty sand, or in to water.
I'd say 99% cosmetic in the UK.
Crossflow Kid said:
Raised air intakes are one thing, snorkels are something entirely different.
Lifting the intake to roof level is an absolute must if venturing somewhere dusty as Land Rovers tend to create a cloud that hangs around at wheel arch level where the intake usually is.
Water is much heavier than dust so you'd need to almost submerge a Landy to get it to suck up some water, and there are other things that the water will kill long before it gets ingested.
In short, you need a raised intake if driving across dusty sand, or in to water.
I'd say 99% cosmetic in the UK.
Quite.Lifting the intake to roof level is an absolute must if venturing somewhere dusty as Land Rovers tend to create a cloud that hangs around at wheel arch level where the intake usually is.
Water is much heavier than dust so you'd need to almost submerge a Landy to get it to suck up some water, and there are other things that the water will kill long before it gets ingested.
In short, you need a raised intake if driving across dusty sand, or in to water.
I'd say 99% cosmetic in the UK.
normalbloke said:
Can't speak for the defender boys,but my Mog has a factory fitted merc snorkel.I've had water over the bonnet to the bottom of the screen which is 7ft.Would it carry on without it?Who knows, but it seems to work for me.Oh, and the breathers are already taken care of.
Whilst I'm suitably impressed with your 'Mog and what you do with it ('Mogs do rock!), it's not all that relevant to the thread! As stated, I'm already well aware what snorkels are for, and that some vehicles do need them. My point was more to do with Defenders (and similar), fitted with snorkels, that are blatantly never going to need them, which I believe is most of them.Keep on rocking!
andy400 said:
normalbloke said:
Can't speak for the defender boys,but my Mog has a factory fitted merc snorkel.I've had water over the bonnet to the bottom of the screen which is 7ft.Would it carry on without it?Who knows, but it seems to work for me.Oh, and the breathers are already taken care of.
Whilst I'm suitably impressed with your 'Mog and what you do with it ('Mogs do rock!), it's not all that relevant to the thread! As stated, I'm already well aware what snorkels are for, and that some vehicles do need them. My point was more to do with Defenders (and similar), fitted with snorkels, that are blatantly never going to need them, which I believe is most of them.Keep on rocking!
normalbloke said:
andy400 said:
normalbloke said:
Can't speak for the defender boys,but my Mog has a factory fitted merc snorkel.I've had water over the bonnet to the bottom of the screen which is 7ft.Would it carry on without it?Who knows, but it seems to work for me.Oh, and the breathers are already taken care of.
Whilst I'm suitably impressed with your 'Mog and what you do with it ('Mogs do rock!), it's not all that relevant to the thread! As stated, I'm already well aware what snorkels are for, and that some vehicles do need them. My point was more to do with Defenders (and similar), fitted with snorkels, that are blatantly never going to need them, which I believe is most of them.Keep on rocking!
A lot of cases it is for looks as it gives your Landy (and all that jazz) that bad boy image, mostly comes from watching too much Camel Trophy as a young'en. A chap near where I live has a pavement princess with all the offroading accessories (including front and rear winches) all of which is carefully polished so it maintains that show room finish. I doubt it has been any more offroad than the condition of your average driveway.
I wanted a snorkel on a 110 'Fender for a long time, it took me a while to realise what a cock I'd look if I did it as other than a bit of light offroading, it'll never encounter the conditions that require a snorkle and if it did I'd grab a tractor.
I wanted a snorkel on a 110 'Fender for a long time, it took me a while to realise what a cock I'd look if I did it as other than a bit of light offroading, it'll never encounter the conditions that require a snorkle and if it did I'd grab a tractor.
I agree that most proper 4x4s will ford [/i]most[/i] sensible depths of water without the need for a snorkel, and many of the ones you see fitted are cosmetic, but let's not forget the hooligan element!
I've taken my Shogun through water down at Bordon where the water was gently lapping just over the passenger side corner of the bonnet (fortunately, the air intake is on the driver's side), where most people would've thought a snorkel would be required and in fact it wasn't.
On the other hand, I've taken it into JCB scrapes on pay and play days where the water when standing still wouldn't have made it over the bumpers, but arsing around and hitting it with a fair amount of speed actually sent water washing back up over the roof.
I don't have a snorkel fitted on the Shogun, and the state of the top of the air filter after the second little trick was more than enough to suggest that any sort of prolonged use of that sort would require a filter. It's not just about slow and safe through very deep water.
My Zook does have a snorkel - home made by the previous owner from B&Q drainpipes, but it works - although I've yet to actually put that to the test, since knackered shocks (which have proved a pain to source with the UK Procomp disti out of business) meant I was losing traction in puddles!
I've taken my Shogun through water down at Bordon where the water was gently lapping just over the passenger side corner of the bonnet (fortunately, the air intake is on the driver's side), where most people would've thought a snorkel would be required and in fact it wasn't.
On the other hand, I've taken it into JCB scrapes on pay and play days where the water when standing still wouldn't have made it over the bumpers, but arsing around and hitting it with a fair amount of speed actually sent water washing back up over the roof.
I don't have a snorkel fitted on the Shogun, and the state of the top of the air filter after the second little trick was more than enough to suggest that any sort of prolonged use of that sort would require a filter. It's not just about slow and safe through very deep water.
My Zook does have a snorkel - home made by the previous owner from B&Q drainpipes, but it works - although I've yet to actually put that to the test, since knackered shocks (which have proved a pain to source with the UK Procomp disti out of business) meant I was losing traction in puddles!
Since my post above, I have drowned my car, and it needs an engine rebuild ( and the seats need a good dry out, as do the electrics).
The engine kept running through-out the drowing, but went very sick an hour later.
No snorkle fitted. I am pretty sure no water went through the air filter (K&N mounted as high as it will go under the bonnet) as the engine kept running at the time and it has not hydraulic locked. It must have been close though, as the the tide mark would suggest the rocker covers were under. Definately the top of the wheel arches were under.
Now I have no oil pressure and a very sick knocking noise. All because I thought it was a good idea to follow Little Duncs "that puddle (i.e. small lake) isnt too deep daddy" directions Doh!!
Sorry for gelling and sprammer
The engine kept running through-out the drowing, but went very sick an hour later.
No snorkle fitted. I am pretty sure no water went through the air filter (K&N mounted as high as it will go under the bonnet) as the engine kept running at the time and it has not hydraulic locked. It must have been close though, as the the tide mark would suggest the rocker covers were under. Definately the top of the wheel arches were under.
Now I have no oil pressure and a very sick knocking noise. All because I thought it was a good idea to follow Little Duncs "that puddle (i.e. small lake) isnt too deep daddy" directions Doh!!
Sorry for gelling and sprammer
BIG DUNC said:
Since my post above, I have drowned my car, and it needs an engine rebuild ( and the seats need a good dry out, as do the electrics).
The engine kept running through-out the drowing, but went very sick an hour later.
No snorkle fitted. I am pretty sure no water went through the air filter (K&N mounted as high as it will go under the bonnet) as the engine kept running at the time and it has not hydraulic locked. It must have been close though, as the the tide mark would suggest the rocker covers were under. Definately the top of the wheel arches were under.
Now I have no oil pressure and a very sick knocking noise. All because I thought it was a good idea to follow Little Duncs "that puddle (i.e. small lake) isnt too deep daddy" directions Doh!!
Sorry for gelling and sprammer
I think you experience has totally negated the op's comments on this subject, just shows under certain circumstances you do need a snorkel in this country.The engine kept running through-out the drowing, but went very sick an hour later.
No snorkle fitted. I am pretty sure no water went through the air filter (K&N mounted as high as it will go under the bonnet) as the engine kept running at the time and it has not hydraulic locked. It must have been close though, as the the tide mark would suggest the rocker covers were under. Definately the top of the wheel arches were under.
Now I have no oil pressure and a very sick knocking noise. All because I thought it was a good idea to follow Little Duncs "that puddle (i.e. small lake) isnt too deep daddy" directions Doh!!
Sorry for gelling and sprammer
It's like an insurance policy.
Steve
Steve UK said:
BIG DUNC said:
Since my post above, I have drowned my car, and it needs an engine rebuild ( and the seats need a good dry out, as do the electrics).
The engine kept running through-out the drowing, but went very sick an hour later.
No snorkle fitted. I am pretty sure no water went through the air filter (K&N mounted as high as it will go under the bonnet) as the engine kept running at the time and it has not hydraulic locked. It must have been close though, as the the tide mark would suggest the rocker covers were under. Definately the top of the wheel arches were under.
Now I have no oil pressure and a very sick knocking noise. All because I thought it was a good idea to follow Little Duncs "that puddle (i.e. small lake) isnt too deep daddy" directions Doh!!
Sorry for gelling and sprammer
I think you experience has totally negated the op's comments on this subject, just shows under certain circumstances you do need a snorkel in this country.The engine kept running through-out the drowing, but went very sick an hour later.
No snorkle fitted. I am pretty sure no water went through the air filter (K&N mounted as high as it will go under the bonnet) as the engine kept running at the time and it has not hydraulic locked. It must have been close though, as the the tide mark would suggest the rocker covers were under. Definately the top of the wheel arches were under.
Now I have no oil pressure and a very sick knocking noise. All because I thought it was a good idea to follow Little Duncs "that puddle (i.e. small lake) isnt too deep daddy" directions Doh!!
Sorry for gelling and sprammer
It's like an insurance policy.
Steve
Hooli said:
snorkels arent just good for water though. they are virtually standard fit for desert trucks too as they avoid sucking in the dust stired up by the wheels.
whats that got to do with the UK you ask? try salisbury plain in a dry summer & you'll find out.
What's one of them then? whats that got to do with the UK you ask? try salisbury plain in a dry summer & you'll find out.
Kermit power said:
Hooli said:
snorkels arent just good for water though. they are virtually standard fit for desert trucks too as they avoid sucking in the dust stired up by the wheels.
whats that got to do with the UK you ask? try salisbury plain in a dry summer & you'll find out.
What's one of them then? whats that got to do with the UK you ask? try salisbury plain in a dry summer & you'll find out.
BIG DUNC said:
Yes, they can be useful, but the fact remains that most people who fit them don't need them.
The water in the first picture would have been OK without the snorkel, and 99% of drivers never go anywhere near that deep.
But they look the business ! Bit like fast cars - cant legally go over 70 in the uk but we all love a fast car.The water in the first picture would have been OK without the snorkel, and 99% of drivers never go anywhere near that deep.
Have a great G4 Defender with the bits. Do a bit of light off roading/green lanes (infact off tomorrow)but just love the whole look. Not ashamed in saying that. Dont use the winch, raised air intake, roll bars or to be honest half of what the car is capable of doing but still love it for what it is.
Image/lifestyle statement - too right it is.
Edited by superlightr on Friday 30th January 19:56
Edited by superlightr on Friday 30th January 19:59
Edited by superlightr on Friday 30th January 20:00
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