Standard air intake location

[danestead Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close danestead]

Hi guys,

I am looking into what is required to do to my 2012 Prado 150 VX for a Gibb River road trip in a year. This will involve crossing the Pentecost river which is about 60m wide and apparently the depth can vary a bit with tides, time of season etc. My cousin has crossed it a couple of times and he said the water was about wheel height so Im not sure if he means the top of the wheel or infact the top of the tyre which would be about 80cm deep. Lets assume 80cm. ThePrado 150 apparently has a wading depth of 70cm. I've had a look at the breather locations and the rear diff breather would definitely be under water at 70cm, so a full set of breather extensions are going to be needed.

Im just trying to figure out if a snorkel is going to be required as I dont really want to fit one if I dont have to. Am I correct in saying that the standard air intake location is in the drivers side wheel arch? It looks like the piping goes from there to the filter. How deep water would I be able to safely traverse without fitting a snorkel?

Cheers and Ive done a search with no luck,
Dane.

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

You're correct, the intake is located there behind the guard. At wheel height, with proper technique, the intake will be fine.
That being said a snorkel is one of the cheapest insurance items you can get for your car. Even if you ignore the water advantages of the snorkel it will greatly improve the air quality going into the intake. Rather than dusty air from the wheel arch you can breathe clean air from up high.
Why risk your $60,000 investment over a $450 snorkel?

[danestead Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close danestead]

I am starting to think a snorkel is a worthwhile investment for dust purposes alone. The intake location in the wheel arch must expose it to huge amounts of dust as it's far from sealed from the environment in there. I just don't like the look of snorkels. I've got a year to think about it but I'll rest easy knowing that if I get one, I'll have no dramas or stress if I go through any water or dusty environments.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

I am starting to think a snorkel is a worthwhile investment for dust purposes alone. The intake location in the wheel arch must expose it to huge amounts of dust as it's far from sealed from the environment in there. I just don't like the look of snorkels. I've got a year to think about it but I'll rest easy knowing that if I get one, I'll have no dramas or stress if I go through any water or dusty environments.

The TJM air tech is the nicest aesthetics, and you can often get them supplied and fitted for $460 during a sale.

[ozimacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozimacca]

The problem with snorkels in my area is that they detract from the resale value, cheap to buy but take $10k off the resale value

Most of the 4x4 have never been off road, ones with snorkels have been in a river

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Ha. Newcastle used be a city of steel once with real men driving real cars. Then they took away the steel. Now a snorkel is a sign of?

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Give us a shout and we'll tow your 150 across with the 120, you just have to sit back and steer. No need to fit a snorkel then.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

People have driven Falcons and Commodores across the river. Hell, I even rescued a Gemini up there once that got half way across and got stuck on a rock.

[danestead Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close danestead]

The TJM air tech is the nicest aesthetics, and you can often get them supplied and fitted for $460 during a sale.

That's a pretty good price actually. I'll keep my eyes out. Cheers.

[danestead Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close danestead]

People have driven Falcons and Commodores across the river. Hell, I even rescued a Gemini up there once that got half way across and got stuck on a rock.

What time of the year? I plan on going as soon as possible once the Gibb River Road has opened so I assume there would be higher levels of water than later in the season.

[ozimacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozimacca]

Ha. Newcastle used be a city of steel once with real men driving real cars. Then they took away the steel. Now a snorkel is a sign of?

All gone mate, Hunter St is mainly coffee shops and artie stuff at subsidised rents as the poor owners tear their hair out.

Still a lot of "real men" living in the western suburbs, most of the 4by places are out there but when you trade in the dealers cut up to $10k off if it has a snorkel. I was talking to the buyer about depreciation rates on my new car and he said to me "don't put a snorkel on it unless you intend to keep it forever"

Do you know a web site that shows river depths for the Gibb RR ? Wouldn't mind taking a drive up there myself, I am standard so would need 400m max of water. I have read that the Durack is actually deeper than the Pentecost but the Pentecost is wider.

[Black 150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black 150]

Hi guys,

I am looking into what is required to do to my 2012 Prado 150 VX for a Gibb River road trip in a year. This will involve crossing the Pentecost river which is about 60m wide and apparently the depth can vary a bit with tides, time of season etc. My cousin has crossed it a couple of times and he said the water was about wheel height so Im not sure if he means the top of the wheel or infact the top of the tyre which would be about 80cm deep. Lets assume 80cm. ThePrado 150 apparently has a wading depth of 70cm. I've had a look at the breather locations and the rear diff breather would definitely be under water at 70cm, so a full set of breather extensions are going to be needed.

Im just trying to figure out if a snorkel is going to be required as I dont really want to fit one if I dont have to. Am I correct in saying that the standard air intake location is in the drivers side wheel arch? It looks like the piping goes from there to the filter. How deep water would I be able to safely traverse without fitting a snorkel?

Cheers and Ive done a search with no luck,
Dane.

Hi Dane.

I crossed quite a few rivers on the weekend, depth between 400mm and deepest around 800mm. I have no snorkel or breathers and didn't experience any water in the air box.

You wouldn't want to go much deeper but I would think another 100mm would still be OK but you'd be nervous.

[Black 150 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black 150]

[Anth120playdo Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Anth120playdo]

Hi Dane.

I crossed quite a few rivers on the weekend, depth between 400mm and deepest around 800mm. I have no snorkel or breathers and didn't experience any water in the air box.

You wouldn't want to go much deeper but I would think another 100mm would still be OK but you'd be nervous.

If you going to add a snorkel to go deeper than 800, do your transmission breather too, it sits at about 700mm.
It's pretty well protected by momentum, if you stopped in over 700, by then you hope trans has stopped cooling & sucking, also it's an upside down cup deal, so think water not go in, but better safe with trans.
Diffs etc can handle some water, the oil still works & oil separates & sits on top. Each to their own.

[danestead Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close danestead]

Hi Dane.

I crossed quite a few rivers on the weekend, depth between 400mm and deepest around 800mm. I have no snorkel or breathers and didn't experience any water in the air box.

You wouldn't want to go much deeper but I would think another 100mm would still be OK but you'd be nervous.

G'day mate,

Thanks for the info.

I've decided that I am too chicken to risk screwing my car and holiday to risk doing it without extended breathers and a snorkel. I see the $500 odd bucks as a good insurance policy for my car.

Cheers.