Snorkel Testing!!

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

Recently I had a safari snorkel fitted to the truck by a local 4wd workshop.I thought to test it?? weekend gone by placing glad wrap over the head unit but the engine was still idling away happily after one minute. Now call me stupid but I thought the engine would starve for air and stop after a very short time.I can see a join on the inlet of the air box (housing a K&N filter) is sealed with a black compound that was added at installation. I assume this sealing compound was used on all of the joints that I cant see as well. I have also sealed up the hole in the bottom of the airbox myself and would like some imput from members about other testing for air leaks on snorkel systems. I again wrongly assumed that testing of the integrity of the entire air inlet system would have been checked by the installer.
Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Cheers Paul

[dermie75 Member Find all posts View Profile Close dermie75]

I would've thought the same thing. Restrict airflow through the snorkel and it'd struggle to breath. Might have to try mine.

Now that I think about it; some of them will allow water (rain) to drain out to stop it getting into the engine. That might be part of it as well maybe? I like AMTS' idea though.

[Guest Close Guest]

Remove the head of the snorkel, then put the plastic bag over it. There are gaps at the joint from the tube to the head. Well that's for the 120 anyway.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Remove the head of the snorkel, then put the plastic bag over it. There are gaps at the joint from the tube to the head. Well that's for the 120 anyway.

Correct, all snorkels are not sealed at the head, this allows water (rain) to drain out before it gets to the upright of the snorkel, Another thing you need to check is the particle container that clips to the bottom of the air filter box, make sure the rubber seal is in good nick, and that you permanantly seal up the little rubber bung in it.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Petrol engines don't suck in a raging torrent of air the way diesel engines do at idle, so the drain holes in head of the snorkel would be sufficient to keep it idling.

[Fungi2003 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fungi2003]

Good point, didn't think of that. Might have to test this out on the weekend!

[BigDog816 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigDog816]

I think this is also discussed in a thread "Safari Snorkle Fitup" by one of the SA guys. Main point that I took away from it was "a snorkle doesn't turn your prado into a submarine"

But anyway worth a read.

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

From a post i have read, ARB don't take responsibility for the fit up being airtight especially from the guard to the filter. That could be just one bad experience or ARB's way.

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

Hi Bickies
When we finished my Safari Install it would still run with a sheet of A4 sucked against the snorkel head.
However when the head was removed and the same paper was put on top of the ram tube, the paper was drawn down a bit into the tube and the rubber connecting tubes vacuumed in until the engine stalled.
Thanks again to Switched for his efforts and equipment during the install.
Cheers Troy

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

From a post i have read, ARB don't take responsibility for the fit up being airtight especially from the guard to the filter. That could be just one bad experience or ARB's way.

They all say that, it is because there is no way to prove that water did not come through the snorkel head.

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

From a post i have read, ARB don't take responsibility for the fit up being airtight especially from the guard to the filter. That could be just one bad experience or ARB's way.

I second that. I've got a friend who had ARB fit a snorkel for him in Brisbane. His long term mechanic found it wasn't sealed with any silicone at the air intake box when inspecting it during a routine service (but sealed it up for him as a result). So my friend called the ARB store to query it and was told, "Oh, we don't waterproof them for you." I'd say it's just their clause for not being responsible for any repairs, either that or maybe this store clerk/manager was just shutting down one of those "complaint calls" quick smart.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

I second that. I've got a friend who had ARB fit a snorkel for him in Brisbane. His long term mechanic found it wasn't sealed with any silicone at the air intake box when inspecting it during a routine service (but sealed it up for him as a result). So my friend called the ARB store to query it and was told, "Oh, we don't waterproof them for you." I'd say it's just their clause for not being responsible for any repairs, either that or maybe this store clerk/manager was just shutting down one of those "complaint calls" quick smart.

Actually, thinking into it, I don't think they can do that anymore, because if the item is "not fit for purpose", meaning, the snorkel is meant to allow you to cross water crossings without water getting sucked into the engine, (they all say a snorkel is to raise the intake of the air), you should be able to get your money back (free snorkel), or they are to seal it so that the air intake does come from higher up.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...P8290005-1.jpg
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...P8290001-1.jpg
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...8/P8290245.jpg
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...8/P8280240.jpg
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...8/P8280233.jpg
http://i1019.photobucket.com/albums/...8/P8280236.jpg

These are all the joints that should be sealed totally, if any of these joints are not sealed they will suck in water, i also did the pop rivets in the air cannister, the ducks beak at the bottom totally sealed, and also around the where the original rubber pipes hook up, I added a tad under them. Mine was diesel not petrol so not sure if there is as many joints but i re did myn after it was done by a so called expert company in every thing 4wd, luckily I only checked myn as I could hear a rattle under the plastic inner guard, dropped it down and the flexi pipe dropped down with it, I did put a post on here about it including these same pics...Hope it helps you out, After I sealed it all up I could take orr the ram on top stick my hand over the top of it and watch the air cannister try and suck itself in then stall, was sealed 100% after I finished with it, like it should be and after talking to the manager of the so called shop he admitted to me that they are to be 100% water tight and he would have been responsible had I sucked any water in................

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

Thanks to all who replied. I will check all joins myself and will test again, this time without the snorkel head unit in place.

Cheers Paul

[Troy1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Troy1]

Hey guys,

Quick question, if the engine doesnt does that mean it is sucking air from else where? I put a piece of paper on top of the snorkel pipe (after tAking head off) it sucked it in a bit but didnt stall. How long should if take to stall if the rest of the system is air tight?

Thanks Troy