Thread: I can now say cheap snorkels do NOT inhibit air flow

Did you do the test before the snorkel was fitted as a comparison?

No but 10 inches of water is very low and hard to get under. I would doubt very much that inside the guard would be much better. Some cars have 30 inches of water restriction eg AFAIR Audi.

If you want to know more read Julian Edgar's articles in Autospeed which is now defunct bit I think still on the net.

Regards Philip A
I only did it now in response to a series of posts recently about fitting a snorkel and the posters belief that it inhibited airflow. I was pondering cutting the front out of the airbox. LOL.

Here is one article
AutoSpeed - We Have a Record!

Atmospheric pressure, 15psi can support a column of water 10m or 33 ft high. 10 inches of water is about .375 of a psi.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

To answer the question about whether snorkels inhibit air flow, I fitted taps on the input to the air cleaner from the snorkel and also tapped the air cleaner after the element using the existing tap for the clean air to the EGR solenoids.
Regards Philip A

Thank you Sir Philip, and You should be fine.
Assuming it is the one with Discovery 2 on the side, and at the risk of a visit from Murphy, I've had mine on for 6 years, as has a local fellow aulroian, and both are looking good. His lives out in the weather, mine is garaged when not in use, and we both get a bit of pinstriping when the chance arises.

Coming from air conditioning 10" water sounds like a lot as it's 2488Pa.

We replace filters at around 150Pa, at 200Pa pressure drop they look totally blocked, the dust loading is so great.

I just had a look at Donaldson's site and their indicators for engine and air compressor air cleaners go up to 22-25" water for a blocked filter, so 10" would be equivalent to a filter almost half way through it's service life.

The measurement reference for Donaldson air filter service indicators is “inches of water vacuum” I run a 25” in my D2. I have a snorkle and use Mann air filters.

The vacuum across the air filter including the filter box entry was about 6-8 inches of water with a new filter as I indicated .

I felt that there was no use looking at the MAF resistance as a D2 auto needs a MAF.

Don't think of taking the cross hatch out of the MAF as a MAF needs at least 250MM and preferably 300MM or so of straight duct in front if sampling error is to be avoided without the air straightener.

Regards Philip A

ANY snorkle fitted with a ram head should give you a better and cleaner airflow than sucking the air from the wheelarch
I fitted a noname brand snorkle to my v8 D2a and the engine had a noticeable improvement in its performance and my aircleaner lasts a lot longer as well.
If my "el cheapo" snorkle karks it (which is highly unlikely) I will just replace it with another one, I can't see the value in spending hundreds of dollars just to have a brand name on a bit of plastic.