Thread: Snorkel & Rain

Originally Posted by Grover-98

This warning is simply to save their rear ends from any one complaing from something like this happening

just like the warning on hair dryers in motels saying not to use them in the shower.

I have never had an issue with mine and its sealed up tight with no drain holes.

However next time you do drive in heavy rain just pop the top off the air filter box and have a look see, in all honesty i have never looked.

If you're concerned get a Donaldson pre-cleaner head unit. The air gets sucked in from the bottom so no chance of water entering.
They're only about $40 and very effective at trapping bugs and dust too.

Simple humidity is enough to get the filter element damp quite regularly even without the heavy downpour.
Spray off roads from other vehicles probably is a greater worry than the heavy downpour as the water is already atomised at the initial pick up point and therefore extremely hard to separate. The turbulence of the airflow tends to collect and separate most of the large droplets but the air itself will still be pretty damp once it hits the filter element, hence it is wise to check them fairly often.
Of course on the other side of the coin, one hears that moist cool air is a desirable asset to combustion in an engine!!
Dust, often regarded as the main reason for air filtering, does tend to compound the problem at an alarming rate when mixed with high humidity as is often experienced in the tropics during the wetter seasons.
Regards
Glen

Originally Posted by dandlandyman

I'm guessing that the Donaldson/MF pre-cleaner snorkel-top may be better in heavy rain, but it'd only really necessary if you're driving in torrential rain on a regular basis. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much - I'm sure they've tested the system under those conditions.

.

My Donaldson pre cleaner fills with water in heavy rain, needs to be emptied after a few hours of driving, only in HEAVY rain

The Mantec Snorkel on my 300Tdi has a U-shaped plastic thingo at it's lowest point with a rubber flapped dump valve so that if any moisture get's into the snorkel inlet it would never get to the filter or engine. The dump valve would be 150-200mm below the filter.

I've done plenty of wet weather driving and wading and have never had any issues.

Cheers, Iain

Hey, I'll go one better, this is taken just now, when I did a few things in town and drove home this arvo, it was teaming down with rain, probably 30mins in it total



Keep in mind its a point at the bottom, so it will take ALOT to fill, but goes to show how much water your sucking in



Water injection........cooler air charge.....more fuel.......

Just a further comment on the "self draining" properties of the ARB type head.

I took mine off last week to test a Donaldson "Topspin" I bought a long time ago.
When I removed the head a great many flies , bugs,seeds, rocks etc etc fell out of the outer drain area. So not only water is thrown into the overflow area and unless you clean it regularly, I am sure it would get completely blocked in a short time.
Now hands up all of you that take off your head regularly? Hmmm not many I think.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by dandlandyman

Here's another thought, though. If the rain was heavy enough to cause concern about water ingress, you'd want to drive slower anyway.

That's a very valid point!!!
Apart from that, the water entering the snorkel during a downpour (even a prolonged one) is negligible. If you are really concerned, you may wish to fit a cyclone, but I am unsure if one will fit a Safari snorkel.

Cheers