Snorkel Blowing Air Out!?

[manic]

Yes I do have better things to concern myself with at the moment but this niggles...

Today I felt a stream of air as I passed the safari snorkel to open the passenger door. I felt around the snorkel and at the bottom of the plastic housing there is a hole blowing a steady stream of air. I figure the hole is there to drain any water that might get down into the base of the snorkel.

So if the engine is supposed to be sucking air in, how is such a strong steady stream of air getting pushed out of the snorkel?

I can see the benefit.. water always pushed out... but what wizadry!?

[uninformed]

It should not be hooked up to your exhaust......

[manic]

that would be amusing... my exhaust is smoking like a chimney at the moment... my landy has too many serious issues right now its depressing..... I like thinking about the snorkel air .... low pressure/high pressure - big hole small hole science!?

[Leo]

Remember the 'F ducts' from the 2010 F1 season? Moving air can be made to do strange things.

[bee utey]

Engine intake happens in a series of pulses, one cylinder at a time. So the momentum of air in the snorkel means that between each suction pulse the air is slightly pressurised, leaking out. Nothing abnormal.

[Michael2]

A friend had what sounded like a low pitched voom voom voom droning sound coming from his engine / snorkel - like a cyclic change in air pressure.

He was told it was a sign of loose tappets. He went to adjust the tappets and found that the whole tappet assembly was in need of a slight tighten.

This may or may not be related.

Adjusting the tappets and tightening the assembly resolved it.

[manic]

Engine intake happens in a series of pulses, one cylinder at a time. So the momentum of air in the snorkel means that between each suction pulse the air is slightly pressurised, leaking out. Nothing abnormal.

Ok so your saying the intake breaths in and out somewhat? And that in my case the outward pressure is being pushed out of the small hole at the base of the snorkel?

The top is always pulling air in and the small hole is constantly blowing (at least at idle)... which would be great if thats what the design of the snorkel intended stopping any water going up the drain hole...

Even if thats the case I'm still tempted to seal up the 'drain' hole... if water goes over the top of the snorkel its drive over anyway... and the safari snorkel has drains in the top scoop for any rain picked up.

Also on the inside of the snorkel assembly in the wing there is a much bigger drain hole which I plugged with a grommet.... whats the point of making a snorkel with all these holes!? Are they all blowing air out whilst the main intake sucks in? I find it hard to beleive.

[superquag]

Bee is on the money.

There may be holes in your snorkel tubing, but the relative size is what matters... On top you have a huge hole, so lots of air is going IN, at the bottom you have a few way, way smaller ones... which can't leak enough volume to make a differance.

I'd be inclined to put a pressure gauge in the hole, (to baffle your passengers) or a whistle. (to annoy said pax)
You could also plug them, to gain 0.007496 % greater efficiency.

[manic]

Bee is on the money.

You could also plug them, to gain 0.007496 % greater efficiency.

ooo those gains are as good as a K&N.... woooosh.. my kind of numbers

im gonna plug the damn thing up before I take on one of these silly suggestions just to avoid the other jobs I should be doing...... hmm could I blow up my airbed with it!?

[Blknight.aus]

remember that air has mass and the concept of getting it to turn a corner is the same as cornering a car, centrifugal force (ok centripal force if you want to split hairs) will push the air to the outside.

If the hole is at the apex of a corner simple momentum of the air column is pushing it out the hole.