D4 Safari Snorkel and airtight/watertight fitment

[Brad]

Afternoon all,

I had a Safari Snorkel fitted to my D4 recently. After I picked the vehicle up I noticed that I could block the air intake with both hands (covering >95% of the intake, but obviously not an airtight seal) with no audible difference in engine note, which leads me to believe air is being drawn in somewhere other than main opening.

A few questions:

1. Is it "safe" (mechanically speaking) to stall the engine by blocking the air intake? A friend raised the possibility of such action causing damage to the motor.

2. Is it reasonable to expect a Safari Snorkel to be airtight at all points other than the main intake?

Regarding the second question it occurs to me there might need to be drainage holes somewhere at the bottom of the assembly for water sucked in during operation in rain. If this is the case, perhaps the whole system works through pressure; i.e. uninterrupted airflow from main intake causes positive pressure inside the snorkel, enough to keep water out at any reasonable wading depth.

[ADMIRAL]

Hi Brad,

Take the top off the airbox. There is a drainage one way type flap under the aircleaner element. I would do a search about the merits of blocking it off before doing so. ( and use sensor compatible silcone ) The flap will allow liquid to drain away if you do get some in the snorkel.

If you really want to get carried away, disconnect the airtube to the motor, and block it off. the snorkel can be filled with water to check all the other seals are air/water tight. The large seal behind the airbox, leading into the inner guard, can be troublesome to seal at times.

[AnD3rew]

Also not a great idea to block the intake with hands, as someone pointed out to me, you have a 2.7 or 3.0 litre diesel suction pump on the bottom end of that, you can do yourself some damage.

[pohm66]

The way it was explained to me was that if you put a sheet of A4 over the snorkel and it holds then there is sufficient sealing. Air is easier to suck than water so if snorkel holds paper then likelyhoodmof water ingress is marginal.

Have tried this on various vehicles and most held the paper.

Did this test on my TD5 and the sheet slipped off after a couple of seconds, the culprit was a seal just before the air filter. Resealed and the sheet stuck......