To snorkel or not?

[Gillo]

I’m considering the fitment of a snorkel on my D4 (‘12 HSE). As it will only be used in anger occasionally for water crossings and/or touring I’m looking for opinions as to whether it’s worthwhile. Is there a noise penalty to be considered too?

Any help much appreciated.

[loanrangie]

No extra noise on my D3 and also find the air filter stays cleaner longer, even with a snorkel wont being going any deeper than what the intake vent was as by then you risk water in the electrics.

[gavinwibrow]

I’m considering the fitment of a snorkel on my D4 (‘12 HSE). As it will only be used in anger occasionally for water crossings and/or touring I’m looking for opinions as to whether it’s worthwhile. Is there a noise penalty to be considered too?

Any help much appreciated.

I have a snorkel plus the narrow weathershields, but as I put them on at the same time, can't tell which is creating the buffeting wind noise.

Plus on reflection, given my time over again, I wouldn't fit a snorkel to what is mainly a tow tug not planning on water much higher than door bottoms.

[Jpdv]

even with a snorkel wont being going any deeper than what the intake vent was as by then you risk water in the electrics.

This... There have been several cases where people have suffered electronic issues as a result of 'plunging in' with a snorkel fitted. In addition, there are diff and transfer case breathers at lower than top of hood height, and I've heard of damp issues via various ingress points in the back end as well... It's a car, not a boat.

I don't think the cost/noise and aesthetic penalty is worth it, given the above - but that's just me.

[Falcon500]

I reckon if you're planning on doing off-road and the occasional water crossing then a snorkel is cheap insurance; even if you're not planning on going deep you can sometimes get caught out. There's been occasion when people have dropped the front end into a bog hole not expecting it to be deep and ended up getting water into the engine.
I personally would try avoid deep crossings and bog holes but the one occasion you end up getting into something deeper than you thought, a snorkel could be a worthwhile investment.

[DieselLSE]

I reckon if you're planning on doing off-road and the occasional water crossing then a snorkel is cheap insurance; even if you're not planning on going deep you can sometimes get caught out. There's been occasion when people have dropped the front end into a bog hole not expecting it to be deep and ended up getting water into the engine.
I personally would try avoid deep crossings and bog holes but the one occasion you end up getting into something deeper than you thought, a snorkel could be a worthwhile investment.

Perhaps, but remember the Landrover raised air intake is just that: a raised air intake. It is not a snorkel. There are aftermarket ones that can be made pretty well watertight and with a bit of effort the Landrover one can be made watertight, too. But don't assume that any RAI is a snorkel.
I haven't bothered waterproofing mine as I avoid deep river crossings due mainly to the potential electronic damage and these modern things tend to float more than sink (I loved the Series Landrovers for river crossings!).

[Graeme]

I fitted one purely to keep dust out of the air filter, driving dusty roads often. I calculated that I saved enough on filters to pay for the snorkel, let alone the fuel savings from not having a dirty filter. I occasionally fitted a dust extracter head for when in convoy, which was noisy at speed so only fitted when useful.

[Macadamia]

Perhaps, but remember the Landrover raised air intake is just that: a raised air intake. It is not a snorkel. There are aftermarket ones that can be made pretty well watertight and with a bit of effort the Landrover one can be made watertight, too. But don't assume that any RAI is a snorkel.
I haven't bothered waterproofing mine as I avoid deep river crossings due mainly to the potential electronic damage and these modern things tend to float more than sink (I loved the Series Landrovers for river crossings!).

I waterproofed my RAI. wasn't that hard. a bit of 80mm ID ducting and some sikaflex to seal the joins and it's been fine well deeper than recommended.

I check my dif oil after many long deep crossings in cape york and not a hint of water.

Don't listen to the nay sayers! Sail the tug! Electronics will dry out
20220823_000023016_iOS.jpg
(this is entering Nolan's. It got deeper the further in. and the previous crossings were actually longer and deeper!).

The only problem I ran into was water coming up through the spare wheel winder because I'd removed the cap, and through some holes under the carpet that should have plugs in them and I'm not sure why mine didn't. Otherwise the car did not miss a beat.

As for noise - it does make a bit of wind noise but that's not particularly annoying. The annoying thing is the sucking noise you get after then you seal the RAI. because it faces backwards just above the drivers window, if I have the window open and put my foot down it's pretty loud! so much so I cannot drive with the window open. In hindsight I would have preferred the Safari snorkel. with the intake facing forward I imagine I wouldn't hear the sucking noise as much.

[ATH]

I've no intention of doing any deep water crossings in our D4 and we didn't do any in the vehicles we had before it. But, we have done lots of dirt road running and the Safari snorkel is great for being above the dust thereby keeping the filter much cleaner.
If going for a long trip through unmade road country I carry a spare filter anyway but I'm happy for a bit of suction noise knowing the "snorkel" is working as it should.
AlanH.

PS. One thing I'd never have again is one of those oiled type filters. Absolute pain in the proverbial to clean.

[feraldisco]

I fitted one purely to keep dust out of the air filter, driving dusty roads often. I calculated that I saved enough on filters to pay for the snorkel, let alone the fuel savings from not having a dirty filter. I occasionally fitted a dust extracter head for when in convoy, which was noisy at speed so only fitted when useful.

Yup...this...which often gets lost in debates about snorkels. I have zero interest in driving through deep water. My snorkel is purely about dust management. Rather than feeding in dusty air from above the front left tyre on D2, I get clean air, which can be made even cleaner with the simple addition of a snorkel head cover or snorkel sock when things get really dusty...much easier and cheaper to clean than an airbox filter...