Thread: Snorkel Head - Ram vs Cyclone style

Originally Posted by specwarop

Gday,

I am looking to make my own snorkel for my Discovery 1 and was wondering which head is better.
The 2 choices I have seen are the common ram air style, and the cyclone head style.
What is the difference between the two? Which is better?

Regards

The ram head has less pressure drop (flows better), the cyclone removes dust, which means your filter lasts longer.

Depends on your priority. I know some people who use a ram head on-road and a cyclone when touring.

I don't see the ram air having any measurable effect in day-to-day driving conditions, unless on a competition vehicle with tuned engine, maybe. The cyclone removes dust particles effectively, hence giving your air filter an extended life span.
Just my 2c...

Unless I am mistaken, with the Disco the manifold pressure is set by the ECU, so any increase in the input pressure to the turbocharger by the ram effect will be compensated for by opening the wastegate a fraction so the turbo pressure difference will be less. This means any advantage of the ram will be neutralised. Stick with the cyclone - at least it will remove some of the dust before it gets to your filter.

It would be different if the engine was NA, and there it might be worth having a ram top.

John

I recently changed from a ram head to a Donaldson cyclone type (the one with the clear perspex bit). I didn't notice any loss of performance at all. The Donaldson works as described - traps insects, water as well as a fair amount of dust.

Someone either on here or other landy discussion said that they had noticed different temperatures either at the outlet of the turbo or I/C when using the ram head facing forward or backwards. I'd say this was an indication that the turbo is working harder when the head was facing backwards. I have not tried the experiment so can only take it as hearsay.

Originally Posted by simonmelb

I recently changed from a ram head to a Donaldson cyclone type (the one with the clear perspex bit). I didn't notice any loss of performance at all. The Donaldson works as described - traps insects, water as well as a fair amount of dust.

Check with the manufacturer. I believe the effectiveness of the Donaldson reduces dramatically as the speed rises. I think the magic figure was as low as 50-60 kmh ?

I have not looked at them, but would it be possible to add a deflector to the cyclone top to add a ram effect, or at least reduce any loss of effectiveness due to speed?

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I have not looked at them, but would it be possible to add a deflector to the cyclone top to add a ram effect, or at least reduce any loss of effectiveness due to speed?

John

Possibly, but it may also reduce the effectiveness of the cyclone.


Btw -
I wasn't trying to say there would be a noticeable difference in power if you have a cyclone or a ram, just that cyclones have a reasonable pressure drop across them, so it will be measurably different to the ram.

However I doubt the "ram" effect of the ram actually compensates for the pressure drop in the snorkel (at least at speeds under ~200 km/h).