Snorkel types in sandy environments - Horizons Unlimited

**Runner** · #1 19 Jan 2005

I run a Mantec snorkel top on both my 110s.

Recently I learned that the Australian Army fits Safari Snorkels. I have always mistrusted them as they seem to have a front-facing scoop on the snorkel top that surely just sucks the dust up, where Mantec ones have a cyclonic top that whirls dust out before it enters the downpipe.

Are the Aussies fitting these as they are Oz-made, or do the snorkel tops on Safari Snorkels work better than they appear? What do you think?

**Roman** · #2 19 Jan 2005

Runner,

Safari snorkels come either with a scoop or a cyclonic bowl (or both if you want to pay extra).

I can't find anything wrong with Safar snorkels. They are robust and well made, and what's important - the template for drilling holes in the bodywork is very accurate.

BTW, you will be pleased to learn that the scoop can be turned whichever way you want :-)

------------------
Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.info

**Runner** · #3 19 Jan 2005

Quote:

Originally posted by Roman:
Runner,

Safari snorkels come either with a scoop or a cyclonic bowl (or both if you want to pay extra).

I can't find anything wrong with Safar snorkels. They are robust and well made, and what's important - the template for drilling holes in the bodywork is very accurate.

BTW, you will be pleased to learn that the scoop can be turned whichever way you want :-)

Thanks Roman. I always assumed they were cast as a single unit (incl scoop) and therefore were potentially tougher than others... just didnt like the dust-hoover idea!

**SandyM** · #4 13 Apr 2005

The cyclone top is actually a bit gimmicky, although it does let in less rain. But for dust to be spun out, you really need a fast air-flow, and at the entrance to the intake there's not a lot of speed.

If you clean out the cyclonic top every now and again, you do indeed find a nice bit of dust trapped in it, but it's a neglible fraction of what gets sucked in.

(The cyclone-type filters such as Donaldsons are a different story - they are very effective because by the time everything reaches the filter, the air velocity in the intake pipe is huge).

Regards,

M...

**Gipper** · #5 13 Apr 2005

Sandy,
A good cyclonic is a bit more effective than you think - for instance - look at the size of the intake on a Defender wing - with a normal Mantec/Darrs type or similar - raised air intake, most of the grill area is covered over with just a flat plate, the actual tube is a quarter of the size of the original area.

So same volume of air being sucked through a smaller hole = a faster air speed - this speeds up the air being sucked in enough to make the cyclonic top work.
What you see as residue inside are the finest particles of dust that are not heavy enough to be expelled.
On the best raised air intakes there is a dust bowl bulit in to catch this Fesh-Fesh which needs emptying once a week.

A Safari Snorkel works the same way - reducing the bore (at the top) and increasing the speed of the air inducted.
With that scoop facing forward - yes you may get more particles in - but they may give better engine performance (at speed) helping induction.
As Roman mentions they are very well made, tough and can be rotated

They all raise the level at which the air is being inducted which means less particles - a good thing - our air filters should be blown out with compressed air regularly anyway which ever one you use.
Cheers
Grif

I will get my spelling correct soon....

[This message has been edited by Gipper (edited 13 April 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Gipper (edited 13 April 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Gipper (edited 13 April 2005).]

**Hltoppr** · #6 5 May 2005

I've used a Safari snorkle on my FJ80 with a cyclonic head for trips through Baja Mexico and the Southwest US, and have found that a good deal of dust, sand, and other junk gets picked up in the bowl.

-H-

**Bundubasher** · #7 5 May 2005

I've just travelled nearly 5000km between Jo'burg and Nairobi. Some of these roads, particularly in Tanzania, were very dusty. I run a Safari snorkel with the OE scoop head facing forward and when I serviced my vehicle at the end of the trip, found very little dust & sand in the air cleaner box.

Very often we found ourselves behind big trans-africa trucks and the dust and shit flying around was atrocious. If the air intake had been low down the body or even behind the grill, I guess there would have been tons of crap in there!

enzo
http://www.bundubasher.com