why no snorkels?

[63chevyll]

I actually hydro locked a few engines in my time.

One relative to this story,

It was a K5, 4 inch, 35's and water crossing was prob to top of stock bumper. I got to the water and when the water pushed over the hood, water sucked in through factory air inlet behind the grill. I was not at max RPM but higher than just an idle it did hydro lock. I hit the starter and click click. Got towed in to land and no spark plug socket, no any socket set.

After a lot of prying on the valves with a lug wrench we got the water out and drove it home, but I was lucky.

So.snorkles truly can save a high headache, but the ones sticking through the fender are gay looking. Now one ran inside the cab would be better for sure.

I just hate all the pavement pounder jeeps around here with snorkles and "its a homo jeep thing you wouldn't understand" stickers.

 

[euzoa]

I wanted a snorkel for the longest time as well. Then i got into some trouble (went from running board deep to bodyline deep, to breaking over the hood) where i didnt think i could back out.

Went throught just fine, but scared me well enough i don't want to go that deep again.

For guys who run in cab snorkels, don't you have to remove the heater for that?

 

[MrSchaeferPants]

So.snorkles truly can save a high headache, but the ones sticking through the fender are gay looking. Now one ran inside the cab would be better for sure.

Ya the only thing is, if not inside the cab, fender and up is the only other logical place. Through the hood and up same thing. Read talks about running down the under carrriage then into the cab, or up at the rear somewhere, but that doesn't make sense.

What would be cool would be some quick discconect style where you just have the snorkel stack and pop it into the fender or hood or however you did it. Pop it on when you're out wheeling, and take it off when you're done. When it's off, all you see is some circle mount thing on your fender like a front fender gas door.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

i never personnally liked the look.but if i was doing it,id plumb it into the interior of the truck with a air box so it wasnt able to get snagged on trees oor rocks on the trail.

A good idea in theory, but not great in a rig that has doors and windows that seal. It will suck the air out of the cab and it will mess with your head, not a lot of fun. Plus the intake noise is real loud, which you may or may not like.

 

[shady]

It also doesn't matter how high you get the air intake if the exhaust is under water and you don't CAREFULLY keep the engine running you will be replacing an engine because when the engine dies IF you try to restart the engine IT WILL hydro lock the engine and cause severe damage.

My old scout would die all the time in the farm ponds. let it sit for half hour and start it right back up to drive out. never hydro locked it done it with my 4 wheeler too. I know in the intake its a given that it will. but I didnt think it would in the exhaust,

 

[DokWatson]

I soaked my air filter once because of the clutch fan spraying water into the hole on the air cleaner housing. Flipped the housing around so the opening faces the firewall, problem solved. I've been in water deep enough to flow through my heating ducts without a snorkel.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

imo...

If you don't run around in the Desert and dust a LOT,
or fully water-proof your engine.... Snorkels are ghey.

Like Doc said, You shouldn't need a snorkel.

 

[Chevy305]

Think of it this way, your air filter is approx headlight level and if you have any kind of lift that is going to be at least 4ft high. If you are deeper than that then you will have to immediately change EVERY fluid. I don't care how good your seals are, the rapid cooling effect of the water creats a slight vacuum and it sucks water right in past the seals. The longer you're in the water the more leaks in. Not to mention you're engine crankcase naturally runs under a vacuum due to the PCV valve. Oh and your distributor and alternator will be calateral damage.

I sank my truck up to the headlights and although the filter was not under water the fan blew so much water at my filter that it bogged out and died. I pulled the sopping filter and shielded the intake with my jacket. I started it back up and drove out. But for that time it took me to do that the engine took on a few extra quarts of water into the crank case through the dipstick tube promting me to change the oil on the trail before I could drive it anywhere. Then once I got it home the trans, tcase, and both axels had to be changed and I have relocated breathers and I know that they weren't under water.

So bottom line is that if you are crossing water that requires a snokel, don't. It'll kill your truck in no time. If you want it for looks then thats your thing, just watch out for the curb when you're mall crawling