It’s always a rewarding time when you’re shopping around for a new 4x4, and it’s difficult not to constantly imagine all the 4x4 products and accessories you can fit to your new vehicle. Regardless of whether you want to improve the performance or appearance of your new 4x4, few of these upgrades are as helpful as the addition of an air intake snorkel.
Air intake snorkels were first used in tanks and submarines during World War I by supplying clean air to both the crew and the engine when submerged in water. This concept swiftly spread to other machinery like tractors and agricultural equipment, and then moved into the 4x4 market. There are many benefits of installing an air intake snorkel on your vehicle, and today we'll be reviewing the top benefits in detail to emphasise its importance.
Cleaner air
Most off-road enthusiasts will be travelling through dry and dusty roads which creates a contaminated supply of air into the vehicle. The dust is typically concentrated at the vehicle's air intake positioned behind the grill or from the inner guard of the vehicle, and those 4x4's journeying in fleets will find the dust even worse. Whilst the body of the vehicle does offer some deflection of dust and other contaminants, it's far from ideal and leaves passengers with a degree of air contamination and the engine at sub-optimal performance.
Purchasing an air intake snorkel means that your vehicle will receive air that is cooler, cleaner, and denser than the air supplied via the heated engine bay. Most snorkels are mounted at roof height, and this subsequently dispenses cleaner air to passengers and improves the performance of the engine due to the fact that hotter air has less oxygen for combustion.
Keeping water out of the engine
You may be thinking that putting the air intake outside of the vehicle will make water contamination worse, the advanced design of snorkels will dissipate and drain any water before it even enters the engine. Even a small amount of water reaching the engine will cause substantial damages by bending internal components. By elevating the height of the air intake, vehicles that have snorkels fitted can travel through water almost fully submerged and the engine will still remain free from any water.
Price and maintenance
Although most snorkels are constructed for particular vehicles, the price of mounting a snorkel is rather cheap when considering the cost of your 4WD. An air intake snorkel will normally set you back around $300 to $600 and it's best to get a specialist to install your snorkel as a 3 to 4 inch hole must be drilled into the side of your vehicle. Despite this, once fitted you can be rest assured that your vehicle has improved versatility and performance.
Always remember that regularly assess the fasteners and fittings of your snorkel to ensure it’s sealed adequately. When air or water is being drawn through a damaged seal or a crack in the snorkel, it can often times sidestep the air cleaner and reach the engine.
TJM Airtec snorkels
TJM Airtec snorkels are made from top Australian polymer materials that exceed the Australian Standard for UV stabilisation being rated at UV20-UV24. The colour pigmentation process doesn't cut any corners either, giving you an even, bleed-free, and dense product. Proudly Australian made and tested in the harshest of environments, you can have the confidence that a TJM Airtec snorkel will achieve peak performance every time.
If you're interested in acquiring an air intake snorkel for your 4WD, TJM Australia have you covered. For additional information on their vast range of Airtec snorkels, phone their friendly staff on 07 3865 9999.
