Safari or Airtec Snorkel?

[gg_courier05]

I am looking at putting a snorkel on my 2005 ford courier. I am wondering whether to get an airtec or safari snorkel?

Have been told that safari is the better of the two, can anyone shed some light on this?

Gareth

[alien]

a 3rd option: Airflow.... im running one on my sierra and its great.

[dumbdunce]

how about don't waste your money/time? do you legitimately require a snorkel? are you going to do trips where the water you NEED to cross is deeper than the headlights? or are you planning extended outback tours where dust is going to be a legitimate concern? the performance/economy penalty of a snorkel is small but permanent. the benefits are few and very far between.

[joeblow]

if you really do need one go the safari. if you want people to laugh at you buy an airflow.

[Slunnie]

Safari also.

Cheaper than a hydraulic.

[gg_courier05]

how about don't waste your money/time? do you legitimately require a snorkel? are you going to do trips where the water you NEED to cross is deeper than the headlights? or are you planning extended outback tours where dust is going to be a legitimate concern? the performance/economy penalty of a snorkel is small but permanent. the benefits are few and very far between.

What do you mean by the performance/economy penalty?

[dumbdunce]

how about don't waste your money/time? do you legitimately require a snorkel? are you going to do trips where the water you NEED to cross is deeper than the headlights? or are you planning extended outback tours where dust is going to be a legitimate concern? the performance/economy penalty of a snorkel is small but permanent. the benefits are few and very far between.

What do you mean by the performance/economy penalty?

your engine has to work harder to draw the air through the length and bends of the snorkel and associated plumbing.

[alien]

dont know about that - the airbox on the sierra restricts down to quite a small opening, probably half that of the snorkle diameter. I noticed no ill effects with mine at all.

[mhgill]

how about don't waste your money/time? do you legitimately require a snorkel? are you going to do trips where the water you NEED to cross is deeper than the headlights? or are you planning extended outback tours where dust is going to be a legitimate concern? the performance/economy penalty of a snorkel is small but permanent. the benefits are few and very far between.

Give the guy a break he was asking what brand was better, not if YOU think he needs one.

Safari sorkels FTW.

[Tiny]

how about don't waste your money/time? do you legitimately require a snorkel? are you going to do trips where the water you NEED to cross is deeper than the headlights? or are you planning extended outback tours where dust is going to be a legitimate concern? the performance/economy penalty of a snorkel is small but permanent. the benefits are few and very far between.

Give the guy a break he was asking what brand was better, not if YOU think he needs one.

Safari sorkels FTW.

settle down, Brian was just asking if the guy realy needs one or if he just wants onw coz his mate has one and they look cool or whatever. why waste you coin on a snorkel if its in not ever going to be needed in the driving the bloke will be doing

[dumbdunce]

how about don't waste your money/time? do you legitimately require a snorkel? are you going to do trips where the water you NEED to cross is deeper than the headlights? or are you planning extended outback tours where dust is going to be a legitimate concern? the performance/economy penalty of a snorkel is small but permanent. the benefits are few and very far between.

Give the guy a break he was asking what brand was better, not if YOU think he needs one.

Safari sorkels FTW.

I made no judgement as to whether he needs one or not - although the probability of him actually needing one are slim to none - I left that up to him.

most deep water crossings are by nature temporary - that is, they occur after heavy rain, in places where water crosses the road - this usually makes them swiftly flowing and too dangerous to drive across. it also means that if you wait - sometimes an hour, sometimes a couple of days, the water will be low enough to cross safely - and will be way lower than the level required for a snorkel. almost any other deep water crossing will be 100% optional. a snorkel can be of some limited benefit in dusty situations, however the best benefit comes with fitment of a cyclonic precleaner - which most 4WDs are already equipped with integral with the air filter canister. unless extended outback/desert touring is the goal, a snorkel is a waste.

trying to save the guy the potential waste of time and money on a largely junk accessory (although I'm sure safari's marketing team will tell you different)- I would have thought that was giving him a break. the $500 is far better spent on tyres or difflocks or a winch (or a radiator blind if you really need to cross water)

like it or not, there IS a performance/economy penalty with a snorkel. air has mass and moving it generates friction along whatever you move it through, it takes energy to change its direction. every bend and every millimeter of pipe the air has to be drawn through costs fuel and power from the engine. sure in a zook where your maximum airflow is probably around 130cfm you might never notice the difference. on a 4+ litre turbo diesel where airflow can exceed 600 cfm, there is a significant and measurable pressure drop across the snorkel - a pressure drop that means (amongst other things) you are always trying to pull the compressor wheel off the front of the turbo shaft that little bit harder. sure the vehicle in question falls somewhere in between, but the fact remains that a snorkel is if no benefit and some definite detriment to the engine, except for in some very, very rare and specific circumstances.

so, if it's about looks and bragging rights and the safe and secure feeling that you can drive into water deep enough to destroy the rest of the vehicle and drown its occupants but at least protect the engine internals from a gutful or water, get whichever snorkel you think looks best or is cheapest or meets whatever criterion you find most important. If it's about protecting your engine and getting the best possible economy and engine life, no snorkel at all is probably the best option.

cheerio

DD

[Struth]

If you want to tour the high country then a snorkle will be a good investment because some of the rivers will require one, especially if your cars intake is low and at the front of the vehicle. It is also very dusty up there in the summer when in convoy so it will help as well.

Obviously the best snorkle to get will be air tight and breathe well enough to not restrict the engine intake of air.

maybe ask each manufacturer if they have performance comparisons of vehicles with and without their snorkles, if one can provide this info and the other can't then you have found your winner.

Cheers

[CWBYUP]

cheerio :)DD

Your first answer will most likely be " your in sales " etc etc but this is a genuine question.

I understand your thoughts on the cfm point but what about a the temperature of the air intake up higher ?

Yes drawing it through a snorkel will create heat but no where near the differance of roof height to under bonnet. ( this is not assumption but facts of how it works on my GQ).

Also what about the ram effect the snorkel has by pushing air into the airbox ?

Would be interested to hear from others as well as DD.

Cheers Nick

[tiny80]

a standard 4.5l 80 series no snorkel 92kw with airtek snorkel 92kwon the dyno then
added turbo 157 kw with airtek on
with custom 100mm snorkle made 188kw still useing standard filter canistor just modifed
this is just my test over the past 6 six years
i would get one if your going 4x4 anywhere there is mud dirt dust water. loose gravel as some airbox entrys are not well placed for long gravel drives ps they should be from the factory

[T_Diesel]

When I bought my GQ five years ago it was already fitted with a safari snorkel.

I have been very thankful at least a dozen times that it has been there and worked as it has supposed to.

Would I have fitted one if one wan't fitted when I bought the vehicle?

Yes I would becuase I believe that they are the best engine insurance you can buy for a diesel motor for around $500. IMHO any 4wd that ventures into dusty or does regular river crossings or plays in bog holes should have one fitted.

Just make sure it is sealed properly and works as it is intended to.

[gg_courier05]

Thanks for all the info, definitely given me something to ponder over.

I was just wondering though whether to get a safari or an airtec snorkel. I have made up my mind though, safari it will be.

Thanks guys, shows that there is a lot of knowledge and experience out there.

[Struth]

cheerio :)DD

Your first answer will most likely be " your in sales " etc etc but this is a genuine question.

I understand your thoughts on the cfm point but what about a the temperature of the air intake up higher ?

Yes drawing it through a snorkel will create heat but no where near the differance of roof height to under bonnet. ( this is not assumption but facts of how it works on my GQ).

Also what about the ram effect the snorkel has by pushing air into the airbox ?

Would be interested to hear from others as well as DD.

Cheers Nick

My V8 ran 104rwkw with an airpod under the bonnet, with the same airpod in a home made cannister and a 3" snorkel it makes 135 rwkw.

That is a very real power increase simply by the cold air induction effect the snorkel has.

Engines do not like to draw warm air, it is not as dense as cold air and doesn't aid combustion as well.

No ram effect is noticable between having a snorkel hood facing forward or a rubber elbow facing rearward on mine.

I am going up to a 4" snorkel because my and my dyno tuners belief is that the 3" is too restrictive to allow enough air into the throttle body.

So the big benifit in some cases is feeding cool air to the engine, this can be coupled to too much restriction on the air intake as per mine, but a power increase of more than 25% with a snorkel that is too restrictive is not to be sneezed at.

Cheers

[gg_courier05]

Apparently there isn't a Safari snorkel for my model anyways, only airtec or airflow. So i am getting airtec.

[fester2au]

Apparently there isn't a Safari snorkel for my model anyways, only airtec or airflow. So i am getting airtec.

Obviously now your choice is very limited. I have heard from others that the airflow is not that great in quality which also would show in their price.
As far as Airtek or Safari I see no real difference in overall quality but I know when I put one on a previous GU the Airtek had a better flow path and larger piping than the Safari.

If both were available at similar prices I would look into the size and shape of the plumbing.

[booflux]

I have always had safari without any drama, this time round I went airteck as it looks better on this vehicle, does teh job and no dramas yet.