LR3 Snorkel, is it worth it?

[meidenberg]

Hello all, I have a 2005 LR3 HSE. I have always admired the look of a fording snorkel on beefy landies and am considering installing one made by Safari Snorkel, and sold by Atlantic British. I have three questions? Is the Safari as good as the Land Rover OEM snorkel? Can you get the Land Rover part here in the US? Is there really a benefit other than cosmetically? I had a Safari Snorkel on my 2000 Disco II, it looked great, but I did not really see any performance gains, or fuel economy. Thanks in advance for the replies.

Mike

 

[CoyGlasscock]

but I did not really see any performance gains, or fuel economy.
Mike

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but the snorkels are designed to help keep water and dust to a minimum. Not performance. I think they actual take away perfromance no matter who makes it, and especially on a LR3 that already has a cool air intake on the side.

If you just want performance you may want to stay away from a snorkel. Plus they make more wind noise on the highway.

 

[meidenberg]

Thank you for the input. According to the Safari Snorkel web site, it is supposed to act as cold air induction. They claim you should see an increase in HP and MPG. I tried it on my DII and found neither. I should add that the install on my Disco was a royal pain, it looks a lot simpler on the LR3 as there is no drilling involved.

 

[nwoods]

Call me crazy, but I feel that my LR3 has slightly snappier throttle response with the OEM snorkel. It's invisible from the drivers side, and there is no wind noise either, though at one certain throttle position /rpm range there is a small intake whistle

 

[nwoods]

I meant to add, that the performance benefit of a snorkel is not for fuel economy and so forth, it's primary for reduced dust ingestion, and some piece of mind when fording streams.

 

[gordonwh]

With respect to fording, the Safari snorkel is a real snorkel - ie it seals the air induction systems against water intake. The LR snorkel does not, although it's better than nothing, and as long as you have forward momentum it probably won't let water in.

Both give better performance in dusty conditions, as you're drawing the air from above most of the dust. But as the std air intake is from outside of the vehicle anyway (via the vent on the right-hand side), I don't think there is any benefit from 'cooler' air.

Cheers,

Gordon

 

[meidenberg]

Thanks for the input. I think I am going to get the Safari. Even if it just makes the LR3 look a little more rugged!

 

[Flip]

Your going to get some wind noise and before you install one I'd recommend riding in a 3 with one if you can just to make sure its tolerable.

 

[nwoods]

No wind noise with the Land Rover KIT "raised air intake", but the Safari snorkel is certainly bigger and less aerodynamically designed, so I can see it adding some degree of wind noise, certainly.

 

[jwest]

IT's all BS! There's no way the snorkle provides any snappier throttle... it's in your mind The poorly tuned lr3 engine would need more than a new air intake to noticeably improve it's performance.

Seriously, they DO create noise, especially when lowering the 2nd window a couple inches due to the air flow being interrupted.

Any mpg bullshit is going to be offset by this big object sitting in the wind.

The only thing good about a standard installed lr3 snorkle is that it looks cool and in very dusty conditions, following other vehicles, will it bring cleaner air in.

 

[tweaked]

Saw this on a another forum:

http://www.landroversonly.com/forums/f16/new-genuine-land-rover-snorkel-fs-26204/