raised air intake? What's the point?

[derekdilks]

I started shopping for an aftermarket D3 snorkel, and I read the thread below on the possible group buy for a G4 version and learned that it wasn't a true snorkle rather a 'raised air intake' Someone posted (I believe Gordon) that Safari was making a true 'snorkel' for the beast but that it was dog-ugly. It just raised the question... Why even put on a raised air intake if it's not going to do anything at all? I find it hard to believe it's just for looks.... Can someone please explain?

drowning in confusion

 

[Leslie]

I started shopping for an aftermarket D3 snorkel, and I read the thread below on the possible group buy for a G4 version and learned that it wasn't a true snorkle rather a 'raised air intake' Someone posted (I believe Gordon) that Safari was making a true 'snorkel' for the beast but that it was dog-ugly. It just raised the question... Why even put on a raised air intake if it's not going to do anything at all? I find it hard to believe it's just for looks.... Can someone please explain?

drowning in confusion

Isn't a snorkel the same thing as a raised air intake?

What would you expect a snorkel to do on an LR3? Not planning on deep wading, are you? It's so full of electronics that it Lucas would be a nightmare from then on out.

The more practical reason for a raised air intake is to cut down on dust ingestion, to get up into cleaner air than down at wheelwell level on dusty roads.

 

[derekdilks]

Isn't a snorkel the same thing as a raised air intake?

What would you expect a snorkel to do on an LR3? Not planning on deep wading, are you? It's so full of electronics that it Lucas would be a nightmare from then on out.

The more practical reason for a raised air intake is to cut down on dust ingestion, to get up into cleaner air than down at wheelwell level on dusty roads.

apparently they are different... based on the previous thread anyway. a true 'sealed' snorkel can be submerged, and the other not at all...your theory, which makes perfect sense, is to get to cleaner, more dust free, air..... but that still doesn't explain the open vents at the same factory intake level on the 'raised air intake'... See pic....

And no I don't plan to do any deep wading, not with the lr3, but I could see trying to minmize damage and prevent water from intruding in that side vent in the unlikely event I DID make a mistake and went in deep water.

 

[Leslie]

Any gasoline engine is going to have to have a spark, ie electronics, and a snorkel will be of limited value. A raised air intake for dust is useful for a gasoline engine. If we bring a diesel into play, then "a snorkel" can actually be used for wading... well, not so much a Td5 or later as they have electronics too, but an older 200 or 300 Tdi could.

Are those actually vents in the side? Or are they just grooves molded into it, and don't go all the way through?

Even a "real snorkel" needs to not be "sealed", it needs to have some sort of a drain on it to allow any water that does get in, to bleed back out, some sort of a check-valve.

For an LR3, a "raised air intake" would more than suffice, even if you did do a quick jaunt across a ford... you won't go for long before the electronics go, but the elevated intake will keep you from hydrolocking the engine....

 

[frickjp]

It gives you something to attach the rack light wires and the diff/trans/x-fer breather hoses to.

 

[nwoods]

Leslie, I appreciate your help on this forum, but perhaps you do not have the same depth of experience with the LR3 as you do with other Rovers (pun intended!). The LR3 has been submerged the world over, and it works great. The plugs are all sealed, the engine bay is sealed, the doors are sealed, even the battery is sealed.

Check out these videos:
- http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10134/The crossing.wmv
- http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10134/Slimer.wmv
- http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10134/D3 110.wmv

However, you are right on about the molded slates on the side of the raised air intake, they are just molded accent lines. There are small drain slots on the bottom of the intake near where it joins the body, but not on the sides. My friend in the photo above sealed his off with a bit of duct tape for a day in the puddles and it was fun. And in the videos posted above, you will see that it does quite alright even without it truly sealed.

Cheers!

 

[gordonwh]

From what I've seen of the Safari snorkels in action vs the L/R 'raised air intake'.

The Safari one seals sufficiently such that you can have the vent under water with no forward motion and not take on water. The L/R one is sufficient to keep water out of the intake as long as your vehicle is moving.

Cheers,

Gordon

 

[Leslie]

Leslie, I appreciate your help on this forum, but perhaps you do not have the same depth of experience with the LR3 as you do with other Rovers (pun intended!). The LR3 has been submerged the world over, and it works great. The plugs are all sealed, the engine bay is sealed, the doors are sealed, even the battery is sealed.
Check out these videos: (snip) However, you are right on about the molded slates on the side of the raised air intake, they are just molded accent lines. There are small drain slots on the bottom of the intake near where it joins the body, but not on the sides. My friend in the photo above sealed his off with a bit of duct tape for a day in the puddles and it was fun. And in the videos posted above, you will see that it does quite alright even without it truly sealed.

You are correct, I don't have *any* hands-on experience w/ LR3's outside of the US. Which, therefore, includes any diesel ones. If I was going to do any wading, I'd always take a diesel over a petrol. (Nice link to the UK ones).

Derek here, though, is in the US, so, his LR3 is going to be a gasoline version, and not a petrol version. So, while I will wholly agree with you for "the world over", I would have to say that it doesn't apply to the US. Unfortunately....

 

[nwoods]

Wow, I have no experience with diesels, so your comment is all new info to me. What is it that makes the difference? They both are air breathers, they both burn fuel, what makes a significant difference in terms of wading?

BTW, I am also in the US, with a V6 petrol (gas) Base model. That is my white one crossing the San Gabriel river in the photo.

 

[cyoc62]

Are my really that bad or did that camera not have a focus control? That was too deep for my taste.:applause:

 

[nwoods]

Are my really that bad or did that camera not have a focus control? That was too deep for my taste.:applause:

I think it was recorded with a cell phone. One of those fancy G3 phones the Europeans have access to.

 

[gordonwh]

Wow, I have no experience with diesels, so your comment is all new info to me. What is it that makes the difference? They both are air breathers, they both burn fuel, what makes a significant difference in terms of wading?

.

A diesel ignites its fuel mix via compression, hence no spark plugs, coils etc

Once apon-a-time this was a great advantage - nothing electric under the bonnet to get wet. Modern diesels however, have a plethora of electronic components in the engine bay, so it's probably not quite as much an advantage anymore, although I'd still prefer the diesel for deep wading.

 

[nwoods]

A diesel ignites its fuel mix via compression, hence no spark plugs, coils etc..

Cool! I guess I never dwelt on that distinction. Thanks!

 

[Leslie]

Doh! My apologies for missing your question. Yep, diesels don't need a spark, thus, they do much better around water.


FWIW......

 

[JSQ]

Leslie, I appreciate your help on this forum, but perhaps you do not have the same depth of experience with the LR3 as you do with other Rovers (pun intended!).

This from the chump who doesn't know the difference between diesel and gasoline.

It cracks me up how Leslie has apparently never been in an LR3 and he seems to know more about it than you.

 

[Leslie]

This from the chump who doesn't know the difference between diesel and gasoline.

It cracks me up how Leslie has apparently never been in an LR3 and he seems to know more about it than you.

lol... thanks Jack....

Truth be told, I have taken an LR3 for a test drive, right after it arrived at the dealership in Knoxville....

It's a nice enough vehicle. Comfortable, solid-feeling. All the gizmo-wizardry works quite well, actually....

But the long of the short of it is.... on a long expedition, where things may hit the fan and you have to be able to repair things yourself in order to get back home, it's not the vehicle I'd want to be in.

FWIW....

 

[nwoods]

lol... thanks Jack....

Truth be told, I have taken an LR3 for a test drive, right after it arrived at the dealership in Knoxville....

It's a nice enough vehicle. Comfortable, solid-feeling. All the gizmo-wizardry works quite well, actually....

But the long of the short of it is.... on a long expedition, where things may hit the fan and you have to be able to repair things yourself in order to get back home, it's not the vehicle I'd want to be in.

FWIW....

That's the beauty of my LR3. Base model is very simply mechanically, including straightforward coils. There have been a slew of software patches and "enchancements' the past year, NONE of which have pertained to my truck

As for JSO - kiss my rear end buddy! I was pointing out that Leslie doesn't own an LR3 and was not as familar with it. And of course, being an American, I have not had much opportnuity to own a diesel Land Rover now have I? I would LOVE a TDIv8 Range Rover though!

NW

 

[JSQ]

That's the beauty of my LR3. Base model is very simply mechanically, including straightforward coils. There have been a slew of software patches and "enchancements' the past year, NONE of which have pertained to my truck

As for JSO - kiss my rear end buddy! I was pointing out that Leslie doesn't own an LR3 and was not as familar with it. And of course, being an American, I have not had much opportnuity to own a diesel Land Rover now have I? I would LOVE a TDIv8 Range Rover though!

NW

Man you are the fucking poseur of all poseurs.

I know who you are.

Your thinking you are MR. LR3 with your retarded Stormtrooper Edition poverty-pack "shipped here by mistake" beater and you clearly don't know a damn thing.

There is no "beauty" to your junker.
You just don't fucking get it do you?
All of the electronics that you are so proud not to have are what make the LR3 kick ass. It may not be expedition-worthy as Leslie has stated but it's mind-boggling computer-driven capabilities make it the most kick ass stocker LR to date. Take away the superb drop and articulation of the air suspension and the impressive grip of the terrain response and what do you have left? A really really expensive disco1 that there is no worthwhile aftermarket for.

You think you lucked out?

You missed the boat.

 

[Leslie]

That's the beauty of my LR3. Base model is very simply mechanically, including straightforward coils. There have been a slew of software patches and "enchancements' the past year, NONE of which have pertained to my truck

A) Didn't say a thing about the mechanics, did I?

B) From a pro-PC POV, the lower model is beyond being "upgradable"... you're stuck w/ what you have, you can't upgrade it. From a neg-PC POV, you'll get to the point in a couple of years where, it will need help, and there's not a thing that can be done....


The six doesn't get better mileage than the eight, has less power. And it didn't save a substantial amount on the cost, either.


Have fun w/ it, tho'.....



:yawn:

 

[nwoods]

All of the electronics that you are so proud not to have are what make the LR3 kick ass. It may not be expedition-worthy as Leslie has stated but it's mind-boggling computer-driven capabilities make it the most kick ass stocker LR to date.

You are only partially on target there. My car has all the normal systems, they just aren't integrated. The Terrain Control does not in itself provide traction. It just integrates all the systems to reduce the need for driver input.

My LR3 has all the underlying components, including HDC, SRS, DSC, ABS, Traction Control, and a CDL. What i do not have is the twirling dial to engage or disengage those functions automagically. They are still there, it just requires a more comprehensive understanding of what they do so that I can employ them to maximum benefit, more or less manually.

I agree the articulation of the air suspension is awesome, but I love bombing down a Baja style road (like Old Dale Road in Joshua Tree) at 70 mph and not worrying about ground clearance. The stock LR3 won't go over 30 mph in off road mode. I also like the fact that should I get the funds to do so, I can swap out my suspension for a true long travel system set up, without trying to figure out how to give the ECU a lobotomy.

If you ever want to see an LR3 turned into a hard core off road rig, you would need to start with one like mine.