Snorkel Experiment

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perazzimx8

Guest
I purchased a snorkel for my 04 DII recently and wondered what effect, if any, the snorkel would have on intake air temperature versus the stock system.
On the day of the snorkel installation I drove through town and monitored the air intake temperature via my laptop. I have a Proscan OBDII reader so I can see real time data. With the ambient temperature at 85 degrees the intake temperature would range from 125 to 145 degrees.
I then installed the snorkel and drove the same route. This time however, the ambient temperature was 95 degrees. The intake temperature ranged from 105 to 125 degrees.
From this experiment I came to two conclusions: one, the snorkel provides approximately 20 degrees cooler air versus the stock intake system and two, whoever decided that the way to draw air into an engine was to run the air intake into the fender and then allow the engine to suck oxygen through whatever crack or crevice that happened to be present, is a moron.


LR with Snorkel 003.jpg


P.S. I would like to thank John Lee at EE for his advice on installing the snorkel and to Jay Ramoski for doing an excellent job cutting a hole in my fender.
 
Petalphanumeric

Petalphanumeric

Member
Aug 8, 2006
17
0
nice install, what brand of snorkel is that? so far ive only been able to find the ARB one, but this one looks much cleaner because it dosen't run the majority of the fender length.
 
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P

perazzimx8

Guest
Yeah right! I wonder just how much impact this will have. I'll bet little to none that can be measured.
Click to expand...

The purpose of this experiment was not to measure the impact of a lower temp but to determine how the stock intake temp compares to the snorkel air temp. I will need more funding to do further experiments.


As to water, I will find out soon.
 
MUSKYMAN

MUSKYMAN

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
8,277
0
OverBarrington IL
ptschram said:
Yeah right! I wonder just how much impact this will have. I'll bet little to none that can be measured.
Click to expand...

well 20* lower intake temp on my VW TDI allows it to push 4 more lbs of boost...so intake air temp can make a HUGEdifference in some applications

not sure on a 04 DII:)
 
Gonzo

Gonzo

Well-known member
Oct 12, 2005
618
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Huntington Beach,CA
So is a 15 to 20 degree drop that big of a deal?I not to sound rude or anything I'm just not that experienced with such things. Also if the snorkel top was to face the front would you get faster and cooler air? Or would that allow more dust into the intake?
 
MUSKYMAN

MUSKYMAN

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
8,277
0
OverBarrington IL
well to be more specific...it depends...LOL

20* could be from -20 to 0 or it could be from 200 to 225

the first wouldent really matter except at start-up and the second could be the difference between detonation or no detonation.

in the degree range that his pointing out I would be willing to bet that the engine does see a bit more spark advance and that will relate to a bit more power and MPG, but as Paul pointed out it may not even be worth talking about?

I wonder if his real time viewing will show the advance curve?...that would show us if it matters or not...maybe a graph of spark advance to intake air temp?

his imperical deductions might not be correct as well due to the difference in outside temp....I would be surprised if its a flat scale of temp difference.

engines are VERY sensative to intake air temp...hence the intercooler. with gas engines intake temp is the main determiner of how much fuel the intake air volume can carry.
 
95d1

95d1

Well-known member
Oct 22, 2005
463
0
Terrace, B.C., Canada
I would think it would hinder the performance as much as it helps due to the fact it needs to pull the air through a tube that has sharp curves and corners too.
 
XtremeMarine

XtremeMarine

Banned
May 27, 2005
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Vero Beach, Florida
That is a Mantec snorkel. Did the install on my 02 DII two weeks ago, and have recorded almost a full mpg better through two tanks of gas. Car runs better, idles better,, comes off its cold start circuit quicker, and sounds much cooler (no regards to intake temp, just my ear.) Daniel.
 
mgreenspan

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
Won't the engine computer or whatever just negate any extra air flow that you have caused by turning the thing forwards? Also the Mantec snorkels can't really be turned around to face the other way.
 
A

Archerdisco

Guest
The main reason for the snorkel design is to get the air intake point up high to avoid water ingestion to the engine. The positive side affect is that it does improve engine performance by lowering the air intake temperature and yes 20 deg. does make a big difference.

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