Snorkels mpg/ performance gains

T

Topgun514

Adventurer
Posted in GD, not as many takers

I know the positives of raised intake, mainly concerning flash floods and dirt intake living here in the desert of SLC, moab area, etc. But as mpg are also in mind, I have heard back and forth's about the gains and performance of a snorkel.

So, give it to me straight, dyno testing, personal experience, the works.


I am looking into the Airflow snorkel for my 88' XJ and would love to get a few more gains from this.

TheAdamBlaster has already chimed in (thank you btw, haha) but who else has experience with this topic?
 
wADVr

wADVr

Adventurer
With the addition of the Airflow snorkle, I noticed better highway speed cruising power and am sure it played a part in acheiving 20mpg on a consistent basis with 33s, 4.56:1 gears and being loaded down to over 5k. Throttle response, increased acceleration etc werent really anything that jumped out at me but criusing down the highway it seemed to run much healthier and struggle less on slight inclines.

FYI> I used the factory air box with a Fram Airhog airfilter, the engine also had ford 5.0 injectors (the other mod that made a noticible difference), Borla header and a full 2.5" exhaust.
 
Amauri

Amauri

Explorer
I'll be putting one on my ZJ soon but I don't expect anything significant. Probably better than the ram intake I have on it now since the air will be much cooler. I'm pretty happy with my MPG I'm averaging about 17 right now with 33's and 3.73's. I need to take my roof rack off that will probably help out.
 
G

grntj

New member
I have to agree with T&A-XJ, my 01 TJ was pulling the mountain passes with 37's better than my buddy's TJ with 35's and the under hood intake set up. I run the factory air box with a K&N filter. I now run 35's and still am happy with the performance. I read on another website that someone had tested the air temperature with a snokel vs aftermarket intake. The air temp with snorkel was lower by about 50 degrees.
 
winkosmosis

winkosmosis

Explorer
For the record, with my stock intake in traffic in 85F weather, my intake air temp will go all the way up to 150F and even 160F according to the Scangauge. I would imagine a snorkel would make your intake temp only slightly above ambient, especially if you insulate the piping.

But colder, denser air should theoretically make your gas mileage worse not better. People on Ecomodder modify their cars with hot air intakes to boost efficiency
 
Explorer 1

Explorer 1

Explorer 1
Just installed snorkel and new air "box"

I'm not sure much of the performance gain is not mental, however, my engine builder recommended a "cold source" of air for maximum torque and horsepower, so the snorkel provides this.

I wasn't impressed with the water tightness of the OEM filter and air box that most snorkels attach to, so I opted for a canister system and found one by K&N that isn't listed in their paper catalog but is in the online catalog.

Was fairly easy to adapt it to the OEM intake.

http://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=RC-5052AS

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1
 
Last edited:
R

RunninRubicon

Adventurer
Snorkels and gas-mileage

Let me chime in here and mentioned on thing. If your read much about NASCAR and the SCCA, there are a multitude of engine builders in this realm that have long taughted the saying "for every 11 degrees you reduce the temp of your incoming air, you gain 1 percent in power.

Take your laser temp gun out on the tarmac. It's very much different then the air even four feet off the street. A snorkel breathing up high, say six feet off the ground will make a difference in temps. As mentioned above an insulated air intake will add up to a cooler..read more dense air charge. This will equal more hp to the driver wheel.

We all know breathing under the hood behing the radiator air stream equals 195+ temps. Anything you can do to cool the intake air charge will help.
 
T

Topgun514

Adventurer
Thats the thing, I have heard people SAY colder air means lower mpg, but dyno tests have said otherwise.

In no way am I downplaying your reply, its just interesting because its not the first time I have heard it so who even knows anymore.
 
wADVr

wADVr

Adventurer
One additional comment to my post above. I tried using the intake top mounted facing the rear of the vehicle and noticed a decrease in performance.. possibly equal to that I gained from adding the snorkle. So not much but noticeable to me.

What do you think about a cowl intake?
http://www.thor4x4.com/html/xj_cowl_induction.html

It seems like a good alternative for those (such as me) that dont want the big plastic intake hanging off the side of the jeep. In reading gojeep.com (I cant ever remember the exact link) it seems as it should have the ram air effect as desired but not sure how heat would affect the intake temps. I have not tried this but thought I would throw it out there as I am on the fence with this one.
 
winkosmosis

winkosmosis

Explorer
Topgun514 said:
Thats the thing, I have heard people SAY colder air means lower mpg, but dyno tests have said otherwise.

In no way am I downplaying your reply, its just interesting because its not the first time I have heard it so who even knows anymore.
Click to expand...

How does the dyno test show that colder air gives better mpg?

Theoretically the less dense air requires less fuel per throttle opening while also reducing the resistance of flow through the throttle, so you should see better mpg with hotter air. But I've heard people say they get better mpg with the snorkel.

Maybe cooler air lets the engine run leaner or something??
 
PhulesAU

PhulesAU

Explorer
denser air, means more oxygen. the more oxygen for the combustion process, the more complete burning of the fuel. It really is that simple.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
190,046
Messages
2,923,470
Members
233,330
Latest member
flipstick

Members online

Total: 820 (members: 24, guests: 796)
Top