Snorkel Questions

[barlowrs]

Hey guys, I am finally getting around to throwing a snorkel on my rig, and I had a few questions I was hoping someone could help me with.

I already have my breathers (diffs, actuators, trans, etc) extended to the engine bay, but with the snorkel I want to run them into it so the air comes from the snorkel. I know its pretty overkill, but I'd rather do it as a preventative measure than someday find myself starnded becasuse I didnt (and yes I do AVOID water crossings, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, you never know waht mother nature will throw at you).

Questions:

1. The air intake "sucks" air in creating a negative pressure. If I do route my breathers here, wouldn't the negative pressure try to suck the air OUT of my diffs, etc? I know people do this mod, so I know it does work in real life, I'm just trying to wrap my brain around it.

2. Anyone have know of any write-ups on doing this? If so please link

3. Is it acceptable to route all my breahters (diffs, diff actuator, xfer case, transmission) into one commone breather tube that gets routed into snorkel?

4. Any other advise anyone can give me


THANKS!

 

[viter]

I don't have any pics unfortunately, but that is exactly what I did on my 2003 tacoma. I routed all breathers (both diffs, tranny and x-case) into the airbox. I connected all lkines in the engine bay into one, then instalkled a VW type fuel filter into the main line that goes to the airbox. Filter is installed such that it would not let debris and dust from the airbox get into the breather lines. I don't think the suction pressure inside the airbox is anywhere close to being strong enough to suck in liquid from the breather lines because lines are long, drivetrain sits well below the airbox and on the other end (diffs, tranny, x-case) are sealed entities, thus even if there was suction in the airbox it would have to overcome vacuum of the sealed drivetrain and a lot of static pressure gradient (since drivetrain sits below the airbox) to suck any liquid out of the drivetrain. So my logic is that it is much easier for the negative pressure inside the airbox to suck air from the snorkel entrance than to suck in liquid from the drivetrain through the breather tubes. I had it like this for probably 3-5 years now and haven't noticed any ill effects.

 

[viter]

Also, if you route it into the airbox try to make sure that the breather line entrance into the airbox is elevated from the floor of the airbox - this way even if any liquid gets inside the airbox none of it would go into the breather lines. On my airbox the breather connection is at the top of the airbox (still on the outer side of the air filter) but for your year taco you might have to route it differently.

 

[nater]

I was going to recommend venting them before the air filter, as that is the restriction that is creating the negative pressure. Before the air filter, there is very little pressure.

 

[barlowrs]

Also, if you route it into the airbox try to make sure that the breather line entrance into the airbox is elevated from the floor of the airbox - this way even if any liquid gets inside the airbox none of it would go into the breather lines. On my airbox the breather connection is at the top of the airbox (still on the outer side of the air filter) but for your year taco you might have to route it differently.

How did you tap the line into the plastic airbox adn make it airtight? I need to go to a hardware shop and see the kinds of connections I can find, or maybe machine something that I can seal up so it is water/air tight.

 

[CanuckMariner/Nomad]

Sorry guys, but I too am having a bit of a time getting my brain around this install into the air box.

They are called breathers for a reason....to breath...that is back and forth easily as the diffs, et al. heat up to let hot air out so fluid can expand and then more air in as they cool. If you have somewhat of a vacuum or negative air pressure from the air box, wouldn't that restrict breathing in and out?

I realize the main purpose for the extension of breathers up higher (avoid sucking in water when diffs et al. are submersed in water :snorkel. And I also realize that everyone here wants the diffs et al. to breath in clean air (without particulate debris). However, the slight negative pressure from the snorkel/air box will inhibit the air from re-entering the diffs et al. - won't it? and hence it will not really be breathing.

Picture you breathing in and out but air is always sucked away from you. You will have to apply suction to get it; but diffs et al. do not suck other than perhaps quick cooling :snorkel: and once the temp has equilibrated, there is no further suction from the diffs et al.

My air box with snorkel has a tremendous suction at the head and as such if the breathers all make union here via a breather filter (more restrictive), I am wondering if the diffs et al. get the air they need when they need it.

Sorry I am missing this...must be dumb or something? :costumed-smiley-007

 

[Bighead]

Don't feel alone...those are some of the same questions rolling through my head.

Sorry guys, but I too am having a bit of a time getting my brain around this install into the air box.

They are called breathers for a reason....to breath...that is back and forth easily as the diffs, et al. heat up to let hot air out so fluid can expand and then more air in as they cool. If you have somewhat of a vacuum or negative air pressure from the air box, wouldn't that restrict breathing in and out?

I realize the main purpose for the extension of breathers up higher (avoid sucking in water when diffs et al. are submersed in water :snorkel. And I also realize that everyone here wants the diffs et al. to breath in clean air (without particulate debris). However, the slight negative pressure from the snorkel/air box will inhibit the air from re-entering the diffs et al. - won't it? and hence it will not really be breathing.

Picture you breathing in and out but air is always sucked away from you. You will have to apply suction to get it; but diffs et al. do not suck other than perhaps quick cooling :snorkel: and once the temp has equilibrated, there is no further suction from the diffs et al.

My air box with snorkel has a tremendous suction at the head and as such if the breathers all make union here via a breather filter (more restrictive), I am wondering if the diffs et al. get the air they need when they need it.

Sorry I am missing this...must be dumb or something? :costumed-smiley-007

 

[Overland Hadley]

If you have water up to the top of your engine bay, you will have a lot more to worry about than water at your diff breathers. Remember, your gas engine is not water-proof.

 

[CanuckMariner/Nomad]

If you have water up to the top of your engine bay, you will have a lot more to worry about than water at your diff breathers. Remember, your gas engine is not water-proof.

I have had my rig under water to about 6 inches up my windows with no problems! Snorkelled of course and had a good wake in front of the rig.

 

[barlowrs]

Don't feel alone...those are some of the same questions rolling through my head.

Exaclty why I posted this. I have heard it being done, and I like the idea, I just dont understand how it is possible.

 

[barlowrs]

If you have water up to the top of your engine bay, you will have a lot more to worry about than water at your diff breathers. Remember, your gas engine is not water-proof.

This is true, but it is one more thing that will NOT go wrong if I ever need to....I don't see myself ever being in water that deep. I will drive 100 miles out of the way to get around it if possible, but you never know what the future holds. I would rather have one less thing that could cause problems than one MORE thing. I have also worked to waterproof electronics, as well as ECU, so this is not the only precaution I am taking.

I may decide it is pointless and not even worry about it and leave the breathers in the engine bay, but if its possible and simple, why not do it just in case?

Mainly I posted this to get a feel for it, if it's even possible, as I do not understand how it works with the suction from the airbox.

I hope to HECK that I NEVER need to "use" this mod

 

[Overland Hadley]

I have also worked to waterproof electronics, as well as ECU, so this is not the only precaution I am taking.

Sounds like you are taking the necessary steps. :snorkel:

 

[barlowrs]

Sounds like you are taking the necessary steps. :snorkel:

haha yeah, now lets hope I never need them...at that point my nice semi-new interior would be trashed and my feet would be wet! no fun!

 

[motochain]

Why don't you just route them to somewhere inside of the cab? Then work on sealing the cab.

The way it sounds, you're not going to have to ever worry about water to that extreme, so it just seems like a lot of extra work/headache when it's not needed.

It's too easy to see water at extreme depths coming, and they're avoidable or bypassable.

I've extended my breathers, and still had water come over my hood, and here I am years later with no side affects. I have ordered a snorkel, so you could say that alone is an extreme measure. I'm in no way criticizing any route you take, just adding another opinion.

 

[barlowrs]

Why don't you just route them to somewhere inside of the cab? Then work on sealing the cab.

The way it sounds, you're not going to have to ever worry about water to that extreme, so it just seems like a lot of extra work/headache when it's not needed.

It's too easy to see water at extreme depths coming, and they're avoidable or bypassable.

I've extended my breathers, and still had water come over my hood, and here I am years later with no side affects. I have ordered a snorkel, so you could say that alone is an extreme measure. I'm in no way criticizing any route you take, just adding another opinion.

I completley understand. But I figured its not too much extra work. Extend them and stop at the engine bay, or keep going to teh snorkel, the work is essentially the same, assuming the snorkel idea even works, which I am doubting becuase of the neg pressure.

The cab would be more difficult, as I would be running 1/4" hose in through the grommets and that would be more difficult to seal (not really hard, just harder than running to the snorkel). Also, I am afraid I would smell diff fluids all day in my cab..haha