2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42
Many motorists are partial to SUVs. After all, a big jeep is prestige. Many SUV owners drive their cars off-road. In such conditions, there is a high risk of damaging your vehicle and shortening its service life. That is why many SUV owners are trying to somehow improve and secure them. Fortunately, in our time, you can install various elements to protect the car in any car service or even on your own.
Snorkel
For the first time this device began to be used during the Great Patriotic War. The snorkel was then installed on submarines. This made it possible to increase the presence of boats under water. However, the devices of that time were not as good as they are now. The air outlet was not set through the snorkel, so oxygen did not penetrate into the submarine. Because of this, it was impossible to operate the boat underwater for a long time.
Snorkel is an air intake device. Hisinstalled in the front of the car, usually along the glass pillar. Its lower part is installed under the engine compartment, and on top it just goes out. This is done so that clean air enters the engine. It is also installed by off-road enthusiasts, as it protects the motor from water ingress.
History
The name of the device is related to its manufacturer - Safari Snorkel. The snorkel is named after him. This device was made only in one place - at a plant in Australia. The device was intended to prevent anything from getting into the power unit of the car. Now the snorkel is installed to protect the motor from water and other liquids that should not penetrate inside.
Device
Outwardly, the device looks like a regular pipe. However, it is not. The snorkel on the Chevrolet Niva is installed to the air filter in the engine and rises to the roof of the car. Also, some drivers install a snorkel only up to the hood or up to half the windshield. This design is ineffective.
The snorkel is attached to the air filter with thick rubber. This eliminates the risk of the device flying out and getting water into the motor. It also reduces wear on the snorkel.
The main functions of the snorkel are:
- Cleaning the air entering the engine from various dirt.
- Preventing water from entering the engine.
Many cars have a snorkel installed by the manufacturer. However, its lengthminimal, as it can spoil the appearance of the car. That is why such a device saves the motor a little. Because of this, various dirt gets into the engine and it becomes clogged. Eventually the motor fails and requires costly repairs.
A car with a snorkel installed will be able to overcome shallow sections of lakes or rivers without any problem for the motor. It also helps in case of overcoming sandy areas. On a car without a snorkel, it is not recommended to drive on sandy surfaces, as this will severely damage the engine.
Snorkel choice
The choice of snorkel for the "Patriot" most of all depends on the operating conditions of the car. Therefore, you need to decide on the following nuances:
- Where is the car used the most? Based on this, you need to choose the material and workmanship of the snorkel.
- Required device size.
- The installation location of the device. In some cases, it may interfere with the driver's view.
- What is the budget for the purchase.
So, when choosing a snorkel for UAZ "Patriot", for example, there are several important points that you need to pay attention to, namely:
- Material of production. As a rule, this device is located on the outside of the car, and therefore it is most susceptible to damage. Most often, the main part is made of plastic, and the joints are made of rubber material. Due to this, separation of parts of the product is excluded, as well asincreases its service life.
- Any snorkel is attached to the car. Elements for fasteners must be treated with an anti-corrosion compound.
- Any snorkel should have a nozzle. Ideally, a drainage system should be installed on it. This will increase the usefulness of the device.
- It is better to choose a snorkel with a pivoting top.
Installation Methods
As a rule, the installation of the snorkel on the "Niva", for example, is carried out in front of the car. Its attachment points are racks. Almost every snorkel has a special spout. It can be installed both in the direction of the car and against it.
The first method will make the snorkel work the most noticeable. Thus, the air will flow in a strong stream. Along with it, various dirt will also get into the snorkel, which will subsequently be removed from there.
The second way of positioning the spout is the least effective, since the air intake will be minimal, and the ingress of dirt will not decrease, and possibly even increase. In winter, this option is also bad, since an ice crust will constantly form on the spout, due to which the air intake will stop.
Also, some drivers turn their nose towards the windshield. In this case, the device will not protect against water entering the motor, but vice versa. When crossing sections of rivers or lakes of shallow depth, water will fall on the windshield, and from there - into the engine through the snorkel.
Checking the tightness of the snorkel
When the device is already installed, it is necessary to check its correct operation. It's pretty easy to do, all you need is a package. It must be put on the top of the snorkel without a nozzle and tightly fixed. After that, you need to start the engine and monitor the condition of the package. If it bursts, the snorkel is working properly and is sealed. If the package starts to climb in, the installation of the snorkel on the UAZ was done incorrectly and you need to check everything and find the error.
Care
Most owners of cars with a snorkel installed do not follow this device. This is not entirely correct, since in this case the wear of the device increases. For proper operation of the snorkel, it is recommended to inspect all parts of the device and check for leaks. The frequency of inspections depends on how long a particular vehicle has been in operation.
Conclusion
Snorkel is a pretty useful device. However, it will be useful only for SUVs, which are often off-road. In this case, the role of the snorkel is great, since the further operation of the car engine depends on it. If the SUV is rarely used off-road or does not happen at all, then there is no need to install a snorkel.
We hope this article was helpful and you found all the information you need about the car snorkel.
