Air is a key component in the operation of a motor vehicle. Snorkels are added to vehicles to enable them operate effectively.

They essentially work like a human snorkel (tube) – sucking in air from above the water.

Clean air intake
Ronnie Kyazze, a land rover defender owner says a vehicle will normally get air from a certain position – the front, ground, and here in Africa the ground is dusty so a raised air intake/snorkel guarantees clean air from above.

The clean air, he says, gives the vehicle a longer air filter service period because it is not exposed to dirt easily. “I change my defender air filter once in a long time because of the clean air from the raised air intake. Ofcourse there is some dirt, but this is minimal compared to the structure of an air filter,” he notes.

Safe water wading
The other importance of the snorkel is it helps with water passage. Motorists are normally advised to avoid roads cut off by water for their safety also that of the vehicle, especially if you are not sure of the height advantage (ground clearance).

However, with a snorkel, the risk to the vehicle’s parts is eliminated. “If you have a snorkel fitted properly, you simply drive. Water will not go into the air filter because it is connected to the engine,” he said. Derrick Lwanga, a mechanic says snorkels are normally on off-road vehicles that enables them to go through water without the risk of spoiling the engine. He explains that those vehicles are also built in a way that water does not affect the alternators.

Effect
This in effect gives motorist an efficient engine because of the clean air going through the snorkel. That should also give a better fuel air mixture, according to Kyazze. That it is why cars without a snorkel have dirty filters, partly because of the muddy waters they go through. “The snorkel gives you clean air and contributes low consumption of fuel, because you are getting clean air. Either way, even if you don’t get better fuel economy because of clean air, your engine should last longer because of limited dirt,” Kyazze explains.