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Have you seen the K&N Snorkel?

15K views 30 replies 22 participants last post by  ataboyjeep 
#1 ·
Living in Arizona I often drive on very dusty trails. If you're behind someone you eat dust for miles. It even seems to just hang suspended in the air.
I've been kicking around the idea of a snorkel but just can't take a saw to my hood.
I'm not a fan of the Rugged Ridge snorkel ether.
I was look on the interwebz and found that K&N is making one now.
It ain't going to win a beauty pageant but it looks like it would do the job.

What do you you think.
It's got me thinking.
One question I have is if max care lifetime warranty would be voided with this?
 
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#6 ·
I agree.
 
#7 ·
You might want to consider a snorkel that can take a fish bowl style prefilter. From what I've read, those can have a big effect on how much dust gets to the main filter in the air box.

Also, one of the great debates in the automotive world is whether or not K&N style oiled filters let more particles through than traditional OEM filters. I don't know where you stand on that one, but it's something to consider before you commit to a different style of filter.

I would expect that something that retains the OEM filter, like the Rugged Ridge, would be less likely to take the blame for engine issues. They at least couldn't say that it's your fault for swapping to a filter that let more particles in...

I haven't committed to a snorkel yet, so my advice is all just musings. It's probably worth exactly what you paid for it ;-)
 
#10 ·
You might want to consider a snorkel that can take a fish bowl style prefilter. From what I've read, those can have a big effect on how much dust gets to the main filter in the air box.
Yep, one of these, esp in Arizona. Problem I have with that snorkel is small diameter intake as well. A bunch of guys from club told me to turn my air intake backwards otherwise you are just asking for a bunch of dirt/dust to be force fed in.

 
#8 ·
IMO the prefilter in the RR snorkel kit is a big advantage against "eating my dust" plus it's a true cold air intake system compared to most under-the-hood cold air intake kits. The short stack option offers snorkel benefits without looking like a snorkeler.
 
#14 ·
I really like River Raider

can be very low profile


and takes a dust bowl if needed with 18" extension

 
#15 ·
The round precleaner is what you need. While the K and N has appealing "looks" to some it is a wide open path to the air filter. I see that it is designed similar to the Rugged Ridge snorkel from the body line down.
I have video of my precleaner swirling dust as I drive. That dust is not in my air cleaner. A wide open fixed inlet lets everything past, dirt, bugs, water, snow, small animals. I have the open end too and when it rains I can turn it backwards and avoid pulling in water but for the trail its the pre-cleaner.
Check out what large construction equipment uses as a pre cleaner
https://www.donaldson.com/content/d...1382-ENG/TopSpin-HD-Air-Intake-Precleaner.pdf

Many people bash snorkels as eye candy and while I personally do like the look, I am on many trail rides where I am not the first vehicle. The dust I pull is amazing. Do your research and be realistic with where you drive. Just my experience.
 
#20 ·
Both. Normally the air intake is taking in hot air from around the wheel well which is also a place where you will take in a lot of dirt and dust. By elevating the entry point you obviously have more clearance from water but you get the added benefit of cooler air entering with hopefully less dirt and dust combined.
 
#27 ·
I guess im on the fence about Snorkels, my friend has one and he likes it but he's also is a "Bolt-on-Bob" guy and has a bunch of other catalog crap bolted to his JK, he's into the looks thing and yes his name is Bob.
If I traveled through rushing rivers over 3' in depth on a routine trip I might need one.
As far as preventing less dust entering your engine, I don't buy it nor that these increase hp.
Where I use my JK I'd be more worried of ripping the thing off the Jeep.

However the K&N does look clean IMO. :)
 
#29 ·
I was initially sold on the RR because of it's modularity and clean install. However, after watching endless videos from Ronny Dahl, Andrew St Pierre White and 4WD Action, I noticed none of the vehicles in Africa or Australia have anything similar. They are all punched through the fender and plumbed into the factory airbox. They have a standard spout when in the jungle and a fishbowl precleaner on the prairies. If anyone knows what they are doing, it's these guys.

After looking at the installs, I also do not care for the way the K&N and RR type both run the intake SUPER close to the exhaust. Closer than any other system. It may not melt, but I reckon intake temps are considerably increased versus the AEV style through the hood.

Maintenance is a underappreciated aspect here. When you install something like this, you need to check it for dirt or water buildup periodically and the cowl mounts make this task extremely difficult compared to simply popping the stock filter.

The ARB Safari would be a happy medium, where maintenance is ok, prefilters possible, and does not go near the exhaust.

Long answer short, if dust if your primary concern, the K&N is the wrong one. Any dust that is scooped up, will always be inside the tract, until you clean it out.
 
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#30 ·
I also live in dusty Southern Arizona as well and don't seem to have a big problem with my air filter getting overly dirty. I personally wouldn't use a K&N oiled filter for dirt anyway. When I go wheeling it's usually for fun and time is not a big concern, when a group of people are hell bent on seeing how fast they can get down the mountain I pull over and let their dust work settle a bit.
 
#31 ·
If your windshield have to be replace...

Maybe another minor problem with this setup: windshield replacement! I have a rugged ridge lightbar that interfere with removal/installation of the windshield and this is a PITA when i replace it. If you have to remove the fender to disconnect the top end, the doesn't sound "fun" for me... just my 2 cents!
 
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