Snorkel on 2012 Tacoma

Greetings all. First time poster here. I'm checking out a really nice 2012 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 Regular Cab with the 2.7L. It's almost exactly what I wanted. Only 32k miles, which I hear is nothing for a Tacoma. My only concern is that the owner put a snorkel on it, which leads me to believe he's driven it through water, although he claims: "Before you ask no I don't take the truck in deep water. The snorkel was installed for reasons of MPG, but it also helps to mitigate dust, and if you do need to cross water, well, it will help you rest easy, however that is not what my use was and I did not take through water or even mud." Everything else is good to go. Been in correspondence with the guy, seems like a straight-forward, honest dude.

What is everyone's take on this? Is there anyway to determine if he's spent a lot of time in water (assuming he's lying)? Thanks guys!

 

Look under the truck maybe, if you find water plants there...

I'm considering a snorkel for the reasons the seller mentioned, I don't like to go in water more that 1 foot deep.

 

Well I'd say the seller is a full of it for the simple fact that every vechile dman near has been driven through water if you have driven in the rain well you drove through a puddle at some point.

Really you have no easy way to sure fire tell if the previous owner did in fact drive the truck in water of a considerable depth or not.

That he claims never to have driven through mud I find also to be utter malarkey.

What exactly makes you consider him to be straight up and honest? A complete stranger that you know nothing about besides the fact that he wants to sell you a Tacoma that has snorkel which was installed purely to help mitigate dust and improve MPG.

I mean up to you I guess but trust your gut instinct I guess. Myself I simply do not trust people until I see solid evidence of their integrity or lack there of.

Here's my opinion you must not completely and utterly trust him otherwise you'd not be asking. What I would do is request that he allow you to take the truck to a mechanic that YOU trust to look over the truck if he refuses well I think you know what to do from there.

Don't get "Tacoma eyes" there are plenty of good ones out there if anything doesn't seem right do not make a deal you can wait a few weeks or months and find a good truck. My cousin who is very very metclious searched for six months to find his used Tacoma.

 

Simple test: if you turn the key and the engine starts, it has most likely NOT been in water. Snorkel is NOT going to keep the thing intact if you decide to submarine it. If the vehicle has been outfit to actually be able to perform the duties of a submarine, it will be IMMEDIATELY obvious due to *extensive* modification.

Simple test #2: look at the interior. Water damage is easy to see and obvious on seats and carpeting, and would definitely be present if its been in water deeper than half way up the fender, which is the cut-off for the factory intake.

Snorkels are for keeping the dust out. Not for water crossing.


Now about concerns; RUST. Installation of a snorkel requires compromising the coatings on the body work it passes through. If you operate in an environment where it... is humid, rains, or especially is SALTY, then it WILL rust out from that point.

 

Check the rear diff. if it doesnt have a breather relocation and there is water and mud in the oil Id say its been in water. But I have a snorkle for dust. It wont really help much for water. To many electronics in these trucks to do deep crossings.