Different approach to a snorkel

You turkeys.



Just a teaser for you all.

 

Haha this guy! Looking good!

 

subbed

 

Just curious, what are your (anyone able to check) long and short term fuel trims?
My ltft are around 25% and short fluctuating normally.. I'm trying to rule out the intake design as a cause. I'm going to put my stock intake back on for a couple days.

 

Never really thought to check. Should there be some reason to expect a change?

 

Check this out.
Should I use a cold air intake?: http://youtu.be/m-qJ58scPJE

 

Well that was highly informative!
Haven't gone out and checked my trim numbers, will do that this week.

Here's my thoughts after seeing the video:
The filter housing on that vehicle was specifically designed to create a swirling effect. The filter eliminated this swirling effect enough for the honeycomb diffuser to polish up the stream for the MAF's sensor. Therefore, I see it really coming down to the filter.
In my Hidden Snorkel, I'm still using the stock filter housing and stock filter. The only thing that changed is the pre-filter inlet routing. Sure, there may be a change in air swirl, or even velocity -- but as the video showed, once it hits the filter, all that becomes moot.
So I'll check my numbers this week, but I suspect I won't have anything out of the ordinary, because I've still got the stock filter in the stock housing, straightening up the air turbulence before the MAF even sees it.

Now, everyone running a CAI (like Volant), where the stock housing is replaced, I can see there being issues. Of course, this mod pretty much eliminates the ability to run an aftermarket CAI in the first place......

Two last comments:
Toyota is a massive, global company that has the resources and finances to come up with the best designs -- far more than just about any aftermarket "high performance" parts company could dream of; therefore, I find it hard to improve upon the OE design of most of the engine, without spending obscene amounts of money (see: turbocharger, supercharger).
As I mentioned in my OP, my reason for the Hidden Snorkel wasn't for performance purposes -- I simply needed room for my compressor, and the stock intake routing was the best location. A nice side benefit is getting the inlet to be well above the level where a water crossing would cause problems. If there's any performance changes (good or bad), I'm not particularly concerned......especially considering I'm down to 11.5mpg with my lift, tires, and weight (none of which have anything to do with the engine).

 

The only problem with your argument is you assume Toyota's goal is performance development not economics. Toyota, like most other for profit businesses, do not put the BEST solution in place, they put the least expensive solution that meets the requirements in place. Which if your an economist can be defined as "best"

The reality is smoothing out airflow or freeing up airflow, intake and exhaust for example CAN make power, but the other side to that coin is most OEM's have adaptive tunes in their ECU's to eliminate such hoonery's value.

Yes Toyota has unlimited budget, but don't underestimate the value of a PERFORMANCE company building a part with PERFORMANCE in mind. Having built my own supra from the ground up - I can tell you there are LOADS of things toyota did not do with performance in mind - sometimes their decisions were focused on reliability and other times they were based on only God knows what and why....

All I am saying without trying to be argumentative is don't give toyota too much credit for "doing it right" - sometimes they have chosen to do it cheaply also.

 

I'm pretty sure you meant to say you have less vacuum. If you have more vacuum in the intake without changing how much air the engine is taking in (i.e.: bigger cams, bigger valves, more free-flowing heads/exhaust), that would indicate to me that you have more restriction in your induction system. However if those numbers are absolute pressure, rather than differential then the pressure in your intake has moved closer to ambient (standard default is 29.92 inHg @ sea level), or has less vacuum, so that would indicate better airflow.

Seems like a legit, if not quite as effective, alternative to a snorkel though.

 

Bump this old thread! I am planning to cut some fenders soon, and therefore no longer have fender liners... Who else has done this?

Also, any long-term feedback?

 

My issues with fuel trim and other codes have been resolved, new fuel pump. Still loving my "snorkel". If you don't want to cut the fender, this is the best route (Shortest length under the hood, true cai)!

 

Long-term is about 50,000++ miles of happiness and worry-free water crossings.

I will say this: if you park outside under trees that drop loads of shit, you will be shaking it out of your filter more regularly than stock location. I have eucalyptus and pine and Chinese elm, and it collects plenty of leaves and needles.
But aside from larger debris (leaves, needles) that can be shaken and knocked out, the filter gets no more or less dirty than stock location. Dust and SoCal grime are the same, and filter changes are just as often.

 

I ended up taking mine off... Only because I bought a trd cold air intake with intentions of cutting a hole in the back of it and running the pipe as into the cowl. But wasn't Able to because that brake stuff was in the way. And I just spent big money on the trd intake and did not want to just not use it.

But my buddy reeves on Tw here still has his and has been for many many miles with no problem.

 

If I ever decide to sell my trd intake I will go back to the "snorkel "

 

I don't see why you would spend money on it other than it says TRD. The alternative snorkel has a shorter path under the hood and therefore less heat.

 

I like the sound. I get off to it pretty hard

 

#braaapp lol
I thought about cutting TRD stickers for the all snorkel pipe to sell.

 

Haha. But in all honesty I do prefer the growl. But the dementions of the trd sealed box wasn't as big as the volant one that I took my measurements on. So therefor my plans failed. In my head I had a very good idea!

 

Planning on doing this eventually still, but for those who have done it, have any of you hand any problems with water getting in in either very heavy downpours or deep watercrossings?
I hate the look of exterior snorkels so Im looking for any possible alternative that can still greatly reduce the risk of sucking water in.

 

Did mine 3 months ago and haven't had a problem ( knocking on wood ). Not much heavy rain here in Socal , but been in automatic car wash and no problems.