Hello all

My Sport 4WD's air intake is connected to the front driver's side wheel well, and when I am going through snow that is above the bumpers, it piles up in the wheel well and it bogs down due to lack of air. This means that I have to stop every once in a while and knock the snow out of the wheel well and also clean out my air filter. Sometimes I can go 2 or 3 minutes, and sometimes 5 or 10, depending on the depth of the snow.

Question: Aside from parking and using my snowmobile, is there an alternative set up that I can use to place the initial air intake higher up on the truck? I was thinking of moving the air intake to a spot as high up on the grill as I can put it, but am not sure about affecting the air flow and throwing off my fuel mixture.

Also, I was in a bit of water last week and it started to come up over the hood (that "bunching up" of water that occurs when you start to push it with the front of the truck) when I hit a hole that was a bit deeper then it used to be. I made it through without any problems, but was concerned that the water could have gotten into my air intake and stalled me out. I don't drive down these roads just to drive down them, but like to hunt and fish in sometimes remote locations.

So, to make it a short question ... how can I change my air intake path to eliminate the possibility of getting flooded out by water or snow?

Thanks all

Chris

 

Sounds like you need to invest in a snorkle kit. I don't know the details, but I'm sure if you do a search for engine snorkle you'll find some info on the net somewhere.

 

hi hows it going
well your problem can be solved with a snorkel kit the snorkel
comes out up the side of your windsheild making it to where
you can completly submerg the front end of your truck under water the snorkel comes out above the hood about two to three
feet. it shouldent afect your fuel air mix but you can allways put a chip in it to be shure

 

check out 4wdworld.com for air flow snorkel

 

Hello Guys

Here I was trying to think up a good response (the closest I got was, "I found the snorkel set, but what do I do with the flippers ... are they for where the mud flaps go to help me make it through the water?").

Then, I did a search on the internet and came up with a few sites (http://www.terrigal.net.au/~rca/snorkel.htm and http://tiendacibex.com/index.html for instance) where as it turns out there was proof that they are real!

Thanks for the tip on this one guys. I just got back from a fishing trip and couldn't cross the creek as it has been raining here and the water would have reached midway to my mirrors. At the rate it was flowing, there was no way that I was making it across. I did take the alternate route back to check out the sinkhole, and a snorkel would be a good thing.

LOL ... thanks again guys.

Chris

 

When you dunk the truck in water you need to drain and fill most fluids. When my jeep gets dunked I drain and fill the diffs and check the other fluids for milkyness (is that a word?).
Just a suggestion.

 

Another thought. I thought it was not good on a gasoline/electrical engine to have it doused in water. I understand normal driving with weather and all. But to actually submerge the engine in water for a length of time. Isn't this bad? Just a question.

 

Hello dbeames

I'd say that you are correct on that point (but am waiting for the experts to tell me sure as I am only going by what common sense I do have ..... heheheh).

I do not generally look for deep water, but at times it does present itself and I know that 50 or so feet later the trail is passable without too much trouble. I'd just like to make it across those places when I do come upon em.

Thanks

 

I understand. I just didn't know if prolonged periods.. Like doing this once or twice a week, etc. would have an effect. I know that trying to run it underwater for more than just 100 ft. or so would pose problems, but I didn't know if short periods under water, but a lot of them, would have the same effects.

 

Well, I am hoping for no more than 3-4 times per year on a bad year (or is that a good year?) and the 50' example does not refer to total engine submersion, but to the total length of the creek. I calculate no more then 30' partial engine submersion.

The sinkhole I came through on the way home only has about 8 or so feet where the water MAY get into the air intake. I have been reading about snorkels and checking out the pics, and the sites posted above may be a bit too radical for my intended use. I figure anything more and I should seriously rethink my use of transportation (a boat is a boat and is for water .... a truck is a truck and is meant [mainly] for land ..... heheheh ... must remember ... must remember).

All in all, I really appreciate the helpful advice, suggestions, and comments from all who responded.

What I may end up doing is looking at a hood scoop ... I certainly don't plan on going into water that would require more, and a scoop would give me the extra 18 or so inches of comfort that I am looking for.

Thank guys!

Chris

 

After I was thinking a little more about submersion, I came up with this. Not only do you have to worry about electrical problems when your engine is completely submerged, but what about the exhaust? Forgot about that. hehe. Anyway, I understand what your saying and I doubt there is much to worry about. A hood scoop is the best Idea i can think of for the money. What about just disconnecting the intake at the fender, would that raise it up enough? You know.. at the boot where it connects down to the fender. Or is that a bad idea?

 

Hi Dbeames

The exhaust is easy .... extend it with a removable pipe that runs up like the stack on a semi and is held in place by a u-shaped bracket that fits onto the side of the truck box - sits about 1' over the box ...... heheheh ... that was the easy part.

I thought about merely disconnecting the air intake like you suggest, but do not want anything loose that shouldn't be (let's ignore the fact that maybe I "shouldn't be" fooling with the stock setup in the first place ).

My only concerns with disconnecting and reconnecting high up on the grill are changing the fuel mixture too much and also not having enough clearance from the water with a grill mount (I figure if I am in so much snow that a high grill-mount isn't high enough, then I ain't pushin' nothin' nowhere as there will be too much snow to push).

Also, the water that I would generally be going through would not require a complete engine submersion.

Thanks

Chris

 

I would be more concerned with getting water in the spark plug pockets, shorting out the ignition and buring up the coils or coil packs. You are not supposed to even wash these Modular engines.
Jimmy

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cjcocn
[B]Hi Dbeames



My only concerns with disconnecting and reconnecting high up on the grill are changing the fuel mixture too much and also not having enough clearance from the water with a grill mount (I figure if I am in so much snow that a high grill-mount isn't high enough, then I ain't pushin' nothin' nowhere as there will be too much snow to push).



If I'm not mistaken your computer will always(try to anyway) maintain an air/fuel ratio of something like 14:1 regardless of what mods or adjustments you make. So even if you change things mid-stream the computer will adjust for the new input. It may take a few minutes for the computer to "learn" the new inputs or you can just disconnect the battery.

Good luck
Tim

 

The exhaust shouldn't be an issue, as long as the engine was running. It creates more than enough pressure to keep water out. But as others have pointed out, I'm sure the electronics wouldn't appreciate it much!