Snorkel, facing forward or backward? Does it matter?

[Peru Darrell]

I bought my 1998 FZJ 105 with a snorkel already installed by the PO. When I got the truck it was facing backwards. It seemed to look a little silly, so I turned it forward, kind of thinking it might act sort of like a ram air/ cold air scoop.

Now that I am installing lights on my roof rack, the scoop turned forward is in the way of the light pattern making a shadow, so I turned it backwards again. I don't seem to notice a difference in power, so does it really matter which way the snorkel intake faces?

I drive in an extremely dusty environment, would that make a difference? I run mostly on LPG also, does that matter which way the snorkel faces? What say you all? There is no lack of opinion here. I hope to never need a snorkel that is nearly 7 ft off the ground. Thanks

 

[Xetabur]

I hope to never need a snorkel that is nearly 7 ft off the ground.

Snorkels aren't just for water crossings, they're for dusty conditions.

 

[canman]

I hope to never need a snorkel that is nearly 7 ft off the ground.

Snorkels aren't just for water crossings, they're for dusty conditions.

That is why I got mine. I had some fine dust get on the MAF sensor after driving many kms on a dusty gravel road behind a lot of other vehicles. On the G-Wagons we purchased for the Canadian Army, they placed the intake facing rearwards, but not sure why. Also, I have seen no difference before and after my OEM snorkel install with the air intake temps. They are consistently 4-5C above ambient for most of the year where I live.

 

[unklwedy]

The ram air pressure increase on an F-16 jet going 700mph is about 0.01psi.

 

[iwashmycar]

The ram air pressure increase on an F-16 jet going 700mph is about 0.01psi.

If that is the case....you might want that snorkel facing forward

 

[Mixelplix]

The ram air pressure increase on an F-16 jet going 700mph is about 0.01psi.

I know nothing about F-16's, but I can say without a doubt that at 60mph, 60deg F, at sea level, air will produce .04 PSI (or about 6lbs psf). Granted, I agree that the effect on performance is negligible.

On my 80 series I run it facing forward. I've seen no difference in air filter contamination with or without the snorkel.

 

[pavieSD]

Since the air filter is sucking in, and assuming the vacuum for your air cleaner/snorkel is properly vacuum tight (no air leaks from snorkel to throttle body), then I would presume that it doesn't matter. However if preventing bugs or dust from entering the snorkel is an issue, then running backwards would seem to alleviate that slightly.

 

[DarkPharf]

I run it backwards in snow season since the trees try to stuff up the snorkel with snow.

 

[cboyd]

This is a huge debate in Australia all of the time... Many run them backwards to avoid the Bull dust and it is a topic of great fodder for the Aussie 4wd community.

Personally I don't think it matters, as the ram air pressure would like not be a factor given the length of the snorkel, distance to the air box, etc. Is be more worried about keeping the Pre-filter and main filter clean and clear.