My kids have been driving the Discovery for the last several years. I felt it was the safest vehicle we had and so my original plans of building an off road monster were set aside. Now, my youngest has just purchased his own car and so, in addition to getting rid of miscellaneous McDonalds wrappers and such, I have been working a lot on the Discovery and am resuming my original plans. So far, mostly small projects but I am eager to do everything I had originally planned.

Question is regarding a Mantec snorkel. I've always loved the way these look and really prefer them to the ARB version with the large plastic piece. What would the benefit of installing the Mantec? I get great wading depth already and don't want to fry my electronics or damage other systems so it leaves me wondering what the point is (other than they look undeniably cool). Is there a process I could follow that identifies the important parts to waterproof and then waterproof them? Is the benefit just an air flow thing? Thanks.

David

 

So snorkels help with wading depth sure but only if you raise the diff, trans and tcase breathers up higher as well and seal the ever living crap out of all air and exhaust connections. Not to mention ensure that all electrical connectors are in good shape and not compromised. I think the main reason to run a snorkel is looks, no more wheel liner (guilty) or dusty roads. The main benefit will be being able source cleaner/cooler air if on dusty roads or in a group of vehicles on dusty roads. When I cut my fenders the liners had to go so I had no other choice but to put in a snorkel to ensure I could get dry air when it rained or snowed.

 

The big benefit for me is intake air temp. In heavy stop and go traffic on a 95f New York day, my intake air temp can go up to 150f+. I'm hoping that goes way down with a snorkel fitted, not sucking in hot air from right next to the engine bay!

Rhys L.

 

The main purpose, as others have said, is for clean air in dusty environments. I think that the Arab market spec actually came with (if not a snorkel) a modified air intake complete with a cyclonic separator to spin sand out of the air stream before the air filter. That’s why there is that oval hole/grommet next to the air intake.

 

I have a snorkel on my 03 D2. I find that when consistently moving the intake temps are a few degrees above ambient (using an Ultra gauge to show intake temp and the built-in outside temp gauge for ambient). I do notice that in prolong idling or stop and go traffic that intake temps raise pretty quickly. I've never recorded what it to goes up to but I don't remember seeing 150f temps. Once moving the intake temp comes down pretty quick. I picked up my D2 as a basket case and put the snorkel on with a new engine at the same time. No before and after for intake temps.

I have watched the intake temp and outside air temp on my car (supercharged V6) which does not have a snorkel My car will get the intake and ambient temps to be the same or within one or two degrees while moving.

 

I suspect a lot of the high intake temps are just a result of the MAF sensor getting hot due to proximity to the intake manifold. I have the stock setup and if I'm idling or in traffic for a while, my intake temps will pop up to 140+ as well, but usually they settle while moving to around 5-10F above ambient.

 

I don't think you can get a Mantec snorkel any longer unless you find it used but you can get a similar looking snorkel from Southdown.

 

I want a snorkel for water. I destroyed my maf when this happened, thank god I didn’t hydro lock my motor.
I prefer the old school snorkel look of the round air filter on a metal pipe over the plastic arb style as well. I will probably fab up my own and try to find a round filter assembly

 

I've done this twice now and I have a snorkel. Really I've this twice because of the snorkel. We live in an area where roads and fields can flood in heavy rain periods. Roads get closed and it's really a fun time to go Rover'around But I have a habit of bombing into water and the spray coming up from the front wheel goes right at the snorkel. Anyways, I've learned my lesson and turn my snorkel around (I have an ARB style one) and slow down when entering water. I'm also pretty good at changing MAF sensors, mopping out the airbox, draining water from the intake resonator deal (has a plug in the bottom of it now to make it easier to drain), and keeping some towels or rags in the D2 just in case I do this a 3rd time.

 

A Mantec will be hard to come across. They went out of business several years ago. Thought by now that Terra Firma or another Rover after market manufacturer would have made a knock off. Guess that’s not going to happen.