De-snorkeling 986: Yes or no?
 

Is there any reason NOT to de-snorkel a '99 Boxster? I guess the only thing that would concern me is debris or water getting down into the engine. Any opinions on this?

For a short period I parked my car on a very busy Los Angeles street. I let it sit for about a week once and the car had serious problems starting. I'm 99 percent certain that dust filled the intake system and covered the MAF. When you desnorkle it does all more dust in there. But so far, there isn't a downside that I see. I removed MAF, cleaned, and was back on my way in ten minutes.

Given the MAF is sealed how did all the dust get past the air filter when no air was being drawn in?

I hope that wasn't intended to sound snarky.

When I say busy street, I mean very busy. There way a drag race at least hourly all night long, Thousands of cars a day braking intensely from long uninterrupted stretch. I saw people travelling over 100 mph every day on that road. So yes, dust can get past all that stuff. I offer firsthand experience, this is exactly what happened. There's zero doubt in my mind.

Then you have a leak in your system, somewhere past the air filter. I'm sorry, but that's just fact.
And, it has absolutely Nothing to do with whether the car is snorkeled or DE-snorkeled.

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Related to OP's inquiry, what is intended to be the point of the snorkel? Agreed that the lack of the snorkel should have no impact on getting dust/debris to the MAF; the filter should have prevented that. @junkley, is it possible that your air filter wasn't positioned correctly or that there's a leak that's allowing air past the filter?

No snark intended on this end. Just trying to 1) learn why Porsche installed the snorkel if it's extraneous, and 2) hopefully help spot why @junkley had dirt in the MAF.

I've read that the snorkel was specifically for USA market to meet noise pollution controls.

It is possible that something was out of whack but I'm 99 percent sure the added dust was the problem.

The snorkel is about noise control. It is otherwise superfluous.
To get water into the engine from the intake on the side of the car, you would need to direct a high pressure blast straight into- and- back, in essence TRYING to get water into the motor.

There is no harm in removing it. But those who tell you they felt it increase power have succumbed to placebo. ;-)

De-snorkeling will give you increased intake noise.
And that's all it will do.
It's not going to add power.
And its not going to allow any extra dirt or dust into your system.

If "Perception is 9/10 of reality", then if for example it sounds like it has 20 more HP, in reality it has 18 more HP. You can't argue against that! ;)

Some even argue that "Perception IS reality" but that would spiral us into a political argument...:D:D

Based on my experience, the car does sound a lot cooler with the snorkel removed. Probably no power increase, but it sounds like it's making more power!

Exactly that's why I de-snorkeled mine. Great sound above 3500 RPM.

Ditto

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Agree.
And, it's pretty easy.
No brainer, eh?

Ditto...Love that sound !!

Looks like I have this weekend's project figured out.

Is it hard to resnorkle if you're not happy with the results or does removal destroy the parts

The snorkel is just snapped into place.
I stuck a broom handle in mine shoved to the left and right and popped it out in seconds.
It can be snapped back in place in about the same amount of time.
Takes longer to remove the grill over the intake opening then it does to remove or replace the snorkel.

Careful not to break the tabs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dyh1jgvTDY

Good luck!

Throttle response with a 74mm TB sufers without the snork