De Snorkeled! Does it negatively effect HP or torque?

[chaudanova]

Bisimoto had a thread where he dyno'd before and after the desnorkeling. It gained power. Runs were on a dynapack...

Thread is here on 986forum...

[backman_z]

I was ambivalent about it, until I spoke with Jaay (whose posts are all over this forum). So I removed the snorkel. I agree with what he told me: “Just look at the snorkel.” There is a very significant narrowing at the end closest to the side air vent. I just got the snorkel and traced the inside of both ends as best I could, just to take a look. Without getting out my protractor and brushing up on my geometry, I would guess that there is about a 40-50% reduction in size from the large end compared to the small end.

Now, how many people spend all lots of cash to increase the diameter of the air intake system in order to improve airflow. You cannot convince me that the small end of the snorkel does not constrict airflow, even if only a little.

Did I notice a difference in performance? Not sure. I like to think I did, but it could all be in my head… in any case, I'm keeping it out.

[yimmy149]

Isn't there increased risk of cigarette ingestion after de-snorkeling?

[Pianohawk]

I don't smoke so I'm not worried. But I HIGHLY doubt it. Regarding the potential negative effects of de-snorkeling Pedro (http://www.pedrosgarage.com/Site/Technolab.html) told me:

"There are no cons on the '99.
It's a great mod.
Just pull out the snorkel.
No need to add mesh.
I de-snorkeled mine in 1998.
No issue with MPGs either.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro"

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by yimmy149

Isn't there increased risk of cigarette ingestion after de-snorkeling?

Nope, there is absolutely no increased risk of a cigarette or other large particle getting into the engine if you remove the snork, cause as you see below, there's a mesh screen in the intake right before the MAF.

[yimmy149]

I don't smoke either - but my radiator cavities seem to fill with butts quickly.

Getting a butt into the engine wasn't what I was worried about. If someone flicks a still-lit butt and it ends up ontop of a paper filter having massive amounts of oxygen pulled through it, it will catch the filter on fire.

I know the stock filter has foam on top of the paper, not sure if that would help or not.

-james

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by yimmy149

I don't smoke either - but my radiator cavities seem to fill with butts quickly.

Getting a butt into the engine wasn't what I was worried about. If someone flicks a still-lit butt and it ends up ontop of a paper filter having massive amounts of oxygen pulled through it, it will catch the filter on fire.

I know the stock filter has foam on top of the paper, not sure if that would help or not.

-james

Thing is, the snorkel tube itself was not put in for the purpose of blocking out cig butts...the protruding lip on the painted air vent housing was put there to redirect objects over and behind the intake, so taking the snork tube out will not increase the risk of a cig butt going into the air filter housing. In fact, I have seen cig butts in the foam portion of the air filter even in cars WITH the snork still in place. If a cig butt is going to get in there, it will get in there regardless if the snork is in or not.

I've had my snork out for years without issues. I even took a dremel to the section left after pulling the snork out to smooth out and widen the hole since I didn't like the hard edges left in the opening after pulling the snork out. The sound is terrific, and my filter hasn't caught fire.

[mts]

I don't have any dyno evidence but something that was interesting to me none the less. I have a 2004 special edition which had slightly more power than the standard 2004 Boxster S from the factory. My understanding is the extra horsepower was basically achieved by an intake change and an ECU re-flash from the factory.

I compared my intake to one from a friends older Boxster S and indeed mine was pretty drastically different. However, one other thing that was interesting was my snorkle was massively larger than his was. I've not been able to compare a "standard" 2004 Boxster S to mine yet, but if it's the same situation it might lead one to believe a de-snorkle could have some slight added hp benefit.

Anyone got a picture of a snorkle off a standard 2004 Boxster S? I'll take a picture of mine and post it.

[Tranlm]

Thinking about this, the diameter of the snorkel from one end to the other should not really matter. In dealing with fluids, there are two things to distinguish between: flow speed and flow rate. Flow speed is just the instantaneous speed of a molecule of fluid (in this case, air). Flow rate is the amount of fluid passing a cross-sectional area given a unit of time. Flow rate is what we're interested in if we want more horsepower, torque, etc.

Though the snorkel does converge in, I don't think removing it would do anything to increase the flow rate of the air. You have to remember that the end where the snorkel connected is same diameter as that end of the snorkel. So, even if you do remove it, the size of the hole for the air to be sucked in is still the same.

Originally Posted by backman_z

I was ambivalent about it, until I spoke with Jaay (whose posts are all over this forum). So I removed the snorkel. I agree with what he told me: “Just look at the snorkel.” There is a very significant narrowing at the end closest to the side air vent. I just got the snorkel and traced the inside of both ends as best I could, just to take a look. Without getting out my protractor and brushing up on my geometry, I would guess that there is about a 40-50% reduction in size from the large end compared to the small end.

Now, how many people spend all lots of cash to increase the diameter of the air intake system in order to improve airflow. You cannot convince me that the small end of the snorkel does not constrict airflow, even if only a little.

Did I notice a difference in performance? Not sure. I like to think I did, but it could all be in my head… in any case, I'm keeping it out.