The Purpose of a snorkel is to suck clean, dry location so that the crap from the road doesn’t damage any of the inside parts of the air compressor. Some onboard air systems come with an apparatus called a snorkel. If your compressor did not come with one, it can often be added on depending on what type of intake the compressor has. Below are three tips for installing the snorkel properly to keep your air horn system running properly.
Tip #1
The barbed fitting on the compressor is the only place where air can enter into the compressor. If the tubing is not attached securely to the fitting, dirt and water from the road may end up getting sucked into the compressor causing damage. Make sure the tubing fits snug over the barbed fitting.
Tip #2
The most common error when installing the snorkel is choosing an improper place to mount the intake filter. The filters included with these packages are meant to filter out small amounts of dust that are present in normal interior conditions. The filter will not be effective in conditions where it is exposed to dirt, water, debris, etc from the road. The filter must be mounted in a place that will not be exposed to dirt and/or moisture.
The BEST place to locate the filter cartridge is in between the fender and the interior trim of a car/SUV or between the exterior and interior walls of the cargo bed in a pickup truck. To do this, drill a hole in the underside of the vehicle and run the tubing between the interior and exterior walls. (See pictures below) Attach the filter cartridge after the tubing has been run through the hole.
Tip #3
If you are unsure if the location you chose is a safe spot for the filter, make it a point to check the filter a week or so after it has been installed. (A good time to do this is after a rain or after driving through a dusty or muddy area.) If there is any evidence of dirt, dust, moisture, etc in the filter or on the filter cartridge, you need to find a better place to mount it.
