Removing snorkel - LotusTalk

ItaliaTib2k3 · 06-17-2007, 09:39 AM

I was looking in the Uberpost for the snorkel removal instructions and it just brings up a link to some Elise owner's blog. Are the instructions in there and I just missed 'em?

tesprit · 06-17-2007, 11:10 AM

Removing the snorkel is easy--you just need to get to it first. Remove the left (driver's) side rear wheel. Remove the fender liner and you should now be able to see the snorkel. From the engine compartment you can see a plastic plug/clip that holds the bracket from the snorkel to the top of the air filter box. You can try to remove the screw in the center of the clip which allows the clip to pop out of the box, or if the screw won't back out, just place the blade of a large flat blade screw driver between the box and the bracket and pry the bracket and clip away from the box. Once the clip is popped out (the clip is the only thing holding the snorkel in place), go back under the fender and remove the snorkel from the car through the wheel opening.

brookester · 06-19-2007, 04:48 PM

If the plastic screw won't back out, you can open the filter box and hold it with one hand while unscrewing with the other.

TorsinADoc · 06-19-2007, 05:34 PM

Stupid question for a soon to be lotus owner. What is a snorkel and why does the car have one?

Chris Mackey · 06-19-2007, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorsinADoc

Stupid question for a soon to be lotus owner. What is a snorkel and why does the car have one?

There are no stupid questions about a Lotus. I'm waiting to see the answer.

Randy Chase · 06-19-2007, 05:38 PM

The air intake on the box that holds the filter is near the top of the box. There is a snorkel tube which connects there and goes towards the bottom of the box.

It appears the main reason for this snorkel is to vacuum the driveway.

I really have no idea. There may be a good reason I am missing. But the filter stays cleaner without a snorkel. Maybe the thought is the air is colder lower? Maybe it just came that way from Toyota?

qball · 06-19-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Mackey

There are no stupid questions about a Lotus. I'm waiting to see the answer.

Umm yes there are.

TimMullen · 06-19-2007, 06:17 PM

Usually, the "snorkel" is designed to quiet the intake noise of a typical car. I suspect that Lotus took the air box and snorkel from an existing car and used it "as is". Remember that many countries limit the noise that can be made from a car - that includes the intake noise, not just the exhaust noise.

Daedelous · 06-19-2007, 06:52 PM

When I did this procedure, I didn't have the garage or tools handy to take anything apart, (I was actually in the same parking space that's in my avatar) so figured I could remove the snorkel and yank it out somehow. It was easy to reach in there and do it, but there was no room for the snorkle to come out of its crevice, and I couldn't reattach it, so I just left it loose in there. It was out of the way of the air intake so didn't present any problems and the airflow wedged it in so it didn't rattle around. Eventually I took it out, of course, but I don't think it's a problem if you don't immediately. Just another option.

TorsinADoc · 06-19-2007, 07:09 PM

Cool thanks now I know what a snorkel and a chicken are!

Vishus_1 · 06-19-2007, 08:39 PM

Does the S still have the snorkel and is it still advisable for S owners to remove the snorkel?

I thought I saw somewhere it was causing CEL's and the engine to run lean or am I confusing this with some aftermarket intakes?

Flash G · 06-19-2007, 09:00 PM

The "S" does have the snorkel and it can be removed. (I removed mine in about 3 minutes.)

.

Vishus_1 · 06-19-2007, 09:27 PM

Ok - any truth about it causing the engine to run lean or setting off CEL?

qball · 06-19-2007, 09:38 PM

Don't mess with your car!

If you can't handle removing a piece of cardboard and a plastic screw, then you shouldn't be touching with your car.

But I digress... yes removing it will cause no harm. It will make the car sound better... it may give +1 HP, or not...

Do it, and don't look back.

Oh, and try out the nifty search feature we have here on EliseTalk... it may answer a few of your other questions.

I am tired and cranky... good night.

TheViper · 06-20-2007, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qball

Don't mess with your car!

If you can't handle removing a piece of cardboard and a plastic screw, then you shouldn't be touching with your car.

But I digress... yes removing it will cause no harm. It will make the car sound better... it may give +1 HP, or not...

Do it, and don't look back.

Oh, and try out the nifty search feature we have here on EliseTalk... it may answer a few of your other questions.

I am tired and cranky... good night.

That's not nice

Brendan · 06-20-2007, 05:06 AM

I removed my snorkel without bothering to jack up the car and remove the wheel. I just removed the airbox to get access. Seems much less hassle to me.

qball · 06-20-2007, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheViper

That's not nice

Yeah... I was cranky.

Sorry folks.

xtn · 06-20-2007, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorsinADoc

Stupid question for a soon to be lotus owner. What is a snorkel and why does the car have one?

Isn't it obvious?

The snorkle looks like this:

And it's needed for a Lotus:

qball · 06-20-2007, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtn

Isn't it obvious?

The snorkle looks like this:

And it's needed for a Lotus:

Russellise · 07-27-2007, 08:48 AM

Every time I do this in a car it seems to lose a bit of crispness in the low rpm range and give me mushy throttle response in hot weather. From the many millions of hours I've spent reading car forums on the Internet, I have learned (?) that this may be due to a decrease in air velocity at low RPMs. The example used to explain the phenomenon is sucking air through a long straw vs through a short toilet paper roll. When you're sucking air at low speed through a straw, you can get more velocity more easily, whereas the airflow through the roll is leisurely at best. But when you're at high RPMs and sucking a high volume of air, the straw is restrictive and the roll isn't. Since I spend most of my time below 6k except on the track, my vote is: don't desnorkel.

06-17-2007, 09:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
ItaliaTib2k3 Glory is fleeting Join Date: May 2007 Location: Westchester, New York Posts: 189	Removing snorkel I was looking in the Uberpost for the snorkel removal instructions and it just brings up a link to some Elise owner's blog. Are the instructions in there and I just missed 'em?

06-19-2007, 05:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Randy Chase Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego and where ever the roads lead Posts: 28,174 Images: 761	The air intake on the box that holds the filter is near the top of the box. There is a snorkel tube which connects there and goes towards the bottom of the box. It appears the main reason for this snorkel is to vacuum the driveway. I really have no idea. There may be a good reason I am missing. But the filter stays cleaner without a snorkel. Maybe the thought is the air is colder lower? Maybe it just came that way from Toyota? __________________ * V E R I T A S * A E Q U I T A S * No Longer the ADMIN here, please do not PM me asking for help. Thanks! 2006 Noble M400. Getrag tranny, Quaiffe LSD, Hinged clams. Duratec dual turbo V6. Hoosier 315-18 tires. 2350 pounds. Over 500hp. Track weapon. 2009 Rossion Q1. Monaco Orange. Wing. Black leather/Alcantara with orange stitching. The street car. In build: 2009 Toniq R (300whp? 1100 pounds?). Chrome Orange. Lexus GX-470 tow vehicle.

06-19-2007, 06:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
TimMullen Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 11,383 Images: 19	Usually, the "snorkel" is designed to quiet the intake noise of a typical car. I suspect that Lotus took the air box and snorkel from an existing car and used it "as is". Remember that many countries limit the noise that can be made from a car - that includes the intake noise, not just the exhaust noise. __________________ Tim Mullen --- There is no such thing as Touring suspension or Touring wheels. I love being married. It's so great to find that one person that you want to annoy for the rest of your life. - Rita Rudner Chantilly, VA http://members.cox.net/elans4/ 05 Lotus Elise - Chrome Orange - No Touring - No LSS - No Hardtop - Lotus Driving Lights - Lotus "Chin Guards" - plain and simple. 94 Miata R Package - Black 72 Lotus Elan Sprint - Colorado Orange/Cirrus White

06-19-2007, 06:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Daedelous Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 377	When I did this procedure, I didn't have the garage or tools handy to take anything apart, (I was actually in the same parking space that's in my avatar) so figured I could remove the snorkel and yank it out somehow. It was easy to reach in there and do it, but there was no room for the snorkle to come out of its crevice, and I couldn't reattach it, so I just left it loose in there. It was out of the way of the air intake so didn't present any problems and the airflow wedged it in so it didn't rattle around. Eventually I took it out, of course, but I don't think it's a problem if you don't immediately. Just another option. __________________ Adam 2006 Lotus Elise - Chrome Orange Touring Pack Track Pack Limited Slip/Traction Control Hardtop Stage 2 Exhaust

06-19-2007, 09:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
Flash G Double Trouble Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hollywood Hills Posts: 3,177	The "S" does have the snorkel and it can be removed. (I removed mine in about 3 minutes.) . __________________ Turn your flatscreen TV into a work of art. Modern Art DVD \| Plasma Aquarium DVD \| Widescreen Fireplace DVD 11 Esprit??? (Wish List) 07 Exige S - Ardent Red, Stage II Exhaust, LSD, Touring pack 06 Range Rover Sport - Java Black 05 Elise - Ardent Red, Stage II Exhaust, Touring pack

06-17-2007, 11:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
tesprit Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 1,925	Removing the snorkel is easy--you just need to get to it first. Remove the left (driver's) side rear wheel. Remove the fender liner and you should now be able to see the snorkel. From the engine compartment you can see a plastic plug/clip that holds the bracket from the snorkel to the top of the air filter box. You can try to remove the screw in the center of the clip which allows the clip to pop out of the box, or if the screw won't back out, just place the blade of a large flat blade screw driver between the box and the bracket and pry the bracket and clip away from the box. Once the clip is popped out (the clip is the only thing holding the snorkel in place), go back under the fender and remove the snorkel from the car through the wheel opening.

06-19-2007, 04:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
brookester Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chandler AZ Posts: 164	If the plastic screw won't back out, you can open the filter box and hold it with one hand while unscrewing with the other.

06-19-2007, 05:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
TorsinADoc Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 508	Stupid question for a soon to be lotus owner. What is a snorkel and why does the car have one?

06-19-2007, 07:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
TorsinADoc Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 508	Cool thanks now I know what a snorkel and a chicken are!

06-19-2007, 08:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
Vishus_1 Super charged! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,038 Images: 62	Does the S still have the snorkel and is it still advisable for S owners to remove the snorkel? I thought I saw somewhere it was causing CEL's and the engine to run lean or am I confusing this with some aftermarket intakes?

06-19-2007, 09:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
Vishus_1 Super charged! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,038 Images: 62	Ok - any truth about it causing the engine to run lean or setting off CEL?

06-19-2007, 09:38 PM	#14 (permalink)
qball Wizard of Pugz! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 4,516 Images: 3	Don't mess with your car! If you can't handle removing a piece of cardboard and a plastic screw, then you shouldn't be touching with your car. But I digress... yes removing it will cause no harm. It will make the car sound better... it may give +1 HP, or not... Do it, and don't look back. Oh, and try out the nifty search feature we have here on EliseTalk... it may answer a few of your other questions. I am tired and cranky... good night.

06-20-2007, 05:06 AM	#16 (permalink)
Brendan Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Twycross, England Posts: 69 Images: 11	I removed my snorkel without bothering to jack up the car and remove the wheel. I just removed the airbox to get access. Seems much less hassle to me.

07-27-2007, 08:48 AM	#20 (permalink)
Russellise Razor Sharp Handling Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: CT Posts: 198 Images: 19	Every time I do this in a car it seems to lose a bit of crispness in the low rpm range and give me mushy throttle response in hot weather. From the many millions of hours I've spent reading car forums on the Internet, I have learned (?) that this may be due to a decrease in air velocity at low RPMs. The example used to explain the phenomenon is sucking air through a long straw vs through a short toilet paper roll. When you're sucking air at low speed through a straw, you can get more velocity more easily, whereas the airflow through the roll is leisurely at best. But when you're at high RPMs and sucking a high volume of air, the straw is restrictive and the roll isn't. Since I spend most of my time below 6k except on the track, my vote is: don't desnorkel. __________________ 2006 Lotus Elise Polar Blue/Red \| Touring, Hardtop \| Exige LSS wheels \| Stage II exhaust 2007 BMW E92 335i Spacegrau/Coral/Al \| ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/CA/PDC/NAV

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