Axle breather extenders

DrRobin wrote:

I am sort of thinking of taking the output in to the snorkel rather than an open pipe under the bonnet, it will just need a pipe fitting of some description and I can't see any downside of doing that.

The diff vent is there to equalize pressure at atmospheric.  Adding suction seems like it would have all kinds of potential ill effects. 

Getting the diff vent opening as high as possible might be desirable, but connecting it to the inlet of a large air pump is probably not advisable.  Or am I misunderstanding what you wrote?

Thanks, I hadn’t thought about the lower pressure, although I doubt it’s much lower than atmosphere in the snorkel, there is an air box and filter between the snorkel and the inlet (throttle body).

Robin

I've got the Des-Sol breather kit. I spent a lot of time faffing around with home-brew setups using garden hose and jubilee clips and was never happy with the results. Have had zero issues with the DS kit and don't think about it any longer.

Gadget wrote:

I've got the Des-Sol breather kit. I spent a lot of time faffing around with home-brew setups using garden hose and jubilee clips and was never happy with the results. Have had zero issues with the DS kit and don't think about it any longer.
 

That's good to know and exactly what I want.  Did you connect up the transfer case and gear box and was the transfer case accessible without dropping it?

Robin

DrRobin wrote:

Thanks, I hadn’t thought about the lower pressure, although I doubt it’s much lower than atmosphere in the snorkel, there is an air box and filter between the snorkel and the inlet (throttle body).

Robin

I think people might run the breather pipes up the outside of a snorkel. I couldn’t put them inside it. Pressure drop at wide open throttle is probably quite significant.

That said. I’d just terminate the breathers at the top of the bulkhead in the engine bay. I have no intention of driving through water deeper than the bonnet. And the bow wave and wake of a moving vehicle will mean the water level would be significantly lower in the engine bay than on the outside of the vehicle.

Should water really reach that level you’d likely have more issues than potential water in the diffs IMO.

Btw I messaged Vitmods on eBay asking if their kit fits the Gen 4. This was their reply:

“ As yet I’ve to check the fitment on these - I believe the axles are the same but not sure on the gearbox mate”

Tbh I actually prefer how their kit attached to the axle. It looks like it would be more secure than the Des Sol setup. But it doesn’t have a tidy engine bay finisher. And I won’t be running mine to the snorkel as I have no idea how you’d make it look tidy.

I have mine rolled up between the battery and side panel. You don't see them and would need to be sat in water before it takes any on. Will try and sort a pic (or my fitting link)

300bhpton wrote:

I think people might run the breather pipes up the outside of a snorkel. I couldn’t put them inside it. Pressure drop at wide open throttle is probably quite significant.

That said. I’d just terminate the breathers at the top of the bulkhead in the engine bay. I have no intention of driving through water deeper than the bonnet. And the bow wave and wake of a moving vehicle will mean the water level would be significantly lower in the engine bay than on the outside of the vehicle.

Should water really reach that level you’d likely have more issues than potential water in the diffs IMO.

Yeah, I will probably abandon the snorkel, I have heard of it been done, but I am not intending to go through deep water, just want to extend the breather above the 300mm they currently are, so somewhere on the front bulkhead will do fine for me.

Robin

DrRobin wrote:

Gadget wrote:

I've got the Des-Sol breather kit. I spent a lot of time faffing around with home-brew setups using garden hose and jubilee clips and was never happy with the results. Have had zero issues with the DS kit and don't think about it any longer.

 

That's good to know and exactly what I want.  Did you connect up the transfer case and gear box and was the transfer case accessible without dropping it?

Robin

I've connected the transfer case, which is very difficult to reach, but can be done if you've got small hands! I've not hooked up the gearbox as the supplied manifold only has ports for diffs and TC, plus I'm never going to go that deep in water (hopefully!)

Installation Guide: des-sol.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08...tions_compressed.pdf

Most of the install is easy but removing the existing breather caps was a real challenge: need a lift/ramp, breather cap removal tool and in my case, a second pair of strong hands.

I purchased through jimny wild.co.za - bundled with their no-drill-snorkel - combined UPS charges/import £75

Looks quality but too early to say if the breathers are a good investment - purchased May 24 and yet to encounter a water hazard [fitted these in preparation for winter 24/25.]

Big fan of the no-drill-snorkel - I like the increased induction sound. Only downside is fitting the steel connecting pipe to the air-box takes real patience and persistence.  

 

Good info, thanks for posting.

How do the Des-Sol breather caps seal on the vent unit? And what material are the caps made of?