I finally tacked the whole “de-snorkeling” thing with the Boxster. In this video I discuss all of the PROS and CONS I could find while researching this topic. Then I show you how to remove it.
What do you guys think about this mod? Let me know in the comments!
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I am a Do It Yourself, also known as DIY, mechanic. I am NOT a professional mechanic. I do not have any formal training in the automotive field.
Help Me DIY assumes no liability for anything you choose to do to your car, before, or after watching one of my videos or utilizing the content from this web site.
All DIY repairs or modifications you perform to your car are made at your own risk. Sometimes, even if you’ve done everything the right way, you can destroy or damage one or more things on your car. You must understand this, but by leveraging knowledge and patience, the probability of encountering one or more problems can be reduced.
Also, if for some unfortunate reason, I do give incorrect instructions and something breaks because you followed my instructions, I will NOT reimburse or pay in any way for whatever cost that may be incurred due to following my wrong instructions.
Lastly, please don’t do anything to your car unless you yourself feel comfortable and confident in doing so.
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I desnorked many years ago. Never had an issue. There is a wall between the snork and the engine compartment – this in addition to the air box itself. In the day, I researched this extensively. The only rationale that makes sense is that the snork was inserted to reduce noise for euro specs. The other rationales just make no sense once you look at the set up in the 986. I submit there is a noticably deeper intake sound. For my part, I felt it was worth the MASSIVE investment. Is it night and day? Nope. But again, the price is right.
Full disclosure – I broke the foremost clip on the colored portion of the finned cover. I used epoxy to repair and never had an issue. Many of my friends also desnorked at the same event. None ever had a negative experience.
Is that evidence anecdotal? Yup.
Can you reverse the job? Yup – one friend put it back to sell the car.
Looks like you had a modified exhaust already? Sounded great before.
Different subjects have a boxster 986 2002 and and it smells like smog where is my problem
If it actually breathes more easily it will maybe also need a retune with more fuel in the air fuel mixture? I de "snorkeled" my KTM 500 and got the full power tune installed for the engine, that really have effect, from 15hp to 58hp or so… (All KTM dirtbikes is restricted from the factory in the air intake to reduce the HP for import tax).
I'm a new Boxster owner , quick question " did your chk engine light came on after taking the snorkel out"?
Con: if you run your de-snorkeled Boxster thru a car wash, water up into your airbox?
100% you hear it under load. You can hear it coming from that vent even.
It is not the original screw
well, I just fixed the passenger side vent with some handy dandy 3m molding tape, not loose anymore, but while I had it out, I noticed there's and electric fan behind there, also, my drivers side vent has a screen behind it. so the passenger side vent does serve a function , as does the drivers side vent. mines a '04 S
Curious question: The intake manifold gets it's air via the snorkel, the air from the side of the car, but if the snorkel is removed, would that mean the air is now being sucked in from the side vent and from around the engine? Where I'm going with this is, would desnorkeling cause the air filter to get dirtier, quicker with the snorkel removed?
I'm brand new to Porsches, admired them since 1985, but I just bought my boxster a few weeks ago.
I just bought a 2004 Boxster S 6-speed, midnight blue exterior, medium gray and black interior, with 87K on the odometer. Happened to see your video show up on a YouTube search. I mainly wanted to see how to remove and reinstall the side vents, I have one that is loose on the bottom edge. Thanks for the bonus info, I'm going to try the desnorkling mod. I'll prolly get some of that double sided tape first, just in case. I'm now a full fledged subscriber. thanks for the vid. 🙂
my boxter has hissing sound from right rear side while driving. recently water pump replaced. it made air coolant leakage. is it related ? how do I fix the issue?
Someone should do a dyno run before and after…too much conjecture. I'm planning to desnorkel and see what happens…I'll let you know my opinion after.
If you have an 2004 Porsche Boxster S 550SE (1953 were produced) there isn't a "Snorkel" to remove as the air filter intake is the same as an 2005 Porsche Boxster with a "Round Donut" Filter instead of Flat, Just for info.
I did mine a few weeks ago and immediately as soon as started, I noticed a big difference in sound.
I love your videos but this one has a problem for me. I'm 2 minutes into the video and still don't know what "desnorkeling" is. Maybe you could have started with that. I'm not just a pia kid. I have a 986 and am learning how to do my own maintenance on it. I'll do some research and get back to this one when I know what it is about. But thanks for teaching us about the 986. A great car and which doesn't get the respect it deserves. This of course is always people giving their Cliff Claven unschooled opinions. I've found no on on the internet who has driven a Boxster of any year who doesn't think it is an incredible machine.
I did it two days ago – it was like 2mins job and it does sound amazing!
Btw. My 02 Base Euro snorkel is different. It doesnt have that "cup" and has mesh on there instead.
Hey Aaron – I'm also Aaron and I just bought a red 986 S yesterday! Looking forward to your advice via the channel!
I alway go with this school of thought. If Porsche didn’t feel it was necessary to have it there, why would they design it that way. Do what you want, it’s your loss. The real question should be, how good is it if your body shop guy sprays paint inside your engine?
Great video. Not sure if anybody has talked about this. As an engineer thinking of physics; when you squeeze or have a tube that is smaller it will increase the flow when pushed through or sucked in this case. Thinking of water flow and sprinkler tubing, when you decrease the diameter it will make the flow faster and go farther. Understanding the thought process for more "free flow air" or sound, I say keep the snorkel because it's sucking through the right sized tube. Those German Engineers deserve some credit.
My recent purchase (and first Porsche) has been desnorkeled. I want to put snorkels back in to reduce the sound level. It has an after-market exhaust (very loud) that I am in the process of buying parts to return it to factory spec so I can have a quieter car.
Meh. We are in aftermarket pod filter territory here. Rarely any improvement to find.
Thanks for the video, I would keep my snorkel as I look it as a cold air induction pipe with a deisgn of hydrolocking protection.
What I have done is remove the foam on the stock air filter which the power increase is noticeble and little sound too.
Super easy to take off after watching this video! I saw how it can be difficult if you don’t know how to thanks!
The shape of the snorkel is designed to speed up air flow. If anything, I believe you’d loose power…
So cool. 'Did not even know of this. 'Always have wanted a bit more exhaust presence, so to speak!