What Is a Snorkel and Why Do You Need One?
A snorkel is an elevated air intake system that ensures clean airflow to your engine, especially in dusty or wet environments. Whether you’re caravanning with other vehicles or navigating rugged off-road terrain, a snorkel helps keep dirt and debris out of your engine. This makes it an essential upgrade for heavy off-road enthusiasts who want to water cross with confidence.
Easy Installation
The DAS Snorkel was meticulously designed for simplicity. The no-cut, no-drill cowl-pass-through design integrates with the factory airbox, making installation easy and reversible The system attaches seamlessly to the stock airbox or AFE Super Stock system using factory hardware in about 30 minutes.
Compatibility with Stock and Aftermarket Intakes
The DAS Snorkel is engineered to work with the stock air intake system or an aFe POWER Super Stock Induction System. This popular set-up features a drop-in, inverted-style air filter paired with a rotational-molded tube to quickly and easily boost airflow, horsepower, and torque.
The following aFe POWER Super Stock systems fit with DAS Snorkel 55-21001:
Super Stock System for 3.6L Wrangler JL/Gladiator JT
Super Stock System for 2.0L Turbo Wrangler JL
The snorkel part number mentioned above is currently not compatible with the flagship Momentum GT intake. Our R&D team is exploring options for a compatible snorkel model featuring a compression-molded interface piece, but it would likely not provide a watertight seal.
Customization and Durability
The air inlet features an aluminum bezel and grill that can be removed for custom painting or powder coating. Future offerings may include colors and grill patterns to match models like the Rubicon and 4xe.
The snorkel components are made from ultra-durable XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene), a heat, UV, and impact-resistant material manufactured in-house in our Corona, CA facilities. Compared to ABS plastic, which cracks easily, the XLPE design is engineered to brace tree limbs, heavy debris, or whatever else comes your way.
Drain Plug
The thoughtfully-placed drain plug at the lowest point of the riser allows water to drain out before it reaches the airbox, making it ideal for rainy conditions or even drive-through car washes.
Designed With The Avid Off-Road In Mind
Ease of serviceability was very important when our team was developing the product, so we made sure it was as easy to take off as it was to put on. If you want to quickly customize your Jeep without tearing it apart, the components are easily removable, leaving your Jeep looking and performing right back to the original stock setup. The runner section can easily be removed with two hose clamps, granting easy access to the fuse box, battery, and relays. In addition, if you don’t plan on water crossings and not looking for that water-tight seal, the snorkel is customizable and can be run without the clamp, adapter, and riser for a simple raised air intake.
Mike: Hey, it’s Mike here with aFe POWER. I’ve got Justin with me, and today we’re going to talk about the new product we just came out with—the aFe DAS Snorkel for the 2018 to 2024 Jeep JL. How’s it going, Justin?
Justin: Good! How you doing, Mike?
Mike: Pretty good. So, what exactly is a snorkel? What’s it used for?
Justin: A snorkel on any vehicle is essentially an elevated air intake pickup point. You really want one for heavy off-roading or caravanning. If you’re driving behind someone for a long time, all the dirt and debris they kick up can clog a standard intake. With a snorkel, the air intake is higher up, away from the dust and dirt.
Mike: Got it. Now, for this DAS unit you just released for aFe, how difficult would it be to install it on the Jeep JL?
Justin: We designed this to be very simple—no cutting, drilling, or modifications to the sheet metal. It snaps right onto the stock airbox. It bolts on with factory hardware in four spots, and the rest just clamps into place. Most people can install it in about 30 minutes, depending on their skill level.
Mike: So it’s a straightforward bolt-on kit—no cutting, welding, or drilling required. That’s great! Now, the big question: Does it work with both stock and aftermarket intakes? Do users need to buy additional parts to make it compatible?
Justin: We designed this snorkel specifically for the stock air intake system. It includes an adapter piece that bolts directly to the lower half of the airbox. It works with the stock intake as well as our SuperStock intake, which features an inverted-style air filter and a roto-molded intake tube.
Mike: Does it work with the Momentum GT intake as well?
Justin: Right now, it does not work with the Momentum GT intake. However, we are exploring the possibility of creating an interface piece for it. That would be a compression-molded component, but it wouldn’t provide a watertight seal—it would mainly help with keeping the air intake higher and away from dirt. That’s something we’ll work on down the line.
Mike: Any timeline for that?
Justin: We haven’t started the design yet, but I kept it in mind while working on this snorkel to ensure compatibility down the road.
Mike: Excellent. It looks like a clean, well-thought-out design. What are some of the standout features and benefits of this snorkel?
Justin: One of the great things about Jeeps is customization. For this snorkel, we’ve included a sheet metal bezel and grill on the air inlet. These aluminum components can be removed and customized—painted, powder-coated, or swapped for different designs. In the future, we’ll offer additional colors and grill patterns to match models like the Rubicon or 4xe.
Mike: What material is the DAS snorkel made from? Is it ABS plastic?
Justin: These components are made from cross-linked polyethylene. This material is UV-resistant, impact-resistant, and durable—perfect for off-road abuse. For example, if a tree limb hits it, it won’t crack like ABS might.
Mike: I see there’s a drain plug here on the riser. What’s that for?
Justin: The drain plug is located at the lowest point of the riser. If you’re driving in heavy rain or areas with occasional splashes, you can remove the plug to let any water drain out before it reaches the airbox. It’s handy for situations like drive-through car washes, too.
Mike: Nice! Does it work with the factory antenna?
Justin: Yes, it works with the factory antenna or shorter aftermarket antennas. We designed it with adequate clearance for both.
Mike: What about maintenance? Can you still access the fuse box and battery with the snorkel installed?
Justin: Absolutely. The runner section of the snorkel is removable with two hose clamps. This makes it easy to access your fuse box, battery, or relays without taking apart the entire system. For those not planning on water crossings, you can even run the snorkel without the riser for a simple elevated air intake.
Mike: If someone wanted to return the Jeep to stock, is it easy to revert?
Justin: Definitely. Since no major modifications are required, it’s just a matter of removing the snorkel components. There’s a small trim piece involved, but it’s minimal and won’t be noticeable once the foam is reinstalled.
Mike: Great! Now, the loaded question: What’s the price point?
Justin: Somewhere between a dollar and a thousand dollars—right in the middle there.
Mike: (Laughs) Fair enough. If someone wanted to purchase this snorkel, how soon could they get it?
Justin: Our expected release date is November 2024. You can order it through aFePOWER.com or an authorized dealer.
Mike: Perfect. Thanks, Justin!
Justin: Thank you!
