Is it best to put the OE air filter box back? What brand of internal filter to fit?

Caledonian

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My new (to me) 2004 Wrangler TJ will soon be on a boat from Japan to the UK..they sent some pictures from the port to confirm the condition..seems OK to my eyes (underneath)..however it has a snorkel fitted (which I was planning to remove)..

I see from the engine bay shot that the snorkel is plumbed directly to the the intake, the OE filter box having been removed.

So my questions are:

  1. I assume the OE box works as well as / better than any mumbo jumbo with K&N type filters?
  2. What brand of filter (if you can find them) are recommened internally..
A few pictures attached..

1J4F449S14P784965 (3).webp


1J4F449S14P784965 (5).webp


1J4F449S14P784965 (9).webp
 
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In the UK you likely don’t have the same brand options as the US. Just look for a good quality paper element that has a metal screen on the engine side of the filter.
For Euro stuff I usually get Mann&Hummel, Bosch or Purolator.
 
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OE air box is the best option.

If you can't find anything over there, Rock Auto ships internationally, but no idea of what that would cost.
 
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If you remove the snorkel, you're going to have a big hole in the side to fix. Dana 44 rear axle.(y) You couldn't find a Jeep in the UK?
 
So my questions are:

  1. I assume the OE box works as well as / better than any mumbo jumbo with K&N type filters?
  2. What brand of filter (if you can find them) are recommened internally..

The OE box works better on the stock 4.0 than any mumbo jumbo no matter what brand filter is used.

I wouldn't doubt that K&N makes a filter for the OE box, if so, not recommended.

Otherwise, with me also not knowing what's available in the UK, never monday's "good quality paper element" is the way to start out. Actual paper not so much.

FWIW, I'd say that snorkel is really taking chances being run so low before going up high. Maybe it's main purpose is to avoid dust, not deep water. Whatever it's trying to avoid I hope there's a filter in there somewhere. At least you won't have to worry about needing the snorkel while protecting your country from Godzilla.

And that's a good looking Jeep.
 
If you remove the snorkel, you're going to have a big hole in the side to fix. Dana 44 rear axle.(y) You couldn't find a Jeep in the UK?
I think a front Dana 44 axle is a bit like rocking horse poo if that’s what you are suggesting i do to plug the front snorkel hole?-:)

UK sourced Wranglers are quite expensive and tend to be a bit rusty / abused...

The Japanese versions are usually lower mileage, not been driven off road (have you tried to go off road in Tokyo) and because they don’t use salt in most areas they seems to be less corroded...
 
Thanks with a bit of searching found Mopar OE filter in the UK...

As a further aside any prejudices ref speak plugs...NGK, Autolite etc?
 
Yep, the OE airbox and a factory style fram filter (or similar) are your best options.
 
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NGKs were OEM in my '06. Only bad thing is you need to change them every 30K mi.

If you want to use platinum plugs, you will need to use double platinums due to the waste spark ignition system to avoid issues. Autolite APP985 or similar.
 
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I guess my English isn't so good. Nice rear Dana 44 and Flex Seal tape or a nice chrome door knob will fill that snorkel hole nicely.:cool:
Ah thank you..yes two nations separated by a common language!-:)

Yes its got a Dana 44 looking at any tips on re-building the LSD clutch packs.. Condition from but one photo looks promising on the under body parts?

No sure what to do with the impending hole when I remove the snorkel...divine inspiration will no doubt happen..
 
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I'll be the odd man out... If the snorkel is mounted properly and sealed like it should be, there are some inline air filter housings that you could easily plumb in. For me, I would take that as a fun project to pipe it in (not that goofy flex pipe that's on there). On the flip, can never go wrong with the stock setup.

Like this.

SPE-9832.webp
 
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I'll be the odd man out... If the snorkel is mounted properly and sealed like it should be, there are some inline air filter housings that you could easily plumb in. For me, I would take that as a fun project to pipe it in (not that goofy flex pipe that's on there). On the flip, can never go wrong with the stock setup.

Like this.

View attachment 223765
Thanks for the alternate view..as we say in the UK..I think I'll feel like a 'plonker' going down to the shops with a snorkel..-:)

So its coming off...in my 'yoof' I might have gone for it!
 
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Thanks for the alternate view..as we say in the UK..I think I'll feel like a 'plonker' going down to the shops with a snorkel..-:)

So its coming off...in my 'yoof' I might have gone for it!
It's your Jeep, do what works for you. A snorkel has its place... Most here (that have one) use it to get their air intake out of the dust bowl more than for water crossings. I'm content with the stock box and filter, but we have guys that modify boxes off of other vehicles and plumb the intake in to the cowl area. Not drastically different from running a snorkel.

Good luck, nice Jeep.
 
I've heard there are water crossings in the UK. I hear it's all around you.:unsure:
Yes we have lots of water..here is Scotland as much as Oregon..I think I'd get my bottom smacked if I started driving up the salmon and trout rivers around here!-:)
 
It's your Jeep, do what works for you. A snorkel has its place... Most here (that have one) use it to get their air intake out of the dust bowl more than for water crossings. I'm content with the stock box and filter, but we have guys that modify boxes off of other vehicles and plumb the intake in to the cowl area. Not drastically different from running a snorkel.

Good luck, nice Jeep.
Thanks..I'm trying to steer a compromise between the seriously over engineered Tonka toys many of your US colleagues have and something that looks butch enough without requiring a step ladder to get into and out off.. not a lot of dust in this part of the world thanksto lots of rain, little pollution and much wind!-:)
 
It's your Jeep, do what works for you. A snorkel has its place... Most here (that have one) use it to get their air intake out of the dust bowl more than for water crossings.
Raising the air intake out of the engine compartment via a snorkel is only going to suck in more dust, it doesn't raise the intake out of the dust. That's a tired old wive's tale.

Dusty Jeep.JPG
Dusty Trail.jpg


So far as actually filtering the dust out of the air goes, you can't beat the OE air intake with a good quality paper element air filter like from AC-Delco, Wix, or Purolator.

K&N Chart with Text.webp
 
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Raising the air intake out of the engine compartment via a snorkel is only going to suck in more dust, it doesn't raise the intake out of the dust. That's a tired old wive's tale.

View attachment 223779View attachment 223780

So far as actually filtering the dust out of the air goes, you can't beat the OE air intake with a good quality paper element air filter like from AC-Delco, Wix, or Purolator.

View attachment 223784
Great piece of qualative data!!
 
Raising the air intake out of the engine compartment via a snorkel is only going to suck in more dust, it doesn't raise the intake out of the dust. That's a tired old wive's tale.

View attachment 223779View attachment 223780

So far as actually filtering the dust out of the air goes, you can't beat the OE air intake with a good quality paper element air filter like from AC-Delco, Wix, or Purolator.

View attachment 223784
I respect your opinion, but without a photo of what's going on under the hood at those exact moments, it's not exactly a legitimate comparison. It may be... Also, we're not running KOH speeds here on our crawling runs. But I know what under my hood looks like after a run, and it's pretty much just like my roof. Including the air intake tube on my stock air cleaner box. It is what it is... I run stock air boxes on all my Jeeps, and change my filters often. If someone chooses to run a snorkel, so be it...