Description
Why a Petrol GU Patrol Needs a Snorkel Just as Much as a Diesel
The TB45E Has a Huge Appetite for Air and It Needs Every Bit of It Clean
Most people associate snorkels with diesel four wheel drives but the reality is that a large capacity petrol engine like the TB45E has an enormous appetite for air and it is just as vulnerable to the risks of a low mounted factory air intake. A 4.5L six cylinder engine at load pulls a massive volume of air through the intake system every minute. When that air is hot, dusty, or contaminated, combustion efficiency drops, the engine has to work harder, and wear accelerates over time. When water enters a running petrol engine at speed, the result is catastrophic hydraulic damage that no engine rebuild can undo inexpensively.
Petrol Engines and Water Ingestion Are a Dangerous Combination
Unlike a diesel engine where some early warning signs may occur before serious damage happens, a petrol engine with a high compression ratio like the TB45E can suffer a bent connecting rod or cracked piston from a single water ingestion event. Raising the air intake with the Safari SS15HFE puts your engine well above the splash zone of any water crossing and provides the added protection of the Safari air ram water separator to keep the airstream dry even in the heaviest rain.
Australian Built for the Demands of Australian Off Road Driving
Designed, Moulded, and Manufactured Right Here in Australia
Safari Automotive built its reputation on producing snorkels that are purpose designed for the Australian market, not imported products that have been adapted to fit Australian vehicles after the fact. The SS15HFE is designed, moulded, and manufactured entirely in Australia using Safari’s own industrial specification UV stabilised cross linked polyethylene. The material formulation, the wall thickness, and the UV protection level are all calibrated specifically for the intensity of the Australian sun, the extreme heat of the outback, and the punishing physical demands of genuine off road four wheel driving across this country.
UV Stable Material That Holds Up Under the Australian Sun for a Lifetime
One of the most common failures in budget snorkels is UV degradation. Years of direct Australian sun cause cheaper materials to become brittle, fade, crack, and eventually fail structurally. The Safari SS15HFE uses UV stabilised polyethylene that resists this degradation and maintains its colour, flexibility, and strength for the life of your vehicle. When you combine that material quality with the industrial grade wall thickness of the SS15HFE body, you have a snorkel that is not going to crack from a tree branch scrape, split from a rock impact, or deform from heat exposure no matter where your GU Patrol takes you.
Lifetime Warranty Because the Quality Backs It Up
The SS15HFE carries the HF designation identifying it as a V Spec Safari snorkel, built to Safari’s industrial material standard. That standard earns a genuine lifetime warranty on the snorkel body and air ram. Not a conditional policy. Not a five year limited coverage. A lifetime warranty that reflects exactly how much confidence Safari Automotive has in the long term performance of this product. GU Patrol owners who purchase the SS15HFE through Opposite Lock Cardiff in Newcastle are covered for the life of their vehicle from the day they drive out of our Cardiff workshop.
The Safari Air Ram Does Two Critical Jobs at Once
Delivering Maximum Volume to a Thirsty 4.5L Petrol Engine
The 3.5 inch air ram assembly fitted to the SS15HFE is engineered to meet the substantial airflow demands of the TB45E 4.5L inline six. At full load, a 4.5L petrol engine is moving a significant volume of air through the intake system and the Safari air ram is designed to deliver that volume consistently and without restriction. Positioned at roof height and facing forward into the cleanest available ambient airflow, the air ram feeds your TB45E with the high volume cool air it needs to perform at its best under every driving condition.
Keeping Your Engine Dry Through Crossings and Heavy Rain
The second function of the Safari air ram is water separation. The internal geometry of the air ram creates a centrifugal effect as incoming air enters at speed, forcing water droplets outward and away from the main airstream before they can travel down the snorkel body toward your engine. This separation happens continuously during driving and requires no maintenance or adjustment. Whether your GU Patrol is pushing through a river crossing on a remote track, driving through a flooded dirt road after heavy rain, or travelling through a tropical downpour in Far North Queensland, your TB45E keeps receiving clean, dry air throughout.
A Completely Different Hose Configuration for the TB45E Petrol Engine
More Hose Components Than the Diesel Version for a Reason
One important difference with the SS15HFE compared to diesel GU Patrol snorkel kits is the hose configuration. The TB45E petrol engine uses a different air cleaner assembly layout that requires an additional joiner and an air cleaner inlet hose to complete the connection between the snorkel body and the factory air intake system. The SS15HFE kit includes all of these components specifically sized and shaped for the TB45E setup, so the installation is complete and correct straight out of the box with no sourcing of additional parts required.
Every Component Included for a Professional Finish
The complete SS15HFE kit contains the snorkel body, the 3.5 inch air ram assembly, the upper mounting bracket, the snorkel outlet hose, a 90mm OD x 60mm joiner, the air cleaner entry hose, a 90mm OD x 42mm joiner, the air cleaner inlet hose, all hose clamps in the correct sizes for every connection, the full stainless steel hardware kit including hex bolts, studs, body washers, nyloc nuts, and self tapping screws, plastic inserts, and the precision guard panel template for accurate fitment to your GU Patrol Y61 mudguard. Every fastener is stainless steel throughout so there is no rust and no corrosion regardless of conditions.
Safari Snorkel Nissan GU Patrol (Y61) 4x4 Kit - Parts List
SS15HFE Parts List
| ITEM | PART NO. | DESCRIPTION | QTY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 485-133-500 | BODY – SNORKEL (SS15HFB) | 1 |
| 2 | 000-135-800 | 3 ½” AIR RAM ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| 3 | 485-032-500 | BRACKET – UPPER MOUNTING | 1 |
| 4 | 000-002-100 | BOLT – HEX – S/S – 6mm x 1.0 x 14mm (SEMS) | 2 |
| 5 | 000-951 | SCREW – S/T – S/S – 4.2mm x 13mm | 3 |
| 6 | 000-960 | INSERT – PLASTIC | 3 |
| 7 | 000-110 | STUD – S/S – 8mm x 1.25 x 25mm | 5 |
| 8 | 000-311-300 | WASHER – BODY – S/S – 8mm x 32mm | 5 |
| 9 | 000-205-300 | NUT – NYLOC – S/S – 8mm x 1.25mm | 5 |
| 10 | 485-024-000 | HOSE – SNORKEL OUTLET | 1 |
| 11 | 485-025-000 | JOINER – 90mm OD x 60mm Long | 1 |
| 12 | 485-024-200 | HOSE – AIR CLEANER ENTRY | 1 |
| 13 | 485-025-300 | JOINER – 90mm OD x 42mm Long | 1 |
| 14 | 485-024-600 | HOSE – AIR CLEANER INLET | 1 |
| 15 | 000-909 | CLAMP – HOSE 80/100mm | 3 |
| 16 | 000-910 | CLAMP – HOSE 90/110mm | 2 |
| 17 | 000-1911 | CLAMP – HOSE 100/120mm | 1 |
| 18 | 000-914/B | CLAMP – HOSE – No. 56 (BLACK) | 1 |
| 19 | 485-017-500 | TEMPLATE – GUARD PANEL | 1 |
Get Your Safari SS15HFE Fitted by Newcastle's 4WD Specialists
Professional Snorkel Installation at Opposite Lock Cardiff
Opposite Lock Cardiff serves GU Patrol owners across Newcastle, Cardiff, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, and the Central Coast with professional 4WD accessory installation you can trust. Our experienced fitment team handles the complete SS15HFE installation from the guard panel cut using the Safari supplied precision template through to correct hose routing, proper sealing of every connection, and secure A pillar mounting. The result is a factory clean finish that performs exactly as Safari designed it to, ready for river crossings, outback tracks, and long range touring from day one.
Your TB45E is a remarkable engine and it deserves the protection it was never given from the factory. Contact Opposite Lock Cardiff today to order your Safari SS15HFE Snorkel and book your professional installation in Newcastle.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What makes the Safari SS15HFE different from the snorkel kits for the diesel GU Patrol models?
The Safari SS15HFE is specifically engineered for the Nissan GU Patrol Y61 Series 1 fitted with the TB45E 4.5L Petrol engine, and one of the key differences that sets it apart from the diesel variants is the hose configuration within the kit. The TB45E petrol engine uses a different air cleaner assembly layout compared to the TD42Ti and ZD30DDT diesel engines, which means the SS15HFE includes an additional 90mm OD x 42mm joiner and a separate air cleaner inlet hose that are not present in the diesel kits. This ensures the snorkel connects correctly and completely to the factory air intake system on the petrol engine without any need for custom fabrication or additional components. Everything required for a complete professional installation is included in the kit straight out of the box.
Is a snorkel really necessary on a petrol GU Patrol or is it more of a diesel thing?
This is one of the most common misconceptions in the four wheel drive community and the short answer is that a snorkel is just as important on a petrol GU Patrol as it is on a diesel. The TB45E 4.5L inline six is a large capacity petrol engine with a high compression ratio, and it is highly vulnerable to water ingestion damage. A diesel engine has some tolerance for small amounts of moisture because combustion relies on compression rather than spark ignition, but a petrol engine like the TB45E can suffer catastrophic internal damage including bent connecting rods and cracked pistons from a single water ingestion event during a creek crossing or heavy rain drive. Beyond water protection, the TB45E also has a large appetite for air at load and benefits significantly from the cooler, cleaner, higher volume airflow that the Safari SS15HFE delivers compared to the hot, dusty factory intake position.
What warranty does the Safari SS15HFE come with and how do I claim it?
The SS15HFE is a V Spec Safari snorkel, identified by the HF letters in the part number, and it carries a genuine lifetime warranty on the snorkel body and air ram. This is Safari Automotive’s highest warranty tier, available on snorkels manufactured using their industrial grade UV stabilised polyethylene material. The lifetime warranty reflects the quality of the materials and construction rather than being a marketing claim with hidden conditions. For GU Patrol owners in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region who purchase the SS15HFE through Opposite Lock Cardiff, warranty support is handled through our Cardiff workshop so you are never dealing with an overseas manufacturer or a complicated claims process on your own.
Can I get the Safari SS15HFE professionally fitted in Newcastle and how long does the installation take?
Yes. Opposite Lock Cardiff offers professional Safari snorkel installation for Nissan GU Patrol owners across the Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, and Central Coast regions. Our experienced 4WD fitment technicians handle the complete installation including the guard panel cut using the Safari precision template, all hose routing and connection sealing, and secure A pillar mounting. Snorkel installation on a GU Patrol is typically completed within a half day depending on workshop scheduling and any additional work being done at the same time. Contact our Cardiff workshop directly to get a quote, confirm availability, and book your installation at a time that suits you.
Will fitting the Safari SS15HFE snorkel improve the fuel economy or performance of my TB45E petrol engine?
Yes, and this is a benefit that TB45E owners often notice after fitting a quality snorkel. The factory air intake on the GU Patrol Y61 Series 1 pulls air from low in the engine bay where temperatures are significantly higher than ambient due to radiated engine heat. Hot air is less dense than cool ambient air, which means the TB45E is effectively getting less oxygen per volume of air drawn in compared to what it would receive from a properly positioned roof height intake. By fitting the Safari SS15HFE and relocating the intake to roof height, your TB45E draws cooler, denser ambient air which improves combustion efficiency across the rev range. Many GU Patrol owners report a noticeable improvement in throttle response and a modest improvement in fuel economy on highway touring runs after fitting a quality snorkel, particularly on vehicles that previously had a partially restricted or heat affected factory intake setup.
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