2.2l Puma Water on Air Filter

[InFront]

Hi! guys –
My wife was driving her 2012 Puma on last week in the rainwhen the engine light came on and had limited power. It was raining very hardwhen this occurred. The engine sounded fine and idled well but I could not getrevs. She crawled back home from Pretoria. (Not a happy wife) I looked the nextday and it had water in the air filter? This is a surprise to me as she hadn’tbeen through any deep water as she was driving on the highway when the problem occurred.Her Defender does not have a snorkel fitted. The wet air filter was ripped andpulled in the air intake to the turbo blocking the air flow sensor. Can anyoneplease tell me how water may have gotten into the air filter? Any suggestionswould be greatly appreciated?

[Regard]

Very, very easy explanation!

No even the dealer mechanics know how to replace the air filter box lid properly!!!

On EVERY occasion after my Defender was serviced my filter lid was put back incorrectly and the rear tabs (under the fender) not engaged. This will cause water (even fine spray) to be sucked in directly on to the filter.

Make sure the turbo is clean and OK and maybe get your intercooler blown out with some serious petrol and air pressure.

[ClaudeG]

Very, very easy explanation!

No even the dealer mechanics know how to replace the air filter box lid properly!!!

On EVERY occasion after my Defender was serviced my filter lid was put back incorrectly and the rear tabs (under the fender) not engaged. This will cause water (even fine spray) to be sucked in directly on to the filter.

Make sure the turbo is clean and OK and maybe get your intercooler blown out with some serious petrol and air pressure.

100% agree, they don't put it back properly.

[InFront]

Hi! Regard & ClaudeG
Thanks for the comments.
I did the last serve myself and went to great pains to insurethe lid was on correct. I am 100% sure it was on correct when I opened it up.

[Landyluvver]

Very, very easy explanation!

No even the dealer mechanics know how to replace the air filter box lid properly!!!

On EVERY occasion after my Defender was serviced my filter lid was put back incorrectly and the rear tabs (under the fender) not engaged. This will cause water (even fine spray) to be sucked in directly on to the filter.

Make sure the turbo is clean and OK and maybe get your intercooler blown out with some serious petrol and air pressure.

the most idiotic design from Land Rover in a long time!

[Pieter Landy]

Gents. Thanks this is very good advise.

[Regard]

Shees Infront....

Maybe your lady did a lekker deep water crossing but did not wanna tell you??

Or your air inlet piping has dislodged somewhere between the fender and the airbox (my bet will be at that VERY lose fitting between the piping and air filter box inlet).

Maybe your water trap outlet (silicone nipple ...yes I said it...in the corner of the air filter box) is blocked?

[InFront]

Some pictures of the damaged air cleaner element.

[InFront]

Shees Infront....

Maybe your lady did a lekker deep water crossing but did not wanna tell you??

Or your air inlet piping has dislodged somewhere between the fender and the airbox (my bet will be at that VERY lose fitting between the piping and air filter box inlet).

Maybe your water trap outlet (silicone nipple ...yes I said it...in the corner of the air filter box) is blocked?

Hi! Regard
The inlet ducting was not dislodged but I agree the fit at the air box is poor. However the joint at the fender seems even worse.
As for the drain nipple I cant see it from the top of the air box.
I am busy removing the air ducting and air box, will let you know what I find.

[Regard]

Ja, went through the same process to get a "water tight snorkel" and used copious amounts of automotive silicone to try and seal up all the huge gaps, esp around the fender box amd the inlet to the filter box.

[InFront]

While searching the web for possible answers to the water onair filter problem I came across this.
“Nugget Stuff Defender sealed air system” http://www.expeditioncentre.com.au/o...ir-system.html
"The kit contains a replacement air box which screws to the inner guard and an adaptor for the air filter box end allowing the 2 to be connected with a 90mm flexible hose which is clamped in position."

[ClaudeG]

Donald source a pipe like that locally and machine adapters on either end to fit into box and snorkel / intake grille, you could probably do this with yours eyes closed

Then you can make us all a set

[InFront]

I also came across the “air-box mod” http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic25864.html
Has anyone done this on the Puma? They are talking highlyof it “Air box mods can be good for a gain of 11Nm's on the dyno”

[InFront]

Donald source a pipe like that locally and machine adapters on either end to fit into box and snorkel / intake grille, you could probably do this with yours eyes closed

Then you can make us all a set

Hi! Claude


It seems great minds think alike.

[InFront]

Have managed to remove air box and intake ducting. One of the main (in my opinion) problems is there is no valve/ flap on water drain.
Secondary problems are the bad fitting intake ducting.

Can I just plug this drain hole?

Can't seem to load pictures from my iPhone, so will load them in the morning.

[InFront]

Some pictures of the air filter box from the bottom showing the hole created by the missing drain nipple/flap. The air filter box also has a hole in one of the mounting feet.
Also the air intake ducting with the poor fitting joints.
The water trap just inside the fender, its drain flap also does not seal properly.
So all in all there is lots of place for water to get in to the air filter. In my opinion the biggest culprit was the drain in the air-box that’s missing.

[Partyranger]

I also went through a similar process of sealing all the pipes on my 2.4 after I had a similar problem.

I however also had to spend a lot of time cleaning out the intercooler due to all the paper that was forced into it by the turbo. Now might be a good time to upgrade to a larger intercooler.

I however did not seal the water drain where that silly flap is. I then once again got water into the filter after driving in very deep rain water.
The next morning I stripped the fender in the middle of the bush and I sealed that flap as well.

Hopefully my air intake is now 99% waterproof.

[ClaudeG]

Donald is there a plastic propeller in the inlet pipe of the box?

[InFront]

Hi! Claude
Yes, it does have plastic impeller in the inlet pipe of the box. I see on the UK and Australian forums they advocate the removal of the impeller and cut the inlet bigger on the air-box.

[InFront]

Partyranger and ClaudeG what snorkels do you have fitted?
Have they had any effect on your power and fuel consumption?