Deep Cleaning and Protecting Snorkels and Roof Racks

Never clean accessories that are hot to the touch. In Australian summer, metal roof racks can reach 70°C, which will cause chemicals to flash and streak instantly. Move the vehicle into a shaded area or garage and allow at least 60 minutes for the surfaces to stabilise to ambient temperature.

Check the snorkel head (ram air intake) for blockages such as leaves, dead locusts, or debris. Use a torch to inspect the first 20cm of the neck. If the intake has a pre-cleaner or sock, remove it now for separate cleaning. Ensure the drain valves at the bottom of the airbox are clear.

Mix your APC according to the contamination level. For heavy red dust or coastal salt, use a 1:5 ratio (1 part product to 5 parts water). For regular maintenance, 1:10 is sufficient. Fill a dedicated foaming pump sprayer or trigger bottle to ensure even coverage.

Before applying water, check the tension of the roof rack bolts and snorkel mounting brackets. Vibration from corrugated roads often loosens these. Tightening them now prevents water from seeping into mounting holes or roof channels during the high-pressure rinse phase.

Rinse the roof rack and snorkel thoroughly from top to bottom. Focus on the 'T-slots' in the roof rack extrusions and the area where the snorkel meets the A-pillar. This removes loose grit and salt crystals that could cause scratching during the agitation phase. Use a sweeping motion at a distance of 30cm.

Apply a pH-neutral iron remover to the entire snorkel body and roof rack. Red dust is high in iron oxide; the chemical will react and turn purple as it dissolves the mineral deposits. Let it dwell for 3-5 minutes, but do not let it dry. This step is critical for restoring the true black colour of the plastic.

Generously spray your diluted APC (1:5) over the accessories. The surfactants will lift organic matter like bird droppings and crushed insects. In summer, work in sections (e.g., front half of the rack first) to prevent the cleaner from drying on the surface, which can cause permanent staining on powder coating.

Use the soft-bristled brush to work the APC into the grain of the snorkel's plastic and the crevices of the roof rack mounts. Use circular motions. The agitation is necessary to break the static bond of fine dust that pressure washing alone cannot remove. Pay special attention to the underside of the rack bars.

Rinse away all chemicals using the pressure washer. Follow this with a 'flood' rinse using a hose without a nozzle. This allows the water to sheet off the surfaces, carrying away any remaining chemical residue from the internal channels of the roof rack where pressure jets might miss.

Dry the surfaces using a dedicated microfibre towel. For roof racks with complex channels, use a leaf blower or compressed air to blow water out of the bolt holes and T-tracks. Standing water in these areas can lead to 'tea staining' (early-stage corrosion) or unsightly water spots in the summer heat.

Once dry, wipe the snorkel and rack with a 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) solution. This removes any leftover surfactants or oils from your hands. This step is mandatory if you are applying a ceramic coating, as it ensures the coating can form a direct covalent bond with the substrate.

Apply 5-10 drops of a dedicated trim coating to a suede applicator block. Wipe onto the snorkel in small 10cm x 10cm sections. The plastic will darken immediately. Wait 1-2 minutes (refer to product specs), then lightly buff with a clean microfibre to level the high spots. This provides 12-24 months of UV protection.

For powder-coated racks, apply a high-temp synthetic sealant or a ceramic spray. If using a spray, apply to the cloth first rather than the rack to avoid overspray onto the roof glass. Ensure you coat the vertical mounts and the wind deflector, as these take the brunt of UV and stone impacts.

Apply a small amount of lanolin-based spray (like Lanotec) or marine-grade anti-seize to the threads of any exposed bolts. This is especially important for coastal drivers, as it prevents the stainless steel bolts from seizing into the aluminium rack (galvanic corrosion) due to salt air exposure.