CAI paranoia

[hereitcomes]

Hey there, I had a CAI on my 95 Talon FWD, and I was wondering about water getting sucked up from the filter being in the front air-dam. I have heard about people getting hydro-lock, and their engines siezing up all because of an intake. If it starts dumping out and im tooling around town, is the vaccum going to suck up tons of water and send it straight to my engine, or should i get a bypass valve and not worry about it. thanks.

 

[pr0]

I believe in order to hyrdo-lock your engine, the filter must be at least fully submerged in order for it to suck up water. Back when I had a CAI, I drove it when it was raining all the time with no problems.

Its the really huge pot holes to look out for. Driving on a wet road won't do anything unless you have no filter or something...

 

[97eclipsesleepr]

yeh it the deep potholes you have to watch out for. I have a CAI on my eclipse and drive it in the rain all the time with no problems. I did put a bypass valve as well just to be safe, it was only $25.

 

[esi-slowboy]

LIke someone said before it would have to be submerged in water b4 you have to worry about that, more of a security thing. The bypass valve causes turbulance in the intake and reduces performance, you basically loose some of the gains you get from having a CAI but its still better than stock. If hydrolock is an issue get an short ram intake or dont drive in ponds

 

[BigRand]

I live in seattle, and I've had my AEM CAI on through the thickest of storms. Just let off the gas when you go over deep puddles.
Mine was infront of the wheel well too and I had no probelms.
If for somereason you do hydro lock, just get your car to a dry place wait a couple of minutes and fire it up again. Thats what another member did when he was driving in huricane weather.

 

[miamieclipse]

If i'm not mistaken that other member he refers to is me. It was after it really poured down here in South Fl. & it was after i had recently put in the cai. I thought it was extra careful - but they repaved that road and hadnt put the finishing touches on any sewer. I didn't look for a sec and i went over a fairly deep puddle. It was no big deal - i turend the car off and rolled it to a parking space nearby let it dry for a couple and it ran fine after.

 

[hereitcomes]

hey guys, thanks a lot for the help. take it easy.

 

[Burnett03]

I live in seattle, and I've had my AEM CAI on through the thickest of storms. Just let off the gas when you go over deep puddles.
Mine was infront of the wheel well too and I had no probelms.
If for somereason you do hydro lock, just get your car to a dry place wait a couple of minutes and fire it up again. Thats what another member did when he was driving in huricane weather.

good idea if your rods arent already bent/broken from the water being sucked in..

 

[mckooter]

Its actually easy to do if your not careful, a friend of mine (drives a focus not a dsm) had a simmilar intake and it didnt turn out so well:

hole in engine:

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

snapped rods on pistons that shot through the block:

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

So its possible if you arent careful, in his case they froze (it gets cold in maine) i have more pics somewhere of the block and filter, but those should get the idea accross

 

[green machine]

just cut the the intake in 2 pieces and when it rains just make it a short ram intake and that will solve all your problem its easy and alls you need is another coupling and 2 hose clamps

 

[DSMcamaro]

just cut the the intake in 2 pieces and when it rains just make it a short ram intake and that will solve all your problem its easy and alls you need is another coupling and 2 hose clamps

i think buying a bypass valve would be easiest.

 

[xXeclipstasyXx]

i think buying a bypass valve would be easiest.

better safe than sorry... bypass means absolutely no worries