rainy days and CAI

[UncleBen]

i'm need some reasurring that my Injen CAI won't suck up a whole lot of water and make my motor screw up. i know that if i get submerged, obviously it will happen, but there isn't usually water that deep around here. but it just worries me that when its raining hard or sumthing the intake might let some water get up in the throttle body and stuff. i'm paranoid about stuff like that. any of you have a guard thing or w/e around your filter? i've seen Injen intakes w/ them. i don't know if they make them for our cars or what....:help

[240SXer]

I think AEM sells a little thing that will make it draw air from this other filter incase it tries to grab water. I doubt a little bit of water would hurt it. (hey water injection works?!).

David.

[PabloHoney]

The AEM bypass valve only protects against submerged filters pretty much. The valves (little plastic flaps basically) only open when so much vaccum is created behind them, like when there is little to no air being allowed through the filter, like when it is submerged. If you splash some water on the filter while driving your car might chug a little, but it's not gonna go and hydro-lock on you from a small puddle. My advice, if you really need to drive your car in the rain, take off the cold-air extension if you are worried about it. But, like you said, you don't get that much rain, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

I have the CAI w/ bypass valve on ma civic. It works great but I think I have less to worry about cause the filter is placed in the right bumper and is protected from water splash by thewheel well cover.

If the CAI extension that you have drops to the ground with no covering, me thinks you may have cause to worry. I hear the new type of bypass valve theat AEM has may fix the splashing vs submerged problem. Give em a call and ask them.

[UncleBen]

thanks for the replys. and that valve is a good idea but its not what i'm talkin about. there is basically a shield that goes around the filter, that looks like it protects against splashed water. and Maximus Nismo, i have that wheel well covering like you were talking about, but there is that quite large opening in the front of the car beside the fog light. it lets alot of water in through there. i did think about just taking off the extension this winter and fall but i doubt i will, just because its a pain in the arse.

[Mayhem_J30]

you're probably talking about the heat shield that injen sells. i would save my money. you'll be fine, just don't go falling into lakes and stuff.

[fliprayzin240sx]

I got a better suggestion...buy an extra cone filter. Takes 10 seconds to unhook your CAI, move it aside and plug in ur extra filter. Thats what ive been doing for awhile now. Unfortunately Ive sucked water in with my CAI b4 and car sounded it was chocking and steam was coming out of my exhaust. Im just thankful that no damage was done. :pface

[UncleBen]

oh, you're talkin about not completely removing the CAE huh. i didn't think about that. but mayhem, if you say i'll be aight, i guess i'll trust ya. about how much do other cone filters cost anyway

[MarkEmark]

There was a post about this probably a week ago, and I responded to it with my remedy for the "getting paranoid in the rain problem." I too was very paranoid that my intake would suck up water or get into the throttle body, yadda, yadda, yadda...so, the remedy? I wanted to cut and paste exactly what I said on my last post, but the stupid forums wont let me copy/paste things?? Anyway...the AEM valve, like others said, only protects from water assuming the fitler will be in such a deep puddle that it will be submerged in water momentarily. Anyway, instead of being suckered into over-priced, honda tuning AEM parts, I just went down to the hardware store, got some plexi glass, cut it to the exact contours of the big hole in my front bumper which air flows through (and water as well) to get to the air filter. A well oiled air filter should prevent any water from getting in, but I wanted more reassurance. So after I cut it, I just keep it in my car, and pop it in when its raining, so that way, no rain gets in through the whole, and prevents the intake filter from being touched by water (well, a couple of drops get in, but its impossible to make the compartment in the bumper air tite). I also plugged all the wholes in the splash guard/in the under carriage guard so water couldn't get in there either. Cost me $2, took me less than an hour to make, and suits its purpose fine..I see that you have an S14 (same color as mine too!) If you send me $10, I'll make you one and ship it out to you... Best thing is, no one notices the guard because its translucent.Hope this hlepedPeace

[MarkEmark]

But, now that I look at your car, you have fog lights in the same part of the bumper where I had open holes...Doesn't that block any water from getting in?

[UncleBen]

yes they do block alot of water but there is still about 3-4" of space, which leads directly to the filter. thanks for the offer man. if you can still do it, even tho the fog light is there, i might take you up on that offer.

[s14=pimpin']

If you suck up water in your intake, chances are most of it will evaporate by the time it hits the throttle body.

I purchased my cone style intake, with a heat shield, for $40 Canadian. It may help prevent water from absorbing into the filter from the sides, but its more of a show piece than having any real world use (aside from protecting filter from heat).

How big is your filter? My pal hydro locked his engine on the track, but he went through a huge puddle, his intake was about a foot long, and went right to the bottom of his bumper (K & N). I think he did it on purpose, cause now he has a s14 black top. just avoid large puddles and don't drive too hard under heavy rain conditions. and you should be fine.

[MarkEmark]

I would do it if I knew the demensions, but I'd really have to see an s14 with fog lights to make it..is the 3-4" coming from under neath the fog lights in that thin hole? Or to the left of the fog light? It really isn't all that hard, I'm surprised no one else has had the same idea as me.... (possibly a little business going on making these lol?) I wouldn't even worry about those 3-4" if I were you, especially if you oiled up your filter well. Just go down to a hardware store, get some plexi glass, cut it with a jigsaw after you make a cardboard model that contours the open hole...then just use velcro and attach it to the inside bumper and to the outside of plexi glass...you have to be creative here...my velcro doesn't work that well, still trying to find what I can do to improve it from sticking on there....good luck...and again, for $2, cant be beat

[UncleBen]

good. thats the reasurrnace i wanted