Cold air intakes and rain/dirt
10-14-2003, 08:59 PM
#1
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Cold air intakes and rain/dirt
Is it dangerous to run cold air intakes? I myself was fairly confident in my decision when i purchase one but after talking to a friend of mine i am now concerned that i will be putting my engine in grave danger by installing one. My main concerns are whether water or dirt can be sucked into the engine because of one.
thanks
thanks
10-14-2003, 10:18 PM
#2
Audi Driving Snob
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you got the injen right? that sits right where the resonator box is...probably a good 2 feet off the ground. There is also a lot of cladding underneath which will protect from rain and dirt. I wouldn't sweat it. Remember the cai has to be completely submerged in order suck in water.
10-14-2003, 10:19 PM
#3
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i was wondering this as well after seeing how low the intake comes behind the wheel. It seems if you would drive onto a snow embankment in a parking spot the filter would be submerged in snow.
I dont drive in the snow anyway out here and have a garage but i could see where that could be some concern out here.
Floods i dont see at all in my area so that aint a concern to me.
AKay
I dont drive in the snow anyway out here and have a garage but i could see where that could be some concern out here.
Floods i dont see at all in my area so that aint a concern to me.
AKay
10-14-2003, 10:31 PM
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You should always do research before purchasing a product 
, but you didn't asked to be preached at, you asked a question. 
In short, there is a risk to running a cold air intake (w/o a bypass). If the head of the intake were to become submerged in water, the engine would hydro lock (ie cause serious damage). As for dirt, that’s what the filter on the intake is there for! In some cases, you can get around the hydro locking problem using a bypass valve, which pulls air in from a higher area if the head (filter) of the CAI is submerged. Take note, not all CAI support bypass valves, or at least they're not supported by the manufacturer. For example, Injen does not offer a bypass valve nor does it support the use of one for its CAI (as far as I know). For a more thorough answer, I'll reference AEM’s FAQ from their website.
, but you didn't asked to be preached at, you asked a question. In short, there is a risk to running a cold air intake (w/o a bypass). If the head of the intake were to become submerged in water, the engine would hydro lock (ie cause serious damage). As for dirt, that’s what the filter on the intake is there for! In some cases, you can get around the hydro locking problem using a bypass valve, which pulls air in from a higher area if the head (filter) of the CAI is submerged. Take note, not all CAI support bypass valves, or at least they're not supported by the manufacturer. For example, Injen does not offer a bypass valve nor does it support the use of one for its CAI (as far as I know). For a more thorough answer, I'll reference AEM’s FAQ from their website.
Question
When to use the AEM Bypass Valve
Answer
The AEM Bypass Valve is used to protect the engine from hydro locking. Hydro locking occurs when the end of the inlet pipe is submerged in water and the water is sucked into the engine. Driving the vehicle in rainy conditions is not enough to cause a problem unless the vehicle becomes submerged enough that the inlet end of the pipe is immersed in water. Rain impingement on the filter will not cause a hydro lock condition. The distance of the filter from the road dictates the level of water that can cause damage. This distance varies with the vehicle ride height which is why there are no published numbers for this measurement.
All AEM Cold Air Intakes are to be used with the splash shield that is originally installed on the vehicle for protection and performance. The removal of splash shields actually deteriorates performance by allowing hot pavement air in the vicinity of the filter and negates any positive pressure created in the air filter area when the vehicle is in motion.
There are some instances where there is not enough room around the inlet pipe for adequate clearance of the Bypass Valve. In these cases a Short Ram system is offered or will be offered in the near future..
When to use the AEM Bypass Valve
Answer
The AEM Bypass Valve is used to protect the engine from hydro locking. Hydro locking occurs when the end of the inlet pipe is submerged in water and the water is sucked into the engine. Driving the vehicle in rainy conditions is not enough to cause a problem unless the vehicle becomes submerged enough that the inlet end of the pipe is immersed in water. Rain impingement on the filter will not cause a hydro lock condition. The distance of the filter from the road dictates the level of water that can cause damage. This distance varies with the vehicle ride height which is why there are no published numbers for this measurement.
All AEM Cold Air Intakes are to be used with the splash shield that is originally installed on the vehicle for protection and performance. The removal of splash shields actually deteriorates performance by allowing hot pavement air in the vicinity of the filter and negates any positive pressure created in the air filter area when the vehicle is in motion.
There are some instances where there is not enough room around the inlet pipe for adequate clearance of the Bypass Valve. In these cases a Short Ram system is offered or will be offered in the near future..
10-15-2003, 12:24 AM
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Originally posted by AKay
i was wondering this as well after seeing how low the intake comes behind the wheel. It seems if you would drive onto a snow embankment in a parking spot the filter would be submerged in snow.
I dont drive in the snow anyway out here and have a garage but i could see where that could be some concern out here.
Floods i dont see at all in my area so that aint a concern to me.
AKay
i was wondering this as well after seeing how low the intake comes behind the wheel. It seems if you would drive onto a snow embankment in a parking spot the filter would be submerged in snow.
I dont drive in the snow anyway out here and have a garage but i could see where that could be some concern out here.
Floods i dont see at all in my area so that aint a concern to me.
AKay
10-15-2003, 07:08 AM
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nahhhhh man i mean when your parked and the snow is melting or if the snow plows come and push all this snow and the snow starts piling up under your car.
As low as ive seen the CAI, and in extreme winter conditions i would strongly believe this could happen.
As low as ive seen the CAI, and in extreme winter conditions i would strongly believe this could happen.
10-15-2003, 07:42 AM
#7
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Originally posted by TinkySD
Remember the cai has to be completely submerged in order suck in water.
Remember the cai has to be completely submerged in order suck in water.
I thought there was no damage to it, but it finally threw a rod in april, and looking back, it can only be related to the hydrolock, the symptoms are typical.
So yes, you have to be careful while driving on wet roads. And though I have never had a bypass valve, I have many times heard it was completely useless.
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10-15-2003, 08:01 AM
#8
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As most of you know by now, I have been running with my resonator. About a month or so ago, southern Ohio got slammed with some rain which closed some roads off. Well, one of those closed roads required me to take a back road. Little did I know I would be driving through what can only be called a small pond.
Getting to the point, I drove through this and many other "ponds" that day and not only did my intake not get wet, it wasn't even close to getting wet. Think about this for a moment... for this intake config I'm running, for water to be picked up, the exhaust and my floor boards would be SWIMMING in water and the pick-up on the air would STILL be above water. Point being... the engine would be surrounded in water. I am confident that most CAI systems will be fine unless they snorkel deep in the cavity where the resonator used to be.
Now dirt... that is a story of maintenance. If you live in a new neighborhood like me without a resonator, checking at every oil change to see if the filter needs replacing is a simple and smart way to avoid damage.
Getting to the point, I drove through this and many other "ponds" that day and not only did my intake not get wet, it wasn't even close to getting wet. Think about this for a moment... for this intake config I'm running, for water to be picked up, the exhaust and my floor boards would be SWIMMING in water and the pick-up on the air would STILL be above water. Point being... the engine would be surrounded in water. I am confident that most CAI systems will be fine unless they snorkel deep in the cavity where the resonator used to be.
Now dirt... that is a story of maintenance. If you live in a new neighborhood like me without a resonator, checking at every oil change to see if the filter needs replacing is a simple and smart way to avoid damage.
10-15-2003, 11:07 AM
#9
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I would agree with the statements moda_way made. If you are going into puddles deep enough to suck up water, you shouldn't be there in the first place. I spent many years in Chicago with my 89 Civic and when the snow piled up I usually high-centered the car well before any kind of ingestion into the CAI was an issue.
As soon as we start making changes to the stock intake, we must be prepared to compensate for what the manufacturer designed into the product...ease of maintenance and dependability. As an enthusiast, we will tinker and need to do a little more preventive maintenance.
As soon as we start making changes to the stock intake, we must be prepared to compensate for what the manufacturer designed into the product...ease of maintenance and dependability. As an enthusiast, we will tinker and need to do a little more preventive maintenance.
10-16-2003, 10:08 PM
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im jus wondering how loud Cai is... becuase im thinking about jus getting a warm air intake thinking that it isn't as loud... i live int he wet suburbs of washington state...
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