I know there have been other posts about this subject before but still none answer my fundamental question: Will a CAI have any adverse effects on my engine esp. in the long run? I've seen guys post stories of ruining their engine by driving through puddles and then the next guy says he drove through a pond and no problems! If I don't drive through any deep water to submerge the filter, but drive in rainy conditions can I a) cause hydro-lock anyway or b) do any long-term damage to my engine?

Anyone that has had a CAI on their car for a long time please let me know your experiences and say how many miles. Thanks.

 

So Im not sure what your really worried about. If its the water thing, dont drive through deep water. Puddles and maybe a inch or 2 deep water shouldnt be any problem since the splash guard underneath would cover that. I've only had my CAI on for just over a month now, so I cant comment on the long term effects to the engine. I can tell you however that I used to own a Tacoma with a CAI on it for about 3 years and never had any problems with it.

 

What I'm most worried about is something going wrong w/ the engine from taking in any moisture over time, like from running through puddles on the highway at 80 MPH. I would imagine a Tacoma would deal better with this since it sits higher.

I only know people personally who have SRIs on there cars and have no problems but I'd like to get as much HP as possible without doing anything to harm my engine. I'd like to have this car for a long trouble-free time!

 

I see. Yea, thats true the Tacoma intake didnt sit as low as the TSX does. This is something I never really even though of since SoCal is such a dry climate. But people from all parts have a CAI installed. Just need to wait until we hear from them.

 

Injen doesn't help my insecurity either since they post a disclaimer saying "Do not use this on wet or rainy roads". Do they really expect people to change it everytime it rains?

 

Also, how difficult is it to switch the Injen from CAI to SRI? Am I looking at 10 minutes or 2 hours?

 

About 30 to 45 min. You have to jack the car up, remove the front left wheel and remove the splash guard. Then remove the filter and second sction of pipe and attach the filter to the first section of pipe.

 

Actually Domn, if he already had it installed, all he would need to is pop the hood, disconnect the bolt that holds the section of pipe and disconnect the seal that holds the two pipes together and put the filter on the top portion. Wouldnt take more then 10 mins.

edit: AH, wait, nevermind...I forgot you cant get the filter through the hole....

Yea, 45 min

 

You'd still have to get the filter out from behind the fender.

 

Can you pull the second section up through the engine compartment no problem?

 

No, not without doing what Domn said. The filter is just too wide.

 

You can. Although like Joe said the filter won't fit. There's also a bolt you have to undo from beneath to lossen the second pipe.

 

Thanks. Now, back to my original and most important question...what are the long-term effects on my engine from a CAI?

 

The CAI filters just as well as the OEM unit if not better so if you don't go scuba diving with your car you won't have any trouble. Rain is fine, deep diving is not.

INJENTECH confirmed this in post #17 of this thread: http://www.acura-tsx.com/forums/show...768#post118768

 

Yeah I saw that post but remember he makes money from selling these things.

 

Considering the TSX is only a year old and the CAI hasn't been available for more than 8 months or so I don't know how to answer your question any better.

 

I guess I'll just have to take the risk. Either all of our cars will die at the same time or all of the a4's will have to keep looking at our taillights!

 

I think the bottom line is that if your that freaked out about putting this on your car, then dont do it.

 

CAI in and of itself will not likely cause any problems. The only exception I know of this is some of the earlier Subaru 2.5RSs. The additional air flow caused some lean fueling conditions leading to some CELs, there is potential for damage if it gets too lean, how much I can't say.

/bill

 

Or just install it as short ram.

 

[/QUOTE]Considering the TSX is only a year old and the CAI hasn't been available for more than 8 months or so I don't know how to answer your question any better. [QUOTE]

Okay how about this then...anyone who has had a CAI on another car with a relatively similar filter location in relation to the ground (i.e. Civic, Accord, Integra), how did the engine deal over time? Like I said earlier I only know people that use SRI. I hadn't even heard about an actual CAI until I got here. This is my first car worth modding.

Sorry about the quote thing.

 

I had intakes/filters in both VWs that I owned... on my GTI 60k and 6yrs later no issues... on the jetta had K&N drop in .... 50k miles 4yrs old and check engine light... throttle body dirty as heck... $2 can of cleaner and reset check engine light and back to new.... I heard drop-in K&N even if oiled properly don't seal well and let dirt around filter... it really appeared that way since it was black inside throttle body. So besides water maybe clean throttle body when its diry if it even gets dirty over time.... I know my VWs always puked a bunch of oil into intake.... not sure if Acura will do the same or as much.... too new to tell....

 

Alright jkochis, you're making me feel better! Like I said I really want to do this but I'm afraid to get stuck on the highway with as much driving as I do.

 

You almost got it. Just switch the tags around so the one with the forward slash is at the end.

 

I don't think anyone can answer your question because I don't think anyone knows for sure either way. Sure there may be stories of people using CAI that experienced engine failure but I don't think the CAI can be traced back as the cause.

I think what you have to go with is the fact that the K&N filter being used is better than stock period. So your car will have colder and cleaner air to work with.



Hopefully there's someone who can answer this but I doubt it.

In case your wondering about fuel consumption (which I was before installing) Don't worry, I have not noticed a difference in my MPG.

 

 

I'm the type to go with the more dangerous choice and get burned half the time. The options I'm weighing are whether to go with the CAI or an SRI. But of course I can do either with the Injen intake (those clever bastards!).

 

here in Vancouver we got alot of raining ... no problems with my CAI at all
plus i got the drycharger ... there shouldn't be any problems .. even my frd's injen CAI was doin some "semi-rally" drving in raining day ..... np at all .. and it has been abt half yr or so ....
go for it and no worrys ... u worry too much dude .... ~~ if it's that easy to get fuked ... then u shouldn't see that many ppl have this toy on their rides ~

 

Ahh it's great to be 18! Wait till you have a wife and kid homey!

 

just get the SRI if it worries you so much

 

I'd be getting both options but I'm trying to figure out which makes more practical sense while still giving good power. I'd be losing about 4-5 HP by going with the SRI, right?

 

i had a cai intake on my saturn for about 2 years and never had any problems with it at all. granted i live in southern california, which has just about the most "normal" weather. the only issue (minor) i had was a very slight decrease in fuel economy. imho, i think having a good quality/clean air filter, properly maintained intake, and a clean engine bay are key.

if you've looked under your car or deep into your engine bay, you'll see there's not a lot of room for water (road spray) to get in. of course moisture will, but that could get in through an OEM intake as well. my saturn had much more room to let water in, but still no problems. and i can't believe anyone would try to take a car into deep water; there's too much at risk. raised suv or pick-up truck maybe, but a car can experience way too many problems if driven like that.

 

Ive had mine for few months, it rains here in NY..no problems even though i avoid driving in the heavy rain with it. Not to hi-jack.. but can someone explain how one would go about cleaning the airfilter in the intake/engine bay..and what some other accesories one could buy to help keep the intake more properly maintaned?

 

We're still trying to determine exactly how much, but it's probably around 3-6 HP.

Again people, you only have to worry about having a CAI if your car is deep enough in water that the ENTIRE filter is submerged. For most people that doesn't happen very often.

 

That's not a problem. Any small amounts of moisture that get through the filter will be vaporized (either near the throttle, or during the compression stroke) and come out the exhaust. Water vapor is already a product of combustion, so it's no big deal to your exhaust system. Enjoy.

 

Do they sell different filters that can withstand moisture and can easily be removed for cleaning?

 

I've already ordered the Injen and having it installed along with a couple other things once I get it back from the body shop. Thanks everyone for the input - definitely helped me make an informed decision.

 

you will love it! i installed mine yesterday and was surprised. my car sounds like it has a pair of ballz now. haha....

 

Exactly, let's say it's raining. 100% humidity. This means water molecules are floating in the air. These get sucked up by even a stock intake, run through the filter, and eventually vaporize as it heats. Same goes for a CAI. The only issue with the CAI is since the intake is physically closer to the road, if you have more of a chance to submerge the filter in water and suck-up a big gulp of water. But again, that's probably 8 inches of water or so?

 

Exactly x2, and correct me if I am wrong but the only difference is really the height of the intake now. If you drove through deep enough water (guess it would have to be up to the bumper) you would get hydro-lock with the stock intake too.