I just purchased the AEM CAI and am pumped and about to install it but I have heard that if you dont install the bypass than moisture or water can eventually creep up your intake and into your engine even if you dont drive through puddles or deep water. I know the bypass protects the worryworts against hydrolock but I am not worried about this, after I heard this creeping water theory though I started to think. Is this true? can this really happen?

 

..no.

I have had my AEM CAI for over a year now, and ive never encountered anything remotely similar to that.

I even once almost hydrolocked my engine and it still runs fine today...

 

And that is the reason why spending a couple bucks on a by-pass will be worth it. It's not worth going through the hassle of hydroblocking or even coming close just to save some cash.

As for the original concern, I don't think any significant amount of moisture will come into your engine from everyday use unless you go through some water.

 

I was once a bypass valve proponent. I can now say it is a waste of money.

The bypass will only have benefit if you drive through standing water that is higher than the top of the filter (thus submerging it). If that happens chances are you'll have other issues other than the intake.

If you feel you need it, go get it.

Periodic water splashing on the filter is nothing to worry about. I drive my car all the time in the rain and have never had a problem.

 

i usually agree with things i see you post, but i disagree with you on this one...
i had an integra gsr, and when it rained my engine would stutter and almost turn off whenever i drove it in the rain... i just disconnected the intake from the throttle body when that happened....
but im not saying that you're wrong because i know these cars are different.... so you have a point though...

 

I've been driving mine in very heavy down pours lately (almost every afternoon/evening) and I can tell you that I haven't had a problem. I'd honestly be really surprised if water could make it up that far into the tube THRU the filter, plus around the bend at the top, then into the TB, and THEN into the engine. Submerging the filter? Yeah, likely. But by simple rain spray or slight splashing, highly unlikely. That's a long way for a few drops of water to travel. Especially inside a tube that you know is warm from the heat in the engine bay and if water drops were sitting on the inside of the tube, they'd likely dry up before ever making it that far. I've also read that by installing the bypass in the AEM, you'll lose some of the hp gains from it.

609, Did your GSR have a true CAI like the ones for the CL or a short ram straight off the TB? If it was a true CAI, my guess it was doing that because the filter was getting so wet that it was blocking the flow of air. That's probably why the car ran fine with it disconnected from the TB.

 

it had a true cai, it was aem also... im thinking it was because of my ride height also, it was low as a ballsack on a summer day lol... but when it did get wet the car will smoke from the exhaust too

 

It was probably smoking because it was trying to burn too much fuel and not enough air. Running rich?

Edit: 609, you really make me put on my thinking cap!

 

thats not what my air flow guage told me...
i had no clue, the only thing i know, is when i put the bypass valve it completely

 

correct me if im wrong though... isnt too much fuel smoke Black?

 

I have no idea. My thinking cap just shattered into a million pieces.

 

well im pretty sure its, but what the hell, i dont have the car no more, i can give a damn...
i do know that i need an intake, headers, and lowering springs asap....
helmet, i might be taking pics of the car this weekend so be on the lookout in the pic section

 

Why is it that we always seem to threads? Sorry, OP!

 

Yes, usually. White smoke usually means coolant.

 

Also, don't forget that we have a splash guard that will prevent a large amount of rain/water to even touching the filter.

 

exactly, white means coolant OR piston rings/ head gasket

 

yea that kinda tends to happen lol... dunno why...

 

Had my CAI for 3 months and no hydrolock here. I'm not going to waste money on something I don't need.

I kinda don't have to worry about torrential rain in Washington state. It doesn't rain like it does in the MidWest or East coast.

Where was this thread going again?

 

thanks fellas on the input , i think i am gonna say screw the bypass