connork53

iTrader: (1)

So we all hear people talking about the dangers of a CAI and your car hydrolocking but how real of a problem is it for us 3G TL owners? I am considering buying but for MAYBE 2hp it isn't worth me losing my $22k car. Thoughts?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^the problem is only real if you dont have any common sense.

DONT USE YOUR CAR AS A BOAT.

if you see water that looks deep, dont proceed.

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

use common sense and don't drive through a river and you'll be fine. i've had my AEMv2 on for 2 years and have driven through some pretty bad rain storms and never had an issue.

again, common sense is important here.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

Agree with the wise ones above........common sense is the key. However, OP if you are that skeptical about this, than just modify the OEM CAI that our cars already come with. Search, there are threads that explains and how to achieve modifying our stock CAI.

UA6

Question..what would YOU do here?

A. Drive through it slow.
B. Drive through it fast.
C. Drive through it backwards.
D. Find another route.
E. Bacon!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Definitely option E.

Esanchez8701

Bacon for the loss, Now applegate turkey bacon for the win !! try it and youll know what i mean.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Connor, I feel the same way you do. I don't want to lock up the engine. You can opt for a short ram. You're not going to get a noticeable power surge from a CAI. Basically, it's an expensive growl.

ez12a

My car came with a V1 AEM CAI. zero issues here, but i live in sunny socal.

Worst case, throw on a bypass valve if you're paranoid.

TrustinHFDJ

Perfect advice, and beyond that, logic says if you cant see the bottom, DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH THE WATER. Hydro-blocking needs aqua, without aqua that wont happen. Personally if it is larger than a puddle, DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH IT. By having lengthy water it leaves further possibility of getting deeper, which will cost you 22k.

Bypass valves even more wonderful knowledge!

Arturo Lee

so you can drive into a car wash machine and rain
without problems right?

bouncer07

There's no danger in adding this peice, the only danger you should really worry about are drunk drivers, street racers, people on their phones, and idiots with road rage. If this is your first time modifying this car, I advise you to try everything out and experience it, including ebay products to the most expensive product. Only time will tell as the danger you speak of is mostly idiots driving it through 3 ft deep on a slammed car.

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

well, i wouldn't drive into a car wash machine. you'd probably cause substantial damage to your vehicle, and scare the hell out of the employees who work there.

UA6

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

Why would you want to drive through a car wash??? ALWAYS WASH IT YOURSELF

k1x

iTrader: (1)

^true that!!!

Bruce Banner

iTrader: (2)

put a bypass on it

AbyssPearlTL

I bought mine for $30. I've had other cars with CAIs on them. The closest thing I came to hydrolocking was, on a previous car having snow block a majority of the airflow. Use common sense. If you do not think you have common sense, just don't do the mod.

jungy4

How much snow was up front and where? I am asking because I have never heard of this before.

AbyssPearlTL

Well the car was a crown vic and there was a tube from the bottom of the air box to the front bumper. The snow kept running into the front bumper and working it's way into the tube, eventually starting to clog it.

All the car did was have a low idle and have the lights dim, but it didn't have any permanent effects.

connork53

iTrader: (1)

Thanks everyone, I understand the common sense factor but I was reading on some other sites that people have locked up from just driving through the rain and wanted to see how "real" the threat was. Thanks for the advice.

BlitzBlackGSXR

I have driven thru countless rain storms with cold air intakes on any one of my previous vehicles and the TL and never once had any problems ! Last 2 cars were a VW GTI 1.8t with a Nuespeed CAI and also had a R32 with a CAI and the R32 have large openings on the front bumper and never had a problem !

If your that scared , then just buy a new OEM or K&N drop in filter and do the air box mod, simple .

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

You Southern Peeps have that luxury, but from Dec-March we Northerners just can't do that. I'll usually try to go to the spray-it-yourself place and just use the water to get the salt and sand off, but periodically I'll use the touchless drive thru. Never know for sure how harsh the soaps really are. I'd never do the auto washes with the brushes.

kale_doherty

dude, i have driven many cars slammed with full cold air, agree with all others, use sense, rain snow and slush wont bother it, they will get trapped in the filter, air is easier to move than water, you only risk hydrolock if the only option you give you intake to breathe is straight water. as well AEM has a filter cover to increase water resistance

TLtypeSex

I agree with everyone that posted so far.. Don't try and use your car as a submarine and you'll be fine...

jungy4

So I have been reading this thread and yesterday I drove through a pretty bad rain storm. I have the OEM setup.

So for people that have had no problems, what is the deepest you have driven through? If the water is deep enough to reach the bottom of the wheel is it still safe with CAI?

I know it's just easy to say but when it's heavy rain it can be pretty difficult to see what is ahead.

I have sucked in a little bit of water in my last Pontiac that had a CAI and it really wasn't deep water. I guess it can depend on where you are and how good of sewage system they have.

Xiomaro

iTrader: (5)

beware of 12" of water...

connork53

iTrader: (1)

I know, I know it was a deal I could not pass up though

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

i probably drove through a 4-5 inch deep puddle (not a choice really sudden dumpage of rain and the area didn't drain fast enough), VERY slowly at stock height (which is 5.8" from the skirt). no issues. i've driven in a complete downpour with bikes on the roof at hwy speeds (nervously-it was a massive 2-3" rain/hr t-storm). no issues.

if the puddle reaches ABOVE your bumper line and submerges past the lower grill...HIGH risk of hydrolock (the filter sits just behind the lower grill area). again, common sense.

i've had my CAI on my car since it was 4 months old. no issues.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Guys, here's what I did to resolve my CAI debate.




swoosh and I installed a short ram AEM Cold Air Intake today. This was only $78 on Amazon. It also alleviates my worry about water getting sucked up into the long-arm CAI (I hope). I did this main because we have had to take out the driver's side headlights to deal with an LED issue. It's more difficult to work around the OEM airbox, so I finally gave in and purchase this.




We took a drive with it tonight after the installation. It's very nice-good first impression of the short ram CAI.

BoricuaTEK02

CAI is a nice setup especially if you want a more "throaty" sound in your acceleration, let go of the restrictions of a closed OEM box and allow your engine to breath better with cooler air, and quite possibily have little better MPG gains although I've read most people didn't notice a difference in that department with Acura TL's. I've personally never had the experience in my TL-S because I'm satisfied with the power it has compared to my past Toyota Celica GTS I traded in (4 cylinder VVTL-I, 1.8L, 190HP...lol...yeah)

I didn't change the OEM intake setup on my 2008 TL Type-S except for the filter. Just bought a K&N replacement filter that I can use for the life of my car with continual maintenance. I must say I do notice a little bit of a better response on the acceleration pedal. I hear it's suppose to give me better MPG compared to the traditional Honda air filters due to better airflow....but it's to be determined. OEM is the safest setup when it comes to any weather conditions/environments (i.e. rain, snow, minor flooded streets). It's just me, but I played it safe. Don't fix what isn't broke. Acura TL Type-S is a quality vehicle I plan to stay with for a long time. :-)

jungy4

Great find. Is yours the link above? Is the entire intake made by AEM or just the filter? Did you take out the entire stock tubing including the buttom duct?