What's the deal here? Does it really take a filter submersion, or will a heavy rain cause this? (I'm not taking about puddles formed from the rain, but the falling rain itself).

If this does happen, is the engine shot? It is fixable? Seems like quite a risk to take for $30k car.

Thanks!

 

Falling rain, even a bad storm won't hydrolock your motor. It's not exactly good for it but it won't ruin it right away. I've tried to destroy one of my old cars by sticking a garden hose in the carb and couldn't hydrolock it.

It's for this reason I did my homemade CAI where it barely reached out of the engine bay. You get the full benefit of CAI and less chance of hydrolock.

I forgot to mention that if you do hydrolock your motor while it's running, chances are it's shot. Most common problem is a bent rod or two. Water doesn't compress that well. I've had them hydrolock while shut off from a leaky intake gasket to where the starter wouldn't turn them over but no permanent damage.

 

 

Well, the above ^^^ statement is pretty misleading. Hydrolock can occur whenever your intake has no other place to get air from and sucks water into your engine. Trying to "hydrolock an old car with a water hose isn't AT ALL the same thing. Hydrolock ONLY happens when you (1) Have a CAI and (2) are dumb enough to drive DEEP into water (by deep I mean it's a foot or so DEEP, not simply raining or even raining HARD). In order to hydrolock you MUST get your LEFT front end deep enough into the "lake" of water. Point is, as long as you not an idiot, there is very little risk of hydrolocking a TL with a CAI.

 

I think we're agreeing but I need to clarify. As long as it can draw air and is not pure water, you're probably not going to get hydrolock. My point was it takes a lot more than a few drops of rain to hydrolock a motor.

 

That's what I was thinking as well. I heard someone did it here though and didnt start it after that. Let everything dry up and cranked it again(i think) later on and a bunch of water came out the exhaust

 

Just to echo what's said before - don't worry too much, but be aware of where you drive in heavy rain. I've always had CAIs on my cars and have had no problems here in MD/DC. As long as you don't submerge your pipe in water you'll be fine. A puddle, splash, rain, or anything else of the sort isn't going to send water up there.

However, if you sink that bad boy into a big ditch of water completely, your sunk.

 

now i'm nervous
CAI arrives tomorrow/Tuesday

 

don't be nervous, just remember not to drive in deep puddles and to make sure the filter is nice and tight.

 

I disagree, you can hydrolock with the stock intake. If I remember correctly, 2 or 3 members have hydrolocked in the last year with the stock intake...

 

well I tell you this much I am paranoid... at a car wash engine is off

 

Your memory is in error and Well, this is FLAT out crazy. The stock intake has a SECOND air vent (elevated to the top of the radiator and is RIGHT BESIDE IT as well). This is how the stock one handles/prevents hydrolock. Of course, you COULD hyrdolock ANYTHING but in this case, the water would have to now be flowing OVER the headlightls of the car in order to do so and ANYONE THAT stupid DESERVES to be screwed. This is getting childish... Why don't people do actual RESEARCH before posting crap like this on the internet?

 

I agree, it takes a LOT more than just raindrops. It takes an accumulation of rain drops (in the form of a puddle about 12 inches deep (minimum) as well as an operator with "between the ears disease" in order to accomplish it.

 

Maybe YOU should do some research...

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=hydrolocked

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=hydrolocked

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=hydrolocked

2 instances in the last one...
I'm pretty sure my memory is still in working order.... i guess i'm just being childish

 

I do agree though, that you have to be pretty dumb to drive through deep puddles, but you can easily hydrolock with THE STOCK INTAKE as well as a CAI. Just don't be a dipshit and drive through deep puddles, like down here in Charleston during high tide and a little rain.

 

My old 4wd drive ride had a snorkel out the hood and above the roof- you could make one just for rainy days that clips on the front! And add extension risers to the exhaust!!
Sac gets some downpours and flooded streets appear without warning- If you can see a boat wake from other cars- its not fit for the TL