CAI as a Wet Vac

[DownTheHatch]

Yesterday I used my AEM Cold Air Intake as a Wet Vac to clean the streets. Yea it was great...let me tell ya...

My engine almost drowned, I unknowingly hit a puddle and soaked my intake in water, as I punched it, the car started running like crap so I shut it off and pulled to a side street, I worked up the nerve to try and start it again and it was sputtering, the idle was high, and it would fluctuate up to 2,000 and down to 1,000. I took off my soaked air filter and revved it a couple times, then drove it around real slow for about 15 minutes, after awhile it gradually burned up all the water and it runs great now just like before!

A testament to the rock-solid K20!

Now...this is not to say that if I had slurped an entire column of water up into my engine it would have survived, that would be hydro-lock and an expensive repair bill, especially when I just had to buy a new tire earlier that day because it blew out on the highway Saturday...lots of bad luck for me.

But I do wonder, if I did have a bypass valve installed, would it have stopped the water drops from being sucked into my engine? I thought it only bypassed if the entire intake was blocked (dropped into a deep puddle) and then proceeds to open up the secondary valve.

In any case, now I'm going to remove my CAI and install a short ram, probably an HKS. Im an HKS whore.:yellm: Also because Florida is in it's rainy season, infact its raining right now.

[Tenacious G]

that's exactly why i'm getting the Icebox, there's too much rain to deal with the AEM or Injen. glad to hear your car is OK.

[Civicvtec1ps]

Just bad luck.

I am installing AEM cai this friday ;)
Not much rain here in Wisconsin compare to Florida.

We get snow instead:(

[krazichinaman]

Well my b-day is coming up this sunday and my gf is going to get me intake...i was going to ask for AEM CAI but..since it is Seattle and all Im guessing itll be better for short ram?

[Peking]

Originally posted by krazichinaman
Well my b-day is coming up this sunday and my gf is going to get me intake...i was going to ask for AEM CAI but..since it is Seattle and all Im guessing itll be better for short ram?

Must have been a big puddle DTH LOL. The filter sits pretty high with the Injen and it rains here quite abit. No issues, I also know many folks who worry. But never had issues, filter has to be completely submerged for water to go up the tube (like a straw). But for water drops to make it's way has been not a huge issue, because it would have a long way to travel without suction. Also there is some moisture within the intake and engine at times. So water does flow, and some folks use water mixes with fuel for ignition.

Like many have suggested, when about to hit a puddle. Take your foot of the gas, and take her out of gear. No suction :)

[02SilverSiHB]

the bypass valve will not work with the way the aem cai is setup on the new si. AEM has said this various times.


I so far haven't had any problems with mine...injen cai.

[SIxtasy]

AEM just sent me a V2 for free to replace my CAI. Great customer service they have. Only one tech for all of AEM+DC tech support.

[siver-SI]

Originally posted by Peking
Must have been a big puddle DTH LOL. The filter sits pretty high with the Injen and it rains here quite abit. No issues, I also know many folks who worry. But never had issues, filter has to be completely submerged for water to go up the tube (like a straw). But for water drops to make it's way has been not a huge issue, because it would have a long way to travel without suction. Also there is some moisture within the intake and engine at times. So water does flow, and some folks use water mixes with fuel for ignition.

Like many have suggested, when about to hit a puddle. Take your foot of the gas, and take her out of gear. No suction :)

It must have been deap. I have a 1.5 drop and I measured it would take 9" of water to even touch the filter. I have heard the ep's that had to cut a hole in the inner fender had a problem with water getting on the filter so I did this.

http://www.ephatch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39309

I do not know if AEM changed something are what becasue some CAI needed this cut and other fit fine without it. Go figure.

[SiR Medic]

:eek:

YIKES.

Thats why I went SRI... Nova Scotia gets WET... And slushy...

[NemesisITR]

Did that in my 98 ZX2 Escort. A month later my engine blew cause my oil pump failed (water damage). Hope the EP holds up. Already know of one guy in Irving who blew an engine cause of sucking up water with a CAI. Luckly INS covered it.

[danoonez]

Originally posted by NemesisITR
Luckly INS covered it.

Immigration and Naturalization bought him a new engine?:p ;)

[Sb00]

it's great to live in the middle of the desert sometimes :D

glad to hear everything is alright with ya.

[Peking]

Originally posted by siver-SI
It must have been deap. I have a 1.5 drop and I measured it would take 9" of water to even touch the filter. I have heard the ep's that had to cut a hole in the inner fender had a problem with water getting on the filter so I did this.

http://www.ephatch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39309

I do not know if AEM changed something are what becasue some CAI needed this cut and other fit fine without it. Go figure.

Yeah, so the AEM needed you to cut some of the fender huh. I can def. see where water and other crap can get in there. Good DIY mod to keep it safe :)

[freidaddy]

same happened to me, and I also did the same as DTH waited a while and started her right up.

[siver-SI]

Have you changed your oil yet? I would just to make sure all the water is gone.