I'm doing my install now and have a couple of ideas to prevent water from infiltrating the filter that I'd like to pass by you guys.

First, the hole in the hood gutter over the area that the air filter will be in can be plugged without danger of water being diverted to other areas and causing other problems. I plan to caulk a nickle-size plug over it.

Second, there are several other "holes" that might allow water into the filter area. For those that look most threatening I'll put a simple plastic "shield" over the hole to divert water down where it can drain out without saturating the filter.

Third, I have Coastal Metals' mechanically attached side grilles that require taking the plastic panels out of the side fake vents. This can be a terrible source of water in the area where the filter will be. I'll fashion a plastic shield to install over the vents that also allow air in but divert water down away from the filter.

Having done this I think the filter should be pretty safe from water. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

You know how hard it would be to suck up water right? I wouldn't even bother worrying about it. You have to suck that water up quite a bit of tubing.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MyBad
[B]I'm doing my install now and have a couple of ideas to prevent water from

 

well, when water actually enters the intake, no matter how little, it'll get sucked straight up like *snap*. Cuz intakes are meant to suck lots and lots of air. So when this is supposed to compress, it doesn't, leading to fried rings and jacked up spark plugs(if you're lucky). The thing is this only happens when the filter is completely submerged in water. You can get the filter wet, and the water won't get sucked through. Trust me, I've driven through the illest weather before, and never a problem. the package should say something like, if you drive through 16" of water is when there may be a problem. But if you're really worried, the AEM Bypass valve can fit any 3" piping intake, and I'm almost positive it can fit an Injen.

 

Until I had a problem, I was just like all of the rest of you.....vastly under informed. In our cars, just sitting in the rain for awhile is enough to let enough water pour onto and then through the air filter. Once it goes through the filter it starts to build up in the upturned intake tubing. Guess whats happens when you try to start the engine? I'm going to bet that the water in the intake tubing will be ingested into the engine.

Depending on a number of variables (how heavy it is raining, how long the car sits, etc.), you may or may not have a serious problem. I was lucky, mine only misfired for a few minutes. Others have had the engine ruined by hydrolock. If you don't believe this could happen, then you don't understand the problem; it exists.

BTW, 4IGS2000 is working on a solution for us. He has verified that the problem exists and is now waiting to see if there is enough of an interest to warrant the manufacturing costs involved. Go here for more info: info

 

Seoul: Wrong, wrong wrong... Sorry, had to make my point. First off, water entering the pipe will NOT necessarily be sucked up...whether or not it IS sucked up will depend on your rpms. Second, water in the cylinders does NOT necessarily mean bad things...it depends on how MUCH water is in the cylinder...small amounts are actually beneficial, cooling the intake charge, preventing carbon buildup on the pistons, etc. (see water misters). Driving in the rain can be beneficial to the engine. Third, the filter being completely submerged does NOT necessarily mean it will suck up water...if you're idling the engine or cruising at low rpms, you will most likely choke the engine and cut it off long before water ever enters the intake plenum or throttle body.



boiler: I have repeatedly asked people to show me documented cases of hydrolock due to a CAI when used in a responsible manner (driving through a lake is NOT responsible), but NO ONE has been able to give me anything other than "I heard of a guy...". As I mentioned to Seoul, you have to have an extreme amount of water in the intake tube (not just some resting in the upturned elbow) and at high rpms before it will even make it up the tube. Besides, how on Earth do you have your intake installed to have such a large upturn in the lower elbow?

Also, what makes you think it was water in the intake that caused your sputtering in the first place? I'm not being nasty, but I have to call BS on this. It's not that I don't believe the car sputtered, it's that you could not have had all of the facts on hand. If you KNEW there was water in the intake of sufficient volume, you would never have started the car. If you DIDN'T know water was there of sufficient volume, how do you know it was there AFTER you started the car and let it run for several minutes?

If enough water was sucked up into the engine, it wouldn't have sputtered for several minutes...it would have sputtered for a few SECONDS before shredding itself. A long term sputter tells me there was something else going on, like a MAP sensor that needed a good whack!

Do I believe an engine can be hydrolocked with an intake? Of course. Do I believe a problem exists? Absolutely not. Trying to create a solution to solve a nonexsistant problem is silly. The two S2000s I know of that were hydrolocked were used in an irresponsible manner...one was started and given a heavy load of gas immediately while the front end was submerged in a foot of water, and the other had just gone through a flood where rushing water most likely filled the plenum long before it was ever started.

 

Thanks for everyone's opinion on whether or not hydrolocking can happen or not. While valued, those comments are slightly off-topic.

There is no question that there is a chance that a soaked filter can cause engine damage. I have resigned to that possibility. My question is does anyone have ingenious ways to prevent the filter from getting wet. I've read 4ig's thread about his new invention and that's fine. I had hoped to get some shade tree mechanic advise on things I can do myself.

Anyone else?

 

Then the comments are not off topic since you still believe a soaked filter can cause engine damage. The truth is, it can NOT. To prove it, I will gladly take a hose to my filter and crank the engine over (I've done this MANY times while washing my car since the fauz air vent has been cut open). The small amount of water that is caught in the mesh/gauze of your filter will actually help your engine for a few revolutions rather than harm it since the best you'll get from it is a few milliliters of water.

You have to ask yourself WHY you're spending so much time and energy preventing the filter from getting wet when so many of us out there use the S as a daily driver in rain, sleet, snow, whatever and have had ZERO problems with hydrolocking. As long as you don't run the S through a deep puddle at high rpms you're FINE!

But if you insist on continuing down this path, spending money, time, energy, and whatever else to prevent a problem that doesn't exist......well, enjoy

 

I insist.

Anyone else?

 

I agree with MacGyver, why put the time and effort into it? When I drive thru a huge puddle I go very slowly and make certain I keep my rpms very low. Really not a bad practice to consider in heavy rains whether you have a AEM or Injen intake or not.