My concern about the AUT cooling plate is that its not doing anything, I just feel like with the AUT/K&N setup, the only thing really working is the K&N intake, so why not get an intake that suits my taste a little more than the K&N, asthetically speaking and lose th AUT cooling plate for another.

I guess at the heart of all my skepticism of this setup is the fact that I have my doubts that the AUT is doing anything, but this is completely unsupported, please if you have the AUT and believe it really functions well, by all means correct me.

 

No it isn't the prettiest...but for over a year now in plenty of rain and snow I have never had any hydrolock problems. I think many of those problems are driver related/induced. I'm also happy that it is one of the bigger power adders.

 

I love the sound/power of the AEM. I don't care about throttle response. Hydrolock can be prevented IMO (c'mon I went a long time in Seattle as my daily driver with no problems), and it's priced well. Quality is great. But damn... A filter on a tube sure doesn't please the show croud!! Makes me wish sometimes I never entered my car into shows.

 

I just made the switch from the K&N FIPK/AUT panel to the AEM V2 and here are my results: My car is faster hands down with the AEM. The only adantage the K&N has is throttle response in my opinion. Call it butt dyno or whatever you want, but my car picked up drastically with the V2. I have raced several cars in close races with the K&N. With the V2 I have beat all of them. Argue all you want, in my opinion the AEM V2 is the way to go.

 

Aem v2 almost killed my engine through hydrolock. That is the most unsafe filter for hydrolock ever made if you ask me. And to hell with the rep that I spoke to at Aem after this happened. Telling me that I was full of shit and that it couldn't happen. The bottom pipe even curves upwards like the letter "j" holding the water in the elbow. I didn't have the umbrella trick on mine by the way, and I have an ap2 so the bumper shape could have played a part in it as well. No intake is worth replacing the engine if you ask me. If you will never see any water, chances are that you will, the V2 is great.

 

Honestly the issue of hydrolock I believe depends on the the driver and how they handle their cars in the rain. I have driven in some crazy days here in Cali of all places lately where it's been raining on and off. Going through puddles, and parking my car outside for school and work.

I have the two holes plugs o that water doesn't leak into my intake from the hood. Also I drive safe and avoid areas I see that have high water close to the sidewalks. If I have to go through a puddle I go through with either no throttle or partial throttle. Going through puddles shouldn't worry people either unless your stopped in one for a long time. The filter is located fairly high up, and there isn't to many places the water could leak in quickly enough to fill up the bumper area and get to the filter. It would take some time for the bumper to fill to a high point, not to mention for the water to reach high enough to enter the intake.

I don't know if I made any sense because I'm dam tired right now, and am talking out of my ass, but hope it helps some.

 

How about if you didn't have those holes plugged up and you washed your car like I did. Only to turn on the car notice it acting sluggish for some reason and find a puddle of water in front of the throttle body plate. Or drive down a decline in your driveway into a 6 inch puddle with your foot completely off the throttle and have your car die 15 feet down the road. In case you didn't know, with the throttle plate completely closed your engine is still sucking in air like a MotherF$%^&er. Don't believe me place your hand over the throttle body with the car at idle. If aem made v2 that worked with the bypass I would have one on my car right now but since the bypass doesn't work on the v2 I dont. I think it is only a matter of time till more v2 owners lose engines to hydrolock.

 

Anyone have a pic of the 2 holes to plug? I just have 1 plugged?

 

I agree that the V2 has design flaws...but V2 vs V1...the V2 doesn't really make more power...and the V1 is better designed and much flatter...not "j"ed so I think water that does drip on it just drips through the filter...I've had the V1 for over a year now and been through many many rains with no ill effects at all

 

if the holes aren't pluged then I could see it happenning. As far as the drivway goes....dam!!!! 6inches. Ya hat sounds like a bad thing. Like I said I try to avoid big puddles when I can, however Driving through them quickly with partial throttle works best to prevent the water from getting to the intake. Usually pople get out of their driveways slowly, and this may have given the water enough time to reach the intake before you got out of the puddle.

Everyone will have their own experience with them. it'll work for some, and others it won't. so far it's good for me.