I've had the AEM on for more than a year, I've been through some pouring rain and bad weather. I've parked my car outside in the rain for hours and hours and had no problems at all. But I am in SoCal so I don't experience alot of raining days. I know some people have had this problem, but not me.

The AEM is a good intake for the price, the sound during VTEC is pretty damn loud, and sounds nice and deep. The cutting wasn't that bad, and you don't have to cut it if you don't want to, you just get more air if you do though.

 

Shadow:

In my review of posts on this board about CAI's, I have come to suspect that hydrolock from AEM-type CAI's is more of an excuse of Honda to deny warranty coverage than a reality. Nonetheless, it is a problem either way.

Another consideration for low-hanging CAI's here in Oklahoma is that temperatures less than 1' above the asphault in the summer can exceed 150 degrees, which is not exactly cool air. And then, some like increased engine sound and some don't . The AEM gives a nice loud note at and approaching VTEC, which can be either good or bad, depending on your preference.

Thanks,Richard

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dolebludger
Shadow:

In my review of posts on this board about CAI's, I have come to suspect that hydrolock from AEM-type CAI's is more of an excuse of Honda to deny warranty coverage than a reality.

 

Shadow:

I agree 100%. The situation is this. It's over 100 degrees outside. One foot over the asphault, it's around 150 degrees due to heat reflection. And it is surely hotter inside the engine bay, from which the stock intake draws its air. Under these circumstances, the engineering behind the stock air intake is unacceptable. The only question , then , is from where do we want to draw the air?

Well in my climate, I'd rather draw it from as high as possible and in front of the radiator. If I lived in a different climate, I might want to draw it from a point low and below the radiator's stream of hot air, as the AEM does. I lived in California for about 3 years, and in its more moderate climate and absense of flooding rainfalls (in case Honda is right), I might go for an AEM, if I still lived there.

All this discussion goes to prove a single point, IMO. That is that the stock intake on the s2k is one shoddy piece of engineering! On that, I hope we can all agree. However, the best corrective measure for each of us depends on what we want out of it, and the climate in which we live. There is no simple answer, and that is why there have been so many arguements over this issue.

Thanks,
Richard

 

I've had my AEM V.2 CAI for 2 days now and would gladly have paid 2X the price ($254 shipped) for the improvement its made to my throttle response. Don't let cutting a 6X4" rectangle in a fender well deter you from this amazing mod. I don't know if it's any better than other CAIs as this is my first one on the S but I do know that it ooomphed the hell out of my car!

Oh, I also cut out the side vents to get more air flow so you'll have a total of 3 cuts easily done w/ a dremel tool.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dolebludger
Shadow:

I agree 100%. The situation is this. It's over 100 degrees outside. One foot over the asphault, it's around 150 degrees due to heat reflection. And it is surely hotter inside the engine bay, from which the stock intake draws its air.

 

true true

 

For the price manufacturers charge for CAIs, no they aren't worth it. Make your own, or mount right on the TB.

 

I think that the AEM may not be the right choice for me. I live in Florida where it rains quite a bit and this hydrolock problem scares me.

Clayne,
Could you please elaborate on what you mean by "mount right on the TB."

Thanks,
Jerry

 

I have the AEM V2... love it. I'm not concerned about hydrolock since my S is a weekend car and sits in my garage most of the time. However you don't have a garage, I would suggest Comptech, Mugen or J's Racing.