I personally say AEM, with the right precautions, you really don't need to worry about hydrolock. Its no myth, but you just have to know what you are driving in. Besides with the V1, the risk is lower then with the V2...due to a slight design flaw in the V2.

I've driven through some torrential rains with mine, and with the faux air duct open...no problems here.

Last, I used to have the OEM box with K&N and Spoon Snorkle. I personally didn't feel any MAJOR gains with the AEM...but it sounds a lot nicer. AEM is probably only 2-3hp more anyway, if even that much. Your not going to feel a 2hp difference. But when you buy multiple upgrades and they all will give about 2hp more then something else...add them all up to 8-10hp more...then it makes a difference.

If you not racing the car, and don't care, and don't want the sound. Just go for the filter.

 

If you avoid heavy downpours, AEM will yield more power. But it can hydrolock.
The Spoon filter wont do anything unless you get a snorkel also.

 

I appreciate everyones advice.
Well, I DO want sound..and Im realizing the spoon isnt worth it unless I have the air duct..(which is too pricey for me right now..unless I can create one like it.)
one more thing,,what does it take to have the aem hydrolock the ride.?(a big puddle?.several puddles,,hard rain?).anyone know what it takes and the result of it(worst case scenario that is)

 

I live in Seattle and survived a year with it, as my only car.
I would just have an umbrella for it, and use it when you need to drive when it's wet out. The few hp shouldnt make a diff whe it's wet out because you shouldnt be speeding then anyway.

 

I personally have no protection for mine...however good procautions to take with the AEM would be:

1. Plug drain hole in hood...just pop your hood, look in the front left corner (directly above the filter), there is a hole there...plug that with something

2. Get an umbrella for over the filter

3. Drive easy in the rain...don't gun it. Your vaccum pressure is actually higher while idling and at low rpms, but the vorticity and velocity of the air is much lower...thats what really brings water up the pipe.

4. Avoid driving your car through: ponds, streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, seas, etc.

basically, just aviod all puddles you can, if its not that deep, ie deep enough to submerge the filter 1/4-1/2 way and soak it...then don't worry. Most of the time it needs to be completely submerged anyway.




The main problem people have though, is, they get water in the pipe, it settles in the low point, which unfortunatly is not the filter...the water builds up...they go to drive fast and it all gets sucked up and into the engine. But again, I have had no problems with mine...I've driven it in heavy heavy rains...let it sit outside in heavy rains (with neither precautions 1 or 2 above) and still had no problems. Driving easy helps.

 

hydrolock is not as big an issue as you guys make it
I have owned many cars, several with cold air intakes, live in DC and NY - never hydrolocked once - it seems only on this board that I've seen such hydrolock paranoia.

 

Beware of hydrolock,wit the AEM.!!!

 

You used to own a 7th Gen Celica and you think this is the only board with hydro-lock fear???

Though I was never a participating member, I saw countless threads about hydrolock on newcelica.org.

 

i have an aem v1 with bypass valve (new sitting in my basement) right now, and this is the very reason it is not on the car. i hydrolocked my civic once already (though it did not have a bypass valve and faux ducts cut out) going thru a huge puddle. It may just be in my head, but i think there is a chance that eventually the filter will get wet and suck up small amounts of water from time to time and get into my engine. I think this is one of the reasons why i've been unsuccessful in selling my aem intake/bypass valve as well. This may be the wrong thread to post this, but if anyone is interested hit me up with a PM. It's still in the box and includes bypass and hardware. good luck with your decision... damn i'm tempted to hear vtec with the intake though

 

If you are actually looking for any type of gains then go with the AEM.