Interesting. What kind of intake was this?

 

Cool...now I can attach a collection bag and vacuum my shop with the S

Rocks & debris...right. Dealerships.

 

umm actually the guy who made the diagnosis is named keith and he knows his shit when its come to the s2000. ask rick hesel, hes the guy who did all the aftermarket installs for the s2000.

 

RazorV3: can you explain how they know a scored cylinder was caused by rocks/debris through a CAI? If it's true, I'll be removing mine, but I find it hard to believe a properly maintained filter/CAI would cause this.

 

We need more details on the type of CAI, the filter type, and its condition.

I can imagine a CAI design that could allow a rock to penetrate a filter and get into the cylinders. A "direct" CAI, that is simply a tube extending forward from the intake manifold, with an opening in the hood to let the CAI take air by ram effect could cause this. Let me explain.

Imagine said CAI with a "flat" filter mounted vertically. Said CAI could ingest a rock while the car is going 100mph. In this case, the rock has only the filter to stop it before entering the manifold and being ingested by a cylinder. Unless the filter is kevlar or some other really tough material, it is possible for a straight CAI, with the opening exposed directly forward of the manifold, with an appropriate hole in the hood, to get a rock through. Anyone who has had a windshield cracked by a rock at speed knows the penetrating power of a small rock hit at speed. Do you really think that all filters would be invulnerable to all rocks from 0-150mph?

And in this particular example, the rock would probably end up in the 4th cylinder, as that's the cylinder that is fed from air from the back of the intake manifold (and a rock with that much momentum will probably end up in the rear cylinders in this case).

Granted, this is an extreme example, and any form of CAI curve or direct-line barrier to the intake manifold would reduce this issue considerably (for example, the stock filter, mounted directly to the intake manifold, would have that plastic circular piece as a barrier). But without knowing what design CAI is on this car and the filter details we can't know for sure.

Plus, it's entirely possible that this particular car didn't have an air filter (to increase airflow and ram effect). In that case, all bets are off IMO.

 

Maybe the filter was cleaned improperly. Maybe they used pressurized air to dry the filter and created holes in the element. Maybe there was a lack of oil used. Maybe a combo of both?

 

Hoof: he said it's an AEM v1. It's unlikely a rock can strike that filter. It's nearly completely enclosed at the front by the bumper and underneath by the plastic splash guards.

 

if the filter had a cut in it, it makes sense that a small rock,etc could makes it way up the piping.

ill get the details later today.

 

If there was a puncuture in it, it's possible for a very small rock to go in. That doesn't justify saying that CAI's are bad for the car since it was just that his had a hole in it. Plus he would have to be at WOT under a lot of load since you wouldn't be able to create enough vacuum to pull it up otherwise if at all.

I also dont see how it would harm only the #4 cylinder.

There was probably other reasons for it to happen. I'll wait until you give some more details.

 

i had a CAI on a previous car that i drove daily down rocky roads and everything and never once had a problem. i was a tad bit nervous when driving through puddles, so i just babied it through them. however rocks... never heard of ANYONE having problem with a #4 cylinder being messed up cause of a CAI.

chad