I bought a AEM v2 CAI second hand and the powder coating is chipped in a few places on a few of the different iNNER openings. I haven't finished the install yet because I am waiting for a few missing parts to come in the mail from AEM.
I taped the concerned areas from the outside to the inside with some sticky tape I got from my job. But I wanted to get S2kis thoughts on what's the best route to go.
I don't think the tape will come loose, since the tape starts on the outside of the pipe.I know if tape were to somehow come loose, it wouldn't be pretty nor cheap.
Maybe if I sand the inner powder coating off that would be a better option.
My S2k is a garage Queen and doesn't not get driven often, I do live in Florida where it is hot and could possibly cause problems with the adhesion of the tape....Or maybe not. I am going to do the umbrella for the filter and maybe cover the drain hole. I searched and didn't find any pics of either.

 

Here is a link with RSX AEM v2 owners having the same issue.
http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=218490

 

my only concern with sanding the inside of the piping would be corrosion down the road. you'd be essentially stripping the protective coating off the metal. on the other hand i have no idea what kind of metal AEM uses and how prone it is to corrosion. just my 2 cents

 

It has some powdercoating overspray at the inner openings. I think some light sanding would be ok.
Guys with AEm v2 intakes might wanna take theirs apart and look.

 

You bought the intake secondhand so who knows.

 

The RSX link I posted had a few people with the same issues.