I recently installed a AEM cold air on my car. Now there is a fake vent on the front bumper and the filter sits behind it. If I remove the fake air vent I know the filter will get more air but is it gonna be a big difference or is it not worth it.


ALso how is the cold air for rainy days as the filter sits so close to the ground. I know it is cover under neath by the plastic engine cover but is that enough?

 

Check out this thread specifically:
AEM and Rainy Days

Also, click here:

"AEM" + "Hydrolock"

The results should give you plenty of reading material.

 

If you're concerned after reading the material Bposeley pointed out ...

I've been running an AEM V1 for about 18 months. Last summer the car was exposed to heavy rains a few times due to all the wonderful hurricanes that passed through this area as tropical storms. The AEM Bypass Valve provides protection even if you drive through standing water, but common sense (or fear) drives me to avoid standing water at all times. If you have a V1, get a bypass valve, and consider putting a shield over the top of the filter to catch the drips from the drain hole above. The three pronged approach (bypass, shield, and avoiding standing water) have kept me out of trouble.

Not sure that the bypass valve works with the V2, so ???

Opening the fake vent in front of the filter won't make enough difference in HP to feel and might not make any difference at all, but if you like the look of custom grills and vents that actually work, go for it. Just shield the filter from drips and install a bypass and you'll be good to go.

 

rainy days you should be fine... just cover two hole by the headlight that might make water fall onto the intake

 

I've had the AEM V2 for over a year with no issues. This includes three hurricanes that passed through with each dropping over 12 inches of rain on my parked car. I have used a small piece of electrical tape to cover the hole directly over the filter with great success.

Hydrolock is overrated and an uneccessary fear as long as you don't submerge your filter and you cover the hole directly over the filter.

 

I hydrolocked my S2000 with a short ram intake so anything's possible. Just enough water splashed up and got sucked in. This is a very high compression engine so very little water ( 1 ounce) can cause hydrolock. #4 connecting rod snapped and broke 2 holes in the block without making a sound. I just thought my car stalled. HYDROLOCK IS VERY REAL INDEED.

 

hydrolock is not overrated!

People think that until it happens to them. It has happened to me and many here...and we were NOT driving through standing water.

45mL will hydrolock you. That ain't much.

 

I've had my V2 on for the last year. love it! But after the first rain storm, I had plenty of standing water in the chamber and came very close to possible hydrolock. SO, be sure to plug up the hole with a rubber gromet from your local hardware store and also, for safety, make or buy an umbrella that fits over the filter. I used an old sunny delight container.

Second. on my first bumper, I had the faux air vents cut out and installed the little custom grills that you can order. (I can't remember where.) Now on my second bumper, I have NOT cut out the faux air vents and I have NOT noticed any difference. If you look under the bumper there are louvres that air can squeeze in.