Intake concerns....

[Jorell]

So since I just bought my car and Just put the intake it...it rains and I get worried. lol So just curious if those of you out there have had any problems with water intake? Or how picky I have to be about what I drive in? And Lastly...do you go back to stock in winter?? lol I know I may be over protective...but better that then not concerned at all! thanks everyone!

Jase

[Simon]

Re: Intake concerns....

dont worry, its perfectly normaly to worry about water logging. everytime I go through a puddle or if it rains with my cold air intake I get a bit uneasy.

From what I read on the Vortex, (reliable or not), the cold air intake has to be submerged in 2 feet of standing water, and be revving at least 3000 RPM to have enough force to suck the water up the pipe and into the engine. That said, avoid all standing water, and if you do see water you can't avoid, throw it into neutral and coast through it.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Intake concerns....

i was paranoid as hell last year too but its fine.. dodge huge lake puddles and you'll be fine.. if you are forced to go through a deep puddle put in in neutral, shut off the engine and just coast through

[T is for Turbo]

Re: Intake concerns....

i just watch out for those big nasty puddles. since i am lowered, i usually try to avoid them. but if i can't, i drive very slowly through them. i don't return it back to stock for the winter because its too much of a hassle. i also take the grills off in the summer but put them back on during the winter. but i'm not too concerned when it rains.

[1.8Trip]

Re: Intake concerns....

I leave mine on in the winter, avoid puddles when I can and drive through larger puddles with the clutch depressed (so the engine is just idling).

We are somewhat lucky in Calgary in that we don't get a whole lot of precipitation compared to other parts of the country.

[liquid]

Re: Intake concerns....

This was always my concern with a CAI as-well. Then again, I didn't know about the whole "put it in neutral" thing... sounds like a good idea.

[Kor]

Re: Intake concerns....

There are never puddles in Calgary anyhow...

[Jorell]

Re: Intake concerns....

Well thats perfect...I am a little more at ease now. Thanks again everyone! I look forward to meeting everyone at the meeting next week! Have a good day!

Jase

[NeonGTI]

Re: Intake concerns....

Bah..

Old wives tale of a problem.

I have a two sided CAI on my Neon which sits a LOT lower than most CAI's on even a lowered VW. I drive with it in winter, summer, spring, rain, snow, whatever. I've also ripped thru puddles, water etc etc at very high RPM's (idle thru 8,500 RPM) and only had the slightest of chugging from the engine upon emerging and that's just due to the filter being saturated, not any form of hydrolock.

If the filter gets immersed in water then the path of least resistance becomes the PCV (at least on my Neon it does), and on the VW it will likely get sucked thru the DV before it snorts up much water.

It takes an amazing amount of force to suck that volume of water thru a 3 inch pipe for 3-4 feet. It will percolate and then fall before it makes it the entire distance, unless you are driving thru a lake in which case you probably have bigger problems.

[Khyron]

Re: Intake concerns....

Just as a warning though, we have had those fluke hailstorms in July/Aug twice in the last 10 years or so. Once was 2 years ago, and the water on Southland was up to my Jetta's hubs, and the one before that had minivans submerged to the roof line on 14th st sw (and underneath McLeod Tr at Glenmore). My Mazda truck had water above the front bumper.

If you do submerge the filter completely, you WILL suck up water if you try and drive out of it. Park and wait - the 1 or 2 hours is worth the 5-6 grand.

Khyron

[seanfournier]

Re: Intake concerns....

If you do submerge the filter completely, you WILL suck up water if you try and drive out of it. Park and wait - the 1 or 2 hours is worth the 5-6 grand.

Khyron

My theory is if I drive FAST enough... I will coast right OVER the water! HELLA-HYDRO-PLANE

[Flanders]

Re: Intake concerns....

My buddy DID get hydrolock with his integra.

Raining hard (ottawa) so you can't see much anyway, and the sewer grates were clogged with dirt (from a retarded construction crew) so the whole road turned into a 1 ft. puddle. The angle of the road made it impossible to see that it was a massive puddle (nevermind all the rain banging on the windshield!)

He was cruising 40 (along with the cars around him) and before he knew it, the car had stalled (along with the cars around him). His CAI was about 6" from the ground.

Insurance took care of it, because they sued the construction firm A hard rainfall isn't going to cause hydrolock, but dayum just watch out for those puddles!!