Water in CAI?

Hey, I'm thinking about putting a CAI on my LS, but I've been reading a lot about water getting into them when it rains. As far as I've read, A SRI will not take in water, but I loose around 10hp if I go that route. Can somebody tell me their experience and let me know if this water issue is as big as it seems? Thanks

It has to do more than just rain. You have to submerge the filter in the water and let water leak into it. Then the intake will suck it into the engine. Most aem cai can have a bypass valve attached. This should stop water from getting in. My machanic just replaced a civic engine that hydrolocked last year. The civics car insurance paid for it. I don't know if that will always work, but it makes me feel safer with mine. Get a AEM with a by pass valve. You should be okay as long as you don't drive through ponds.............fISH

With my experience, I don't think water will go into the CAI by rain, unless the whole filter suck into the water. AEM have very good CAI system, and they also have the bypass valve that will prevent the water go into the CAI. AEM also have the V2 CAI system that will gain more HP and Torque.

http://www.jdmautogames.com/index_1646_1784.html

you wont loose 10 hp if you go with a SRI only like 3 hp

Usually, if you lock your engine, it's because you were stupid and/or careless. If it concerns you that much, get a bypass valve. You'll sacrifice a little power, but it'll put your mind at ease...

you wont loose 10 hp if you go with a SRI only like .5 hp
I corrected your post a little bit. :)


The difference between a short ram and cold air is not even noticeable on a stock integra, and the difference between a $200 one and a $35 one on a stock integra, nothing that you will even be able to notice.

And like the people above have stated, you have to have your whole filter submerged in water for it to suck in enough water to hurt your engine, what the hell are you doing driving in 2 feet of water? See what I'm getting at? :)

[QUOTE=JDMautogames.com AEM also have the V2 CAI system that will gain more HP and Torque.

Keep in mind, you can not use a bypass valve with the V2. On the other hand, it is the best. I went with the V2. Love it...................fISH

You need a bypass valve! I have an AEM cai and had to instsll one because about 2 weeks after installation it rained. I drove in the rain and sucked water in my intake causing the main ($400) o2 sensor to fry! Get a bypass valve!

i haven't had any problems with mine.
It shouldn't stop you from getting one.

yeah ur lucky to even gain 3 hp from a SRI
and a CAI on a stock ls will gain about 4 an SRI 2

i Live in Washnigton and it rains all t he time i got a cold air intake and i suck water in all the time. Water will not mess your engine up that bad you need to suck in alot to really do damage.

i Live in Washnigton and it rains all t he time i got a cold air intake and i suck water in all the time. Water will not mess your engine up that bad you need to suck in alot to really do damage.

Hydrolocking your engine can mean a whole new engine. I wouldn't take the chance, but a bypass valve should help. Also with the AEM V2, because it has two pipes, you minght not be able to suck water in. The bypass valve works because the water gets sucked along the sides of the intake and then gets caught by the bypass valve. With the V2, there is a larger pipe around the one conecting to the throtle body. So if water gets sucked in, it will get sucked to the back of the larger pipe and stay there....I think? It's all up to you. I would say go with a cai. Just drive smart. Stay out of large pundles...............fISH

SRI Vs CAI

Lets see here...
An Air Intake does exactly what its suposed to, it brings in air. SRI and CAI in all fairness has no difference except for Cold Air Intakes bring in Colder Air. Which is why its better than a SRI. As for horsepower there isnt a significant difference. So basically u can go with a SRI for the looks, Or a CAI for the colder air and the looks. Performance wise dont even sweat over it.

Although if you drive your car into deep puddle that will submerge your Air Filter, expect to need some motor repair. :banghead:

You get an 1% gain in hp for every 11.1 degrees you lower the intake temp. This is because cold air is more dense, therefor it packs more air molecules than hot air. That is why you typically get a little more hp with a CAI than a SRI. Typically, a CAI will see around 4-5hp gain on a B-series. It does depend, however, on where you live. You'll get more of a kick out of it on a 68 degree day in fall than a 100 degree day in the summer. The CAI sucks in the outside ari, so the ambeient air temp is what it's injesting. A short ram sucks in the underhood air, which is thends to be hotter. Since the outside air is cooler, you can figure approx a 1% hp gain for every 11.1 degrees you lower the intake temp. It's the same reason an intercooler gains more power on a turbovehicle. You are lower the temp of the intake charge. However, the reason an intercooler crreates so much more power is because a)it drops the temp a lot more in general and b)the hp level is more to begin with, so the 5 gain will yeild more.

If you are really worried about hydrolock, just don't drive though any deep puddles. In general, you have to pretty much submerge the whole filter to cause hydrolock. Drive sensably, and you'll be fine.

Also, the bypass vavle works due to the resulting pressure drop when water is ingested. Also, many people on here say the bypass valve only works when the filter is completly sumerged. However, if you submerge it, you'll be glad you have it.

hehe yeah i forgot to say something about the bypass valve good one ^^

just don't drive through deep puddles and you'll be fine. and go with the CAI.

like said before..........there is not that big of a difference in hp gains between the two styles of intakes. on the other hand i live in louisiana and it rains alot, my neighborhood floods like crazy and if i have to go somewhere when it is raining then i have to drive through fairly deep water. i chose to go with the short ram because i have seen a few cars in my friend's shop lately all with hydrolock and i dont feel like paying for new vavlves for a measley 1-3 hp to the wheels max in diiference between the two intakes. i am not saying that everyone has the same problem with flooding where they live but it is just something watch out for. i like cai alot and the bypass vavle is a great thing but the filter has to be submerged for the vavle to release any water. if you dont believe me take a shop-vac and suck up some water, when the hose is full enough of the water going in it will straighten out, same idea behind the bypass valve and how it filters out the water. when you are driving the valve is closed and it acts as almost a straight pipe and allows air to pass through freely. another thing to think about is as long as you are in the us, your integra intake will be on the outside of the road. with that being said most roads are higher in the center and lower on the outside and gravity causes the water to drain from center outward. so there is going to often be a collection of deeper water on the outside of the road where the intake is located if you are driving in a city where there are curbs and drains on the outside. just something to think about.

eckoman_pdx best informative thread i've yet read, props to you ! I had a SRI and switched up to a CAI, i've never heard of hydro lock, maybe cuz i live in California, (doesnt rain to much out here) but i think im going to invest into a Bypass valve anyway or maybe a comptech icebox intake. 169.00 from comptechusa.com.

eckoman_pdx best informative thread i've yet read, props to you !

Thanks for the vote of confidence and the props
:smile: and welcome to AF.

10hp lol you don't get that with any intake. Get a bypass if your that worried.

I Just Hydro-locked My Engine Do To A Flash Flood In El Paso Texas. Lol! Never Rains Here!!! So If Your Goin To Buy A Cai Make Sure You Get The Bypass Valve, But Me Personally, I Think Ill Stick Wit The Sri. Just Had To Put My Tw0 Cents On This Thread. I Wish I Would Of Known How Serious It Is When You Suck Water Through Your Cai.

I got water in my intake from going through a carwash. You know, the Cheveron "Touchless" one or whatever. Didn't even think that would be a problem...but apparently it is. My engine stalled out and i took my intake pipe off and there was water and suds pouring out of it. Scariest experience ever... Be safe and get the bypass valve if you go cai.