I recently read somewhere that it was best to remove your cold air intake system and replace the stock during wet conditions. Is that accurate or what? In really rainy climates like the one I live in, that's all I'd be doing, switching out intakes. Could someon shed some light on this subject, please?

 

Meh. There's a decent chance that if it's raining hard enough and you run your car through a deep enough puddle of water you'll hydrolock your engine. Water in engine = no no. You can kiss your engine good bye if that happens. Get a bypass valve for your CAI or something.

 

I ran the bypass valve on my 01 Lude...loved it...worked great...never had a water problem. I'd suggest it...but at the same time...I'd suggest NOT going through any huge rain puddles trying to hydroplane your car across! LOL

 

What do you classify as a "huge rain puddle"?

 

Ok....let me squash this for EVERYONE right now. You DO NOT NEED A BY PASS VALVE (95% of the time)
Just use your head. If your car is really that low and you see a HUGE puddle the either go around it or turn around and don't go through it. If the idea of that scares you then settle w/ a SRI.

A CAI will only be in trouble if the cone is actually submerged in water!

 

Thank you. That is the impression I had.

 

No problem dude! :-)

 

Thanks Daddymac...I think I'll go for the AEM intake.

 

It certainly doesn't hurt to have a bypass valve, though. Even if you never use it, wouldn't it be nice to have that security? What if there's freak weather conditions and/or flood conditions?

Case in point: My friend (Honda Civic) and other buddy (Integra) both had AEM CAI's. The civic had a bypass, and the Integra didn't. They ended up driving thru some pretty bad puddles...borderline flood conditions (and they couldn't get around it either). The Civic made it, while the Integra hyrdrolocked and had to get flushed out. Luckily his insurance paid for it, but still.....what if that happened to you? What position would you want to be in? Just a counterpoint...

 

Actually...not to be a dick...but w/ a bypass valve you DO lose some power. Not ALOT but you don't get the full potential of the CAI....b/c of the bypass valve you will lose a percentage (maybe 15-20%) of the hp you'll gain. Bypass valve's distrupt the flow of air....

 

But it makes a bit more safe for people that live in a place that rains alot. How bout Snow + CAI = safe?

 

if your car hydrolocks daddymac will buy you a new motor!

 

I dont have a bypass valve and I live on the wet coast, I will install one for the winter months however just to be on the safe side, then come summer I will take it out again.

 

The parking lot where I work turns into a lake when it rains hard. I'm talking over a foot deep in the middle. I find other spots to park when it's going to rain like that.

I wouldn't worry about snow + CAI. Snow's solid.

 

Not at all, man....definitely a good point to consider. You have to weigh the choice between all out power and risk, or less power and safety.