Total n00b question, Opinions Needed
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From: Boston
Total n00b question, Opinions Needed
My Ralliart is officially one week old today *cheers* I am just loving this car more than any other I have had (Formula 350, IRoC when they were cool lol, Civic, etc).
I want to start adding some mods. I am going to be getting the rear strut tower brace and the lower rear tie bar from RD Designs once I know the rear tower brace fits w/ the S&S package for sure. I got a Magnaflow tip arriving today I bet and I am going to have it welded on Saturday.
The next thing I want to get is an air intake system but there seem to be two types (told ya I am total n00b on this) so I am not sure which to get. I see Cold Air Intake and Air Intake. Let's see. I am in Boston so we get lots of snow and wet, slushy roads for a few months. I read somewhere water can get up in there and into the engine. Is this common with one type? Both types? Which is the best bang for the buck for a Ralliart? If you were gonna get 1 right now or you have 1 which should I get?
Sorry if these are totally dumb questions. I inherited lots of cash and my wallet is hurting my butt lol.
Thanks a ton in advance.
I want to start adding some mods. I am going to be getting the rear strut tower brace and the lower rear tie bar from RD Designs once I know the rear tower brace fits w/ the S&S package for sure. I got a Magnaflow tip arriving today I bet and I am going to have it welded on Saturday.
The next thing I want to get is an air intake system but there seem to be two types (told ya I am total n00b on this) so I am not sure which to get. I see Cold Air Intake and Air Intake. Let's see. I am in Boston so we get lots of snow and wet, slushy roads for a few months. I read somewhere water can get up in there and into the engine. Is this common with one type? Both types? Which is the best bang for the buck for a Ralliart? If you were gonna get 1 right now or you have 1 which should I get?
Sorry if these are totally dumb questions. I inherited lots of cash and my wallet is hurting my butt lol.
Thanks a ton in advance.
If you want a true CAI setup, there are a few available. Injen makes a CAI that you could put a water safety valve in (AEM). Or you can wait and get the system AEM is putting out and put a valve in it.
I have the RRM CAI in my car. I don't have the valve and I live in Portland Oregon. Lots of rain, lots of puddles, I just avoid the deep ones.
Bad part is if you want to put in a bypass, you have to cut your CAI system, unless you find a gen 1 CAI from RRM. Those are already 2 piece.
AEM bypass explained
Ignore what it says about only working with AEM products. Its a sales pitch.
Injen CAI
Another place for good parts:Roadrace Motorsports
AEM (for future reference & bypass info)
I have the RRM CAI in my car. I don't have the valve and I live in Portland Oregon. Lots of rain, lots of puddles, I just avoid the deep ones.
Bad part is if you want to put in a bypass, you have to cut your CAI system, unless you find a gen 1 CAI from RRM. Those are already 2 piece.
AEM bypass explained
Ignore what it says about only working with AEM products. Its a sales pitch.
From AEM's website
Question
When to use the AEM Bypass Valve
Answer
The AEM Bypass Valve is used to protect the engine from hydro locking. Hydro locking occurs when the end of the inlet pipe is submerged in water and the water is sucked into the engine. Driving the vehicle in rainy conditions is not enough to cause a problem unless the vehicle becomes submerged enough that the inlet end of the pipe is immersed in water. Rain impingement on the filter will not cause a hydro lock condition. The distance of the filter from the road dictates the level of water that can cause damage. This distance varies with the vehicle ride height which is why there are no published numbers for this measurement.
All AEM Cold Air Intakes are to be used with the splash shield that is originally installed on the vehicle for protection and performance. The removal of splash shields actually deteriorates performance by allowing hot pavement air in the vicinity of the filter and negates any positive pressure created in the air filter area when the vehicle is in motion.
There are some instances where there is not enough room around the inlet pipe for adequate clearance of the Bypass Valve. In these cases a Short Ram system is offered or will be offered in the near future..
Question
When to use the AEM Bypass Valve
Answer
The AEM Bypass Valve is used to protect the engine from hydro locking. Hydro locking occurs when the end of the inlet pipe is submerged in water and the water is sucked into the engine. Driving the vehicle in rainy conditions is not enough to cause a problem unless the vehicle becomes submerged enough that the inlet end of the pipe is immersed in water. Rain impingement on the filter will not cause a hydro lock condition. The distance of the filter from the road dictates the level of water that can cause damage. This distance varies with the vehicle ride height which is why there are no published numbers for this measurement.
All AEM Cold Air Intakes are to be used with the splash shield that is originally installed on the vehicle for protection and performance. The removal of splash shields actually deteriorates performance by allowing hot pavement air in the vicinity of the filter and negates any positive pressure created in the air filter area when the vehicle is in motion.
There are some instances where there is not enough room around the inlet pipe for adequate clearance of the Bypass Valve. In these cases a Short Ram system is offered or will be offered in the near future..
Injen CAI
Another place for good parts:Roadrace Motorsports
AEM (for future reference & bypass info)
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Fredericton, N.B. Canada
CAI places the filter under the car so that it can intake cold air to produce more power. I won't get into the physics of it here as it has been posted before by others. The other "air intake" you are referring to I believe would be the SRI (Short RAM Intake). It is a short pipe with a filter however, it is still in the engine bay. As such, it sucks in hot air. Great sound... little performance gain. If you are looking for performance I would go with the CAI. AEM is comming out with one soon. They make excellent CAIs. INJEN has one and so does RRM. Most people on this forum us RRM and they say it is excellent. I am waiting for AEM. However, in the end they all do the same thing.
Sucking water into your engine sucks and costs alot of money. I also live in a rainy, snowy, slushy, etc, climate. (New Brunswick) Majority of the guys and girls I cruise with have CAIs and none of them have a bypass valve. We have driven in major rain storms and snow storms and have never had problems with water going into the engine. I have contacted many different CAI manufacturers and installers. They all have told me that you have to submerge the filter in water inorder for it to suck it up. Most filters on the CAIs stop at the bottom of the car. Unless your car is riding right on the ground you should not have to worry about water intake. The rule of thumb is... stay out of puddles that submerge your car and filter in water.
Best of luck and I recommend a CAI from either INJEN, AEM or RRM!
Enjoy your RalliArt
Sucking water into your engine sucks and costs alot of money. I also live in a rainy, snowy, slushy, etc, climate. (New Brunswick) Majority of the guys and girls I cruise with have CAIs and none of them have a bypass valve. We have driven in major rain storms and snow storms and have never had problems with water going into the engine. I have contacted many different CAI manufacturers and installers. They all have told me that you have to submerge the filter in water inorder for it to suck it up. Most filters on the CAIs stop at the bottom of the car. Unless your car is riding right on the ground you should not have to worry about water intake. The rule of thumb is... stay out of puddles that submerge your car and filter in water.
Best of luck and I recommend a CAI from either INJEN, AEM or RRM!
Enjoy your RalliArt
Last edited by LancerRalliArt; Aug 26, 2004 at 06:06 PM.
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Thread Starter
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From: Boston
Thanks, RollerPyro
And thanks for all this info. Now I am not sure again lol.
I saw this: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=88371
The CAI linked from PDXRalliArt looks great too and seeing someone else in a snowy, rainy climate with one helps but I guess I still worry I will trash my engine.
ugh! what to buy?
And thanks for all this info. Now I am not sure again lol.
I saw this: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=88371
The CAI linked from PDXRalliArt looks great too and seeing someone else in a snowy, rainy climate with one helps but I guess I still worry I will trash my engine.
ugh! what to buy?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 13
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From: Boston
I see the RRM CAI says it is for 5 speed only. The mean standard transmissions? I have an automatic so am I pretty much pigeon holed into SRI anyway? The Injen CAI doesn't specify automatic or standard. I see on the AEM webpage the one coming soon is manual also 
So is CAI out of the picture for me?
So is CAI out of the picture for me?
unless the filter is submerged in water, your not going to suck up water, so stay out of the 3-4 foot puddles or the 1-2 foot puddles that are 10+ feet long and you wont have any problems, people over worry when it comes to CAI's. Also, the aem bypass is pretty much a joke, it will hardly make a difference when it comes to protection and not worth the extra change