I've been a member for only a short time and owned a CAI for even shorter. I have searched numerous times for the answers to my questions but I may actually end up having some questions nobody else has asked.

I own a 5-speed 2003 OZ Edition with about 120k miles. I only recently installed the two piece CAI by Injen. I live in NW Florida and it rains quite a bit. Every thread i've read says that hydroshields and bypass valves are useless unless you plan on going snorkeling in your car. I used to have fog-lights but they have since been removed. The splash guards have been broken (I was a delivery driver and went through some serious crap). My question on this topic: given the fact that the fog-light compartment is completely open and virtually no splashguard beneath my cone, would it be a smart investment to get a hydroshield or bypass valve? If so, which would be better? If not, that's great.

My second question is just mere curiousity. I've read numerous times that during the summer it is best to use the CAI, and in winter take the downpipe off to have SRI. Wouldn't it be better to get the much colder winter air which is far far away from your engine than suck up the air in the engine bay with the SRI?

On a side note about the installation, I don't see why there is a need to remove the bumper, or tire, or anything really. I just slipped the downpipe up from below and had no problems whatsoever. The work-space was cramped, but not unbearably so. After installation, my engine idled very choppy. If I put it in gear and tried to move, it would go dead. I let it idle for about 10-20 minutes and everything cleared up. The idle was normal, didn't go dead afterwards...no complaints. I noticed more pick-up while going through the gears, but nothing to be excited about. The sound it produces though is fan-friggin-tastic.

 

To answer your first question, really the only way you can hydrolock your engine is if the ENTIRE intake is submerged in water. Rain droplets will not kill your engine. Should you decide to run your car into a lake or what have you, a bypass valve would work.

There is virtually no difference in power between a CAI and SRI. They both dont make much power. The only notable difference is that a CAI is a longer pipe, thus taking longer for the engine to get air, which is a tiny low-end torque loss. The SRI does not have this problem, but sucks in warmer air from the engine bay. They both have an advantage and a disadvantage, but in the end, it really doesn't matter which you have =P.

 

as far as yourside note goes, it was the same with me. no removal of hardly anything that wasnt needed. i got it done within 30 mins. everything was right there. as far as the ruff idel goes, its just your computer learning the new stuff, it clears right up because after a while our computer learns.

 

As said, SRI and CAI make about the same power. I had both and was just as happy.

As for Winter, you have to remember something - with that cold Winter air comes salt and slush. Living in Ohio, I've experienced a lack of power because the slush splashed on the filter had frozen. Yeah, you don't suck in much air when you're pulling it through ice.

 

Thanks for all your answers. I pretty much assumed all of that, but I really wanted to clarify. Hydrolock doesn't sound like something cool to happen, so I'd rather ask a stupid question and be safe than need to buy a new engine (at this point.) Here in FL we don't have a problem with slush in the winter... I think the coldest it has been here in almost literaly decades is about 17 F. And as for salt...well, we have the Gulf of Mexico about 40 minutes away, is that enough salt? Anyway, thanks for the answers!

 

I run a SRI on my 03 OZ.... but would love to hear what a CAI sounds like ..... anyone got a vid or anything?

 

Here's an ES with CAI and cat-back - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Ll2MrKuOI

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0C5FsDLamw

Cousin's 4G92 with CAI.... no exhaust work whatsoever.

 

To awnser the CAI in the winter question. If the incoming air is to cold the fuel has a hard time atomizing hence the throttle body heater on the Lancer. It helps fuel atomization giving a cleaner burn which lowers emissions. This is most noticiable in carberated engins. It's why they run ruff untill they warm up.

 

I just installed a CAI on my lancer and when i was done i got a SES light, is that normal? did i mess something up?

 

^yes you messed something up, go over everything, double check your connections, and make sure you reset your ECU correctly

 

Thats good to know... I believe you changed my mind from CAI to SRI since I live in WV and drive 60miles each way to work and in the winter that becomes alot of slush.

 

1. I would advise to get a bypass. I think AEM makes them universal where you just have to measure the pipe. I've never been to Pensacola, but if the streets flood like they do in Tampa, I would get the bypass. Think of it as cheap engine insurance.
2. The people who have to remove the lower half live in the snow belt. You might consider an AEM dry flow filter (also universal) on the Injen system if the original oiled filter eventually becomes too hard to clean.
3. Give the choppy idle a week. Like the others said, it's probably just the engine relearning. It's a typical thing with CAI's and will probably clear up in the next hundred miles or so.

 

reset the ecu again and the ses light went away