Just a little info. Since the intake comes out behind the "fake" mesh on the driver's side of the car, I took the "fake" mesh out on both sides. Looks better and sounds better. Seems like there is an increase in performance, but I don't have any numbers to back it up. Just thought I would pass it on to any who are interested.

 

Been posted before I think... along the same vein, you ought to try and remove the ugly orange reflectors and replace them with black mesh I've heard. Added flow, better looks. I'm waiting to get some mesh to do that and the same thing with the "mesh" in the front. Just if you're in a rainy area, you might invest 50 bucks in the AEM universal by pass valve for 3" piping on CAI... should work, but, I'm not 100%, if anyone has more info, I'd appreciate it.

 

It really depends on where you are. When I lived in VA I didn't use the AEM on my 2000 eclipse, and I never had problems in the rain.

Now down here in Houston, I definatly would get one, since you never know when your going to be several feet deep in a flash flood.

As far as the openings, you will definatly see some gain via the cooler air coming from the outside rather than engine heated air. Even better would be to make some sort of vent that directs all the air to the filter, or even a box.

 

Up here in Dallas, I'm not nearly as concerned about the rain... I may just spend the 50 to be save, and also give me a cheap way to slap AEM on the side of my car... Good to know that the openings are worth the effort... might have a project to do with my dad next weekend.

 

i almost bought one of those things but every told me i wouldnt need it here in san diego, i gues rain wont hurt but large amounts of water like completely submerging your front end into puddle

 

that is tru....a little rain will burn off b4 it gets to the intake manifold, but if u submerge it, ur SOL....also i heard that the by-pass valve for the CAI's restric a little HP, but i dont think its enough to hamper it that much

 

better safe than sorry, wouldnt want to waste a 16k car

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Yeah, definitely not covered by warranty. It depends on how the car runs next time it rains... but, from what I've heard, a little bit of water ingestion actually helps the engine run better... and the only cases I've ever heard about water ingestion ruining the engine has been people in flood-like situations, in which case, that's why you have insurance, and you'll have to replace the car anyway. But that's just the way I see it.

 

hehe ya get a bypass valve, i would, ive seen mud get sucked up into a V8 diesel engine on a hummer, that wasnt prettty when i removed both heads, and theres mud in the engine

just sayin from experence

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K, gotta say it, but, 1) mud is ALOT different from water. 2) I bet you weren't just driving down the road (by road I mean streets where a Lancer COULD drive, if not would) when said mud got sucked into your engine. The bypass valve, I think, wouldn't even been able to solve that. You still would have had dirt, at least, in there. In other words, when you get mud THROUGH your intake, I don't think there is a bypass valve in the world that could save your ***, but, then again, you were there, and I wasn't.

 

hehe i was using a metaphorical analogy

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do you have a bypass valve streetlancer?

 

No, because I'm 90% sure it will work, but, at the same time, I want to be 100% before I shell out 50 bucks. I went to my local mod shop, and talked to them about it, and they said it should, but, they weren't positive either, and didn't have any in stock, and understandbly didn't want to order it if I wasn't planning on buying it yet. So, I may just put together the cash, have em order it, and try it out, if it doesn't work, make sure I can return it, and get back to everyone. I hope someone does the same thing first, cause Iam curious to find out if it works. Like I said, most signs point to yes, but, somebody said they contacted AEM, and were told that it would only work on AEM. But, really, I think that it may be AEM trying to get people to buy their intakes for that feature, because why else would it be offered in so many varying sizes and listed at some sites as a universal item? Anyway, I'm wanting to find out for sure, because my monthly allotment for parts is 80 bucks, and I still have alot of more important things to do right now.

 

i would think if it works well, why havent others companies caught on?

 

Had time to consider your question while trying to keep from AOL booting me off... hate AOL, but, it's free, so, what are you gonna do... anyway, and there may be three reasons.

1) AEM is one of the, if not, best selling CAI and short ram systems on the most common tuner vehicle, the Civic, and it's possible that they are simply the only ones that decided to make such a thing due to the wide use of their systems, and of a high enough demand to develop and market such a thing.

2) It could be that the AEM design is the only one that would work, and they are holding an airtight patent on it. Likely, no, possible, yes.

3) Really, the risk of ingestion is so low that it is a safeguard kind of thing, and other companies don't feel that it is worth exploring, and AEM is simply exploiting an overprotective part of the market for 50 bucks a pop with something that may never ever be needed. Do I still want it? Yeah.