I am probably going to buy an AEM cold air from a guy i know. He was going to sell me the bypass valve but I wasn't sure if the bypass valve hurt the performance. Anybody know for a fact, like from a dyno? Someone with a good answer please help. Thanks.

 

you dont need it- simple as that. i was a bit skeptical too before... but, yesterday it rained pretty hard over here and i drive around w/a CAI and a 1.7inch drop. i was forced through prolly almost a foot of water at times at 40-45mph and went through perfect. just let of the throttle when you are going under, and stay very light on the throttle when goin over pretty deep parts.. u need at least a foot or two of water to take water in, at which point ur prolly messed up alot of other things .. BTW, to answer your question, yea i heard from a couple friends, and some people on this site that it does hurt performance.. just my .02

 

yea ive been through very deep water at pretty quick speeds w no problem w my iceman. i didnt mean to of course but still...id avoid the bpv....and yea it does hurt performance a bit as well.

 

With the kind of rain that you get in Tn, I recommend you get the bypass valve! All it takes is one deep puddle when you're not paying attention, and your engine is DEAD! Remember that it rains at night too, and that you drive at night. You can't tell which puddles are deep or shallow..

If you care about your car, and don't mind sacrificing MAYBE 1-2 hp to have a safety net, get the bypass valve.

I live in Southern California and I have it installed. I figure that if my car hydrolocks during rain I'd go postal and wouldn't be able to get around...

my .02

 

Um, before you waste the cash on a BY-PASS valve, you might want to do a search in here for the product number of a "WORKING" one. AEM had many that did not function, which basically would make it a waste of cash...

I personally live in Florida, where it rains ALOT. As a matter of fact it's been raining all day today... I expect to drive home with no probs, as I have many times before.

 

U R crazy meng.... if it rains alot where you are, get the bypass, yess, you will lose a very inconsequential amount of power, just replace the BP with a coupling at the track... GET IT....

 

"Don't mind sacrificing 1-2 hp" ....

Aem only makes like 3-5 to begin with

If your uncomfortable driving with a cold-air, don't think that a bypass valve is going to be the ultimate solution to your problems, it only works when the filter is fully submerged, your still going to get water in your intake, it's inevitable.

Just drive smart, even the comptech icebox is'nt the best, and it's supposed to be hydrolock proof (tell that to the blown ITR motor in the forum, do a search...full pics of a hydrolocked yellow R ... )

 

ahh if your really worried just get a short ram intake for the winter days.

 

HOLY SHHHHHH!!!!! i just saw them pics.. might be orderin my by-pass pretty soon

 

Also it REAL good for your motor to get the tabs on that bypass valve sucked into your intake valves If your that worried about water, get a short ram, or else just get an AEM and live with it.


[Modified by 97blackteg, 3:39 PM 2/22/2002]

 

Actually, on on of those dyno sites it made like 10-15hp on a 98 GSR (because of OBD2), so it will not always abide by your 3-5 HP rule...

 

15hp to the wheels is A LOT. Ive heard that number before too, but c'mon......its just an intake. Im a bit skeptical

 

yes the bypass valve hurts performance..not sure how much but when i took my filter out to clean it and had to take out the piping connected to the valve...it broke . and i wa ilke....um thats nice, there goes 50 bucks. and just replaced it with a silicone tube.

off the bat, your intake is louder without the bypass valve and pulls harder up top. not sure how much HP but thats a buttdyno for ya.....

 

yes the bv hurts performance. If you are really worried about hydrolocking dont get an aem cai. Instead, just get an underhood intake or keep your stock one. When you go to the track to race just switch intakes. Switching intakes is not brain surgery and it will only take like 10min.

 

blah blah... i had a civic and an integra with cai.. i went through ran like it was nothing... just dont take out your fender liners(splash gaurds) and you will be fine...