When driving in areas that you know have big puddles could you disconnect the AEM intake. Then proceed to drive in these puddle filled areas. I don't have the bypass valve. I figure if the intake is being used no water will be sucked in but will driving with no intake harm my engine. And if this was covered sorry I didn't master the search function. Maybe a couple of pointers would be great.

 

Although I would choose the Icebox. I really think this AEM paranoia has gone out of control (including me) which is why I got the Icebox. Really? How many DO YOU KNOW had hydrolock experience? I only know people who "heard" from "people", from another forum "whose roomate or neighbhor or whatever" that they had hydrolock. Lets say ONE person got hydrolock, it will be posted over and over, and all of a sudden, this person will become everyone's friend, then all of a sudden TWENTY PEOPLE NOW HAVE FRIENDS WHOSE ENGINE HYDROLOCKED WITH AEM CAI from a single person. I am sure it happens and has happened, but I just get the impression that this hydrolock thing does not happen as often as we think.

For the record, I DONT know anyone directly, nor have seen a car that hydrolocked.

 

You aren't making any sense my friend...?

 

I have personally met 2 people who have hydrolocked their engines with cold air intakes. One was an older Civic and the other was a 5th gen Prelude. Both of them drove through giant puddles and toasted their engines right then and there. No doubt about the cause. The threat is real if you know you have to drive through puddles sometimes.

As for driving with it disconnected, you could get dust and crap into the tb - not cool. Some intakes can be converted to a "wetlands" setup where you take off half the tube and connect the filter inside the engine bay, essentially making it a short ram intake. ICEman made these for the Prelude, but I don't know if anyone makes one of these for the type R. Your best bet if you have to drive in puddles (like Detroit where the highways flood every time it rains) may be the AEM bypass valve.

 

Does anyone actually have DYNO PROOF that the AEM Bypass Valve makes you lose power? I know it would be tough, needing two intakes for the little experiment, but seems like someone much have tried it after hearing all of that talk about how it makes you not gain as much power.

Jon

 

Gee, I drove through 3 hurricane's last year with AEM on my car and no hydrolock. Look, If you see a large puddle DONT GO THOUGH IT. How hard is that.

Boba- who thinks that when people drive through big large puddles/ w CAI intakes are ignorant.

 

Boba: I can tell you are blissfully unaware (ignorant, to use your language) of the water evacuation technology (or lack thereof) in some areas. When there is standing water over the highway during rush hour, not going through the water isn't a viable option. Last Summer, when I had to drive in Detroit a lot, this happened to me practically every time it rained. Sometimes the water is DEEP on the sunken highways. Your only options would be to stand by the side of the highway (in the ghetto) disconnecting the intake or to turn around and drive against traffic, neither very good. I never hydrolocked my engine because I had the AEM bypass.

On another note, AEM themselves admit that the bypass loses a bit of power, don't they? Isn't this proof enough?

 

I guess since i'm a Civil Engineer (that designes roadways) I dont know anything about water evacution. Do me a favor and tell my boss that. I'm saying I am so tired of hearing people bitch and moan about fear of hydrolock. If you are so worried about it then dont buy the ******* AEM, but some other Shitbox contraption.


boba- who's not arguing w/Mike D, just want you to see my point.

 

boba, you make me laugh....... maybe these guys that live in all these water filled areas need snorkle kits.

 

I swear by my AEM CAI. No other low budget bolt-on makes more power, PERIOD! To me an ITR without an AEM CAI just feels limp. And as far as the bypass valve goes, screw that! It's junk! I barely drive my car, let alone in the rain. The one time I did get caught in torrential downpours out on the open road through I80 in PA. I simply disconnected the AEM, and drove open t/b for a few hours till the rains calmed down. Running an open t/b will not hurt your car as long as it's for a short period of time. And since it's rain your driving over, it's not like your motor is gonna suck in dust

Oh, and I DO know about a half dozen people that have hydrolocked their Honda with an AEM, so yes it is possible to munch your motor. Just don't be careless and all will be well!


[Modified by H-PIMP, 2:24 PM 6/22/2001]

 

Drive slow through bid puddles...I mean REALLY slow. Not only will it help to avoid the above mentioned problem...its a great way to **** off drivers behind you.

 

Well I totally agree in that you have to be pretty dumb to just drive threw a big puddle but when your on a road where there is no way around the puddle, then what do you do. Thats the reason for the question and I appreciate all the responses.