First off, sorry for posting another icebox/AEM topic, but before you get angry read on and I'm sure you will see this topic to be slightly more focused than the rest.

I have an AEM now and since winter is coming around the corner I am having a hard time choosing between the bypass valve for the AEM or the comptech icebox using stock intake tubing to the box.

I wanted something that was really IMPOSSIBLE TO HYDROLOCK because although I always pay attention where I'm driving, at 70mph on the fwy at night its rather hard to tell if there is a decently sized puddle in front of you. Also, most of the roads leading to my house sometimes become small lakes.

Does the bypass valve actaully prevent hydrolock from not just submerging it but does it prevent hydrolock if the filter were splashed with a substantial amount of water?

If I buy the icebox will using the stock intake tubing affect performance in regards to the way the air is coming into the TB when compared to comptechs expensive metal tube?

I just want some peace of mind this winter. I live in so cal, but sometimes it gets pretty nasty out here and I dont want to hit a puddle and end the life of my engine....prematurely that is.

On a quality issue, is the fitment of the icebox on the gs-r decent or are things that are questionable?


TIA,

George


[Modified by KANJI, 4:56 PM 10/10/2001]

 

hey wassup kanji

just to let you know, i have heard of a few ppl on this board that have hydro locked with an aem cai with bypass vavle. An another with the comptech ice box.

I have a by pass valve, but never use it. I honestly think its a peice of crap. It doesnt work if the filter is not FULLY submerged in water.

Since my aem cai was cut already to have the by pass on. What i do is switch between cai and short ram during rainy seasons. takes me about 15 mintues to do so everytime. the short ram will greatly almost 100% sure of no hydro lock.

here are some pictures

 

Thanks mintydip, I had no idea you had that setup with your AEM. So I assume there really is no 100% hydrolock-proof cold air intake then. Thats too bad because I really hate to take a performance hit but it looks like I'll have to go back to stock for a while.

How can Comptech calim that their intake will not hydrolock if someone already hydrolocked with it on. I dont see how their design can suck up any water..unless it was submerbed and then it would suck up water just like my AEM.

 

Was this recent? I'd be interested in reading the post of whomever hydrolocked with their icebox.

 

I have never seen anyone post on here about hydro locking with an Icebox or with an AEM with bypass valve.

 

yeah, it was about 2 months maybe 3months ago.

Im sure cause i didnt believe it myself.

but yah, someone did hyrdo lock with an ice box.

 

mintydip: ur valve cover seems to shed its black color and adapt a beautiful red for the winter season

 

Just think about it....The Icebox and the AEM both draw air from the exact same place....If you are "lucky" enough to find a large puddle, both intakes have similar odds of "sucking water.

 

good ole california sun has given my valve cover a sun burn

 

I find... https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=51037 --about halfway down.

 

DOh, u beat me to it. I just found that link too in the archieve https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=51037

Good job

 

Well It was I the one who Hydrolocked the ICEBOX like 3 months ago. It was a pretty deep puddle, I was really pissed off That was the reason I bought the ICEBOX, because it did not hydrolock. Comptech was actually pretty amazed it could happen and paid the deductable for my insurance. I still have it in my car. What I do is take the top off when it rains really hard. So it doesn't have the full suction. It's a good product but NOTHING is hydrolock proof. Here some painfull pics

BENT ROD:

ENGINE BLOCK:

INTAKE:

INTAKE UNDER CAR:




[Modified by ITR-Animal, 8:12 PM 10/10/2001]

 

OK heres the deal as I see it,

The post you guys are looking at is in relation to a guy running his engine in 6 inches of water, Right? I'd guess that with at least that much water or probably More in my opinion that anything close to a CAI other than the Stock intake Will absorb or ingest some water. Operating your car at this point is a delicate procedure. I've ridden through torrential downpours and or hit Big lakes in the middle of the freeway and got away unscathed, "With the AEM/CAI."

This seems to be freak accident But, so Did all of the AEM mishaps not too long ago. IMHO you'd have to gun the engine or at least try to WOT it some way for the "icebox" to actually hydrolock an engine.

Nothing is fool proof and I think All of us can agree that given enough water that the stock car will not function as well.

The Comptech piece is not perfect or everything to everybody. It is designed to improve performance and also provide a higher leval of security when dealing with the hydrolock issue. I mean if it was me selling it I'd opt for a more OEM finish to the product. It is a well designed unit and features more than one Anti-Ingest Water method.

This is all IMHO! But I'm VERY open to Questions, Answers and other Stuff related to this topic. Afterall I have also owned the AEM/CAI, and guess whats under my hood now?

A.


PS my Sh*t doesn't go Bwahhh Bwahhhh Bahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh like the local school boys stuff does... It's quiet but effective. Lets me enjoy the sound of the WHOLE engine working in Harmony!

 

Oh and I forgot,

Thats exactly what I do when concerned with major floods, "not that the mountains flood that much."

I just remove the top of the airbox!

Hey ITR Animal, sorry to see that you experienced the unexperienceable "as related to the Icebox!"

A.

PS it's good to hear that Comptech made good with their AntiHydrolock Guarantee though.


[Modified by 1GreyTeg, 8:26 PM 10/10/2001]

 

The bypass valve ruins the only good thing about the AEM...the sound. I'd got the Icebox just because I wanted to try it. I actually prefer it to the AEM. Current plans are just leave the Icebox on. I like the smoother power delivery. Get the Icebox and you can switch back and forth as you like.

 

Even The Stock intake can Hydrolock, Thats what happened to my first ITR #14 (which I found out recently is still on the road, Somewhere)
Of course it had been raining hard all day and I hydroplaned down a steep hill into about a 3ft Puddle (at what point is a puddle not a puddle ) Bent Rods, Water got into the car etc etc - Total Loss. Replaced 2 months later with #1000

Lesson here When It rains becareful and in any case remove the top of the airbox. That is the reason I reccomend the Comptech Icebox at least in bad weather you can remove the Top and turn it into a short ram.

 

WOW #14

Any one know who has the #1s?

 

maybe comptech or realtime???

 

Thanks for the input everyone, I really appreicate it.

If I decided to buy the Icebox, where would be the best place as well as the cheapest place to buy it from and will I have to have that expensive metal elbow tube? If i dont buy teh elbow, will I realize a loss in hp?

Thanks

 

I just do like MintyDip and run the filter on the AEM in the engine compartment during the wet season. And it rains ALOT up here in Oregon. Maybe it's not the best for performance, but neither is sucking up water. Don't need much power in the rain anyways. It takes a few minutes to cut the tube, and about 10-15 to move the filter from the fender well to the short configuration each time. Get a section of rubber hose and some hose clamps to seal the joint when you put the long section back on.

 

I never heard or seen anyone hydrolock with AEM with bypass. It is always these 'urban legend' type stories where 'I heard from someone' blah blah then this unsubstantiated info gets passed around and it becomes the 'truth'. Then if person gets challenged with the information, the person will say...'it is true and I saw it myself...' and everyone will believe him.



[Modified by jl74, 4:20 AM 10/12/2001]

 

KANJI: You can just use your stock intake arm; I think the only difference you'd notice in buying the whole setup is the less $$ in your wallet. For the ice box, try http://www.diabloautosports.com . HTH


[Modified by Integ_GrL, 8:52 PM 10/11/2001]

 

Well, I just remember reading bout this somewhere on this board a while back... I dont remember whos it was. But yah I do agree with you about urban "urban legend". I jsut remember reading it.

 

Cough Cough

 

You have the most clever ways of suggesting mike. LOL