any of you guys have any ideas to deal with the cai on rainy days? i don't want to take the chance since i have huge dips that float my car when it rains so right now im thinking of unbolting the spacer and putting just a filter on a rainy day and put it back on when it stops raining? any other ideas?

 

I've seen a video, and to pull water all the way up the intake tubing you basically need to have the entire end of the tube underwater. Otherwise air will just come in wherever it can and water won't slosh all the way up the tube. For me, that means staying out of puddles less than 1" or so. In practice, I just try to keep the right side of the car out of deep puddles and I've never had trouble.

If you're worried, you can install a bypass valve -- you cut out some tubing and put in what is basically a flexible sponge that lets air in around the water if you submerge the main filter, but you lose the performance benefit of the CAI if you do that. The other alternative is to sell the CAI and get an SRI. I've lived in rainy places with poor drainage and bad roads and never had trouble. I made a habit of avoiding deep puddles even before the CAI.

 

The issue with CAI's and rain hydrolocking the engine is almost pure myth! You literally have to completely submerge the filter/tube and then rev the engine enough to get it to suck water ALL the way up the tube and into the engine.

Basically, if you aren't crossing rivers with you car don't worry about it!

 

if you're really worried injen makes a wrap that goes around the filter. My friend tested it and it doesnt allow water in, even if you submerge it, but is still breathable enough not to affect airflow

 

I use to have the same problem. Yea Aem makes a "by pass filter" that catches water if you do suck any water up. I had to cut my cai in half, yours might be different.

 

I've got an AEM CAI on a DC2 and when I've been missing a fender liner since I bought the car. I figured it would be ok. Wrong.

My car started bogging in the rain to the point where the motor would shut off and I'd have to wait a few minutes to slowly drive her home. It's been bogging down more and more today so I finally decided to buy a fender liner for who knows how much.

Is my motor full of water now or should I just let it sit a day or two, get an oil change, and not worry about it?

Moral of the story, PROTECT YOUR FILTER.

Sorry for the thread hijack.