I just got an AEM cold air intake installed today and already everyone's warning me about the location and potential of hydro-locking my motor. Someone please provide some insight into the actual possibility of this happening and whether or not it should be something I should be getting worked up over. I have looked into an AEM bypass valve to counteract the problem, any advice regarding whether or not it is effective/necessary. Any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated, thanks a lot.

 

PM me if you are in Socal....I have your custom solution.

 

DO NOT DRIVE IN THE RAIN!!!!! If you suck in ONE droplet of water your engine will seize and blow!!!!!

 

^^^I've driven in the rain a lot since I put my Injen CAI on and been fine. I don't have wheels wells either

 

On my last car I had a CAI that sat in the same location as your AEM. 80,000+ miles and no issues. That car didn't have the underbody panel either. From what I have read over the years, the only time damage can occur from sucking up too much water, is if the filter is at least partially submerged in water.

 

I have an AEM CAI just like you and its been on for about 25000 miles- np yet. I have went through minor puddles but as you can see- the cold air intake is covered pretty well but still when i see that its going to rain hard-i usually don't take my car out.

 

Thanks for everyone's responses. Well unfortunately seeing as this is my only vehicle I'm going to have to winter drive it I've spoken to a few mechanics and they've recommended that i definately change it to a short ram because of this or at least buy a cover for the grill on the bumper (he claims he's installed it on 3 G35s already). None of you seem to have had any problems driving it in the rain and that is definately my main concern. I really dont know what to do

 

Because no one has ever purposely fed water in it's liquid form to an engine.

What were those water injection systems for again?



Don't attempt to caulk your wagon, er I mean G, and ford a river and you'll be fine.

 

You're not going to suck up water unless you drive in a huuuge puddle that's like 3-5 feet deeep ZOMG...

 

Really all it takes is about a 1 foot puddle or wave in front of the car to entirely submerse a CAI filter. The only way the CAI can suck in water and hydrolock is if the filter is completely submerged. When it happens though, it's instantanous.

 

Don't drive through huge puddles and you will be fine. But if you want piece of mind then you shouldn't have bought a cold air intake.