AEM cold air intake + water :(

[MPS1]

Hi guys,

I just got a AEM CAI on my MPS3 and it was fantastic...until
Yesterday I drove through a rainstorm and there was a flooding in the middle of this valley of about 70m of rushing deep water, there was no other way around so I got out in the storm undid the cover in the wheel arch and put a plastic bag over the intake to drive through. I took it off after, but after driving for about 1/2 hour engine light came on and the car splutttered.

I later found that water got onto the MAF and into that extra pipe next to the MAF that goes directrily into the rear right of the engine next to the spark plugs. I had to hairdry it all the next day till the CEL went away.

Does anyone know if I have ruined my engine.. there are no weird noises, idling is fine, but water still got into that thin pipe attached into the intake.

I think im going to take off the extension and get an oiled SRI rather than the massive dry AEM CAI. Anyonne using a prefilter (that hydrosheild thing) Any suggestions? By the way I have a pod heat sheild that covers the rear vents near the wheel but obviosuy its not good enough because the front gets wet...

[Jmac]

Bad news.. personally I would stay away from oiled filters.. go for a water repellent pre filter instead..

http://mpsgarage.com.au/shop/product...re-filter.html

[Nirvandan]

That was one of the main reasons i went for a SRI over the CAI, sorry to hear mate

[MPS1]

Why would you stay away from an oiled filter? I heard they are good for dusty/wetter weather. Do you think that there would be any problems with the engine though?

[Jmac]

Why would you stay away from an oiled filter? I heard they are good for dusty/wetter weather. Do you think that there would be any problems with the engine though?

Some people have had problems (hesitation etc) from oiled filters on newer cars. My guess is that is why all (?) SRI/CAI kits come with dry filters.

[shakespeare]

I've got a prefilter water repellent thingy and I still got a wet filter and CEL's so I covered most of the air vents in the front wheel arch and haven't had CEL's since.

The air vents in the wheel arch are for (I believe) evacuating heat from the engine bay, though since I have covered these I haven't encountered any extreme temperatures with IAT or Boost temp.

DIY Cold Air Intake (CAI) water shield

And another, though from your post it sounds like you've got one of these?

Permanent relief from CELs due to wet CAIs

[MISSMPS]

Username looks very familar..i thought someone had woken up and realised how awesome AB is and traded up


Not good news about the water though

[tricache]

put a plastic bag over the intake to drive through

There is another problem but I won't go into that haha I have seen first hand filters getting flattened by doing this.

The only way to eliminate water going into ANY intake is leave it stock...I have been through 3 different SRI configurations and now have a Simota CAI. Even my SRI had the occasional problem with water, front end spray from passing cars in heavy water or just super super heavy rain.

My CAI has been on since September last year and only had a CEL twice now and that was from spinning the wheels in very heavy rain.

I know there are times where it is unavoidable but that's the risk you take putting an aftermarket intake on a car.

I think if you haven't have problems now that the water has been burnt off...it takes a good amount to cause problems in the engine and I'm not talking about hesitation but hydro lock!! Hesitation is actually caused by the MAF sensor becoming wet

[MPS1]

Ohh I was just looking at the simota intake on ebay, I don't know anything about that brand though. When you get CELs tricache, water may not just be going on the MAF but suked up into that breather pipe into the engine. I have read somewhere that the inside of the engine can rust up very very easily.

Im going today to autobarn to check out what filter/pre filters they have - too paranoid to keep this one on when winter is coming lol

[AD07]

Just get a SRI to save yourself worrying every time it rains......