Do you need a bypass valve for you intake in Colorado?

[M@verick]

Just wondering if anyone has any problems with water damage because of lack of a bypass valve on their intake. Seems like we get no rain, but I just want to be sure.

[b18cya-T]

just dont drive thru puddles you cant see the bottom of

[exciv2000]

Originally posted by Obi Wan B18cya
just dont drive thru puddles you cant see the bottom of

:werd: That is pretty much it, cut and dry. I've driven WOT through rain and snow at highway speeds for extended periods of time with a CAI with NO problem.

[taikahn]

I was on broadway this year during an extremely rainy day and sucked up water from a puddle I *HAD* to go through (one way street, etc) --- my car stalled slowly and then I started it up and drove away... I believe my engine would have hydrolocked if it wasnt for my bypass valve...

On my new project... I installed a short ram intake... no CAI horseshit for my daily driver... I mean, some times you *HAVE* to get home and some times there just *IS* a puddle in your way you cant go around or avoid, dont take the chance. Get a bypass valve or a short intake. Or the comptech Icebox is pretty slick... im waiting for that to come out for my ep3.

[CSMsi311]

i'd say just go with a comptech.

i would be wary of the bypass valves

[stu]

I never had a problem.

[M@verick]

Originally posted by taikahn
[B]I was on broadway this year during an extremely rainy day and sucked up water from a puddle I *HAD* to go through (one way street, etc) --- my car stalled slowly and then I started it up and drove away... I believe my engine would have hydrolocked if it wasnt for my bypass valve...


Stories like this make me wary. How deep was this puddle? Like if you stepped in it would it be to your knees?

[exciv2000]

Don't drive downtown on rainy days, or if you see cars slowing down in front and it's raining, and you think you see a puddle, slow down immediately, and either
1)stop, get out of the car, disconnect the CAI from the TB, drive through, reconnect CAI, be gone
or
2)turn off the engine, and coast through the water, turn the car back on when the coast is clear.

[SlamMan]

$40 bucks now will be better than a couple thousand later.

[beau_safken]

FYI: A bypass valve will only work if full submerged...It's a waste of money. If I were you I would get a short air intake and if you really needed a CAI type...remove your headlight and make an extension piece and it replaces the hole where your headlight was. I jus can't see the benefits outweighing the risks of a CAI. For losing a couple horsepower I get peace of mind...I'll take the hit.

[M@verick]

pardon my stupid questions, but how does a bypass valve work? is it something you periodically open or it takes care of excess water on its own? A picture might help me understand it better.

[Prelude97]

Originally posted by M@verick
Stories like this make me wary. How deep was this puddle? Like if you stepped in it would it be to your knees? Don't worry and just get a short ram, you can buy mine if you wan't wont need it anymore now that I got my greddy kit today:p I'll have a DC ceramic header( for a base) if your interested. Pm me and we can talk if you want.
Later

[CSMsi311]

Originally posted by M@verick
pardon my stupid questions, but how does a bypass valve work? is it something you periodically open or it takes care of excess water on its own? A picture might help me understand it better.

the bypass valve is made up of rubber flaps that are spring loaded. The springs used were choosen to hold the flaps closed until the pressure difference between the intake tube and atmosphere is reached. Then they flaps open and draw air from the atmosphere. The pressure difference is caused by the water coming up the intake tube (lower pressure than atmospheric). Once the flaps open air is drawn through the valve instead for the filter. Thus IDEALLY water can't get sucked into the engine.

Stories I've heard about these valves is either they don't open properly or the springs come off them and are sucked into the engine.

Jason

[beau_safken]

I think being scared that a spring flying off the Bypass and right into my engine turns me off completely. Colorado drivers need short ram intakes...CAI's are just too prone to hydrolocking in all months minus the dead middle of summer...

[CSMsi311]

Hope this sketch helps

[exciv2000]

I've had a CAI for at least 2 years, no hydrolocking problems here, nor will I because I watch where I go.

[taikahn]

Originally posted by exciv2000
Don't drive downtown on rainy days, or if you see cars slowing down in front and it's raining, and you think you see a puddle, slow down immediately, and either
1)stop, get out of the car, disconnect the CAI from the TB, drive through, reconnect CAI, be gone
or
2)turn off the engine, and coast through the water, turn the car back on when the coast is clear.

hah ahha


yeah right --- on broadway, 5pm traffic up the ass behind you... as if you could do that...

[taikahn]

Originally posted by M@verick
Stories like this make me wary. How deep was this puddle? Like if you stepped in it would it be to your knees?

yup


between colfax and 14th on broadway .... big puddle....

[M@verick]

I never see giant puddles like that...what about snow...is that a danger?

[V8SpankR]

Turbo magazine tested it on the owner of AEM's NSX and they built a special extension that went out of the engine bay and into a tank of water. Even at WOT the water was only pulled partway into the tube. It works but the springs coming off thing could be worse than water.

[Hellified SH]

Take it from me PEACE of MIND is better than anything.
Like others said $40.00 is cheaper than a new engine.. Today drought tommarow FLOOD who knows only mother nature does...

[M@verick]

Originally posted by Hellified SH
Take it from me PEACE of MIND is better than anything.
Like others said $40.00 is cheaper than a new engine.. Today drought tommarow FLOOD who knows only mother nature does...

The spring thing scares me too. I think if PAC does it though they won't mess it up.

[Hellified SH]

Originally posted by M@verick
The spring thing scares me too. I think if PAC does it though they won't mess it up.

Yeah perfection does cost and so does PEACE OF MIND. Take it to PAC

[newt2]

You've got to watch those bypass valves, they can fuck up your engine by themselves.

First of all it's a path for unfiltered air to get into your engine is the seals don't hold (which there have been problems with). Secondly one person over on Honda-Tech had his break and one of the valves got sucked up into his intake manifold, down an intake port and stuck into a valve. Not pretty.

Personally I think that if you're afraid of hydrolocking your engine use either a short intake or a two peice like the Iceman that can be converted to a short ram in bad weather.

[TedR719]

I've had a CAI on my car(s) for 3-4 years. Not one problem in Colorado! We live in a semi arid desert for crying out loud :D

Just get a short ram for you piece of mind, plus it's cheaper!

[exciv2000]

Originally posted by taikahn
hah ahha


yeah right --- on broadway, 5pm traffic up the ass behind you... as if you could do that...

Yes, I could do that, and WOULD do that. Fuck the rest of the bastards, it's MY CAR.

[taikahn]

Originally posted by exciv2000
Yes, I could do that, and WOULD do that. Fuck the rest of the bastards, it's MY CAR.

Yeah, and all the cars behind you that cant see shit in the rain will possibly plow your ass over... rear end your car, etc... worth it? I think not.

Short ram or Comptech Icebox, period.

[exciv2000]

pussies.

[Brian]

I've had CAI's on all of my cars, and never once have I had a problem, or a near problem. They also don't suggest using bypass valves on force inducted cars becaus ethey can and will get sucked into the engine.

[john]

I honestly don't think there is enough water here in Colorado to warrant the bypass valve. Save the $$ for a real mod. :)

[stu]

I know a few people expained how it worked, but here is the easiest way to think about it. Take a needle and poke a hole in a straw. Suck air through it. Works like normal right? Right. Now, put the straw in a glass of water and try to take a drink. If your hole is big enough, you won't get any liquid, because it is easier to suck air in through the little hole than it is to suck water in from the big hole. HTH. Just get a short ram if you're worried about it. Or just leave it stock since intakes don't really do anything anyway.

[BluByU]

I never had a problem with mine, and I drove pretty stupid one bad rainy night. Just don't go WOT over a puddle and it wont suck up. The filter used to get a little wet, but nothing to really worry about. You don't need to be flooring it in rainy or wet conditions anyway.

[BluByU]

Or if you're really freaked out, you could get one of those cool blue filters. They are a filter that has a hose coming out of the middle. You could run that wherever you want to suck in cold air, then pop the hood and disconnect the hose for rain.

Edit: I just saw that you ordered your CAI already. Enjoy!

[anhjohn1]

I have an AEM with a ByPass
I got it cause a lot of peepz tell me about water being sucked in. My Homeboy said he had a bypass, and it rained real hard in downtown Denver, and his car sucked water all the way in! So,
I don't know, he talks a lot too, so anyway...i got the bypass for a peace of mind.

By the way, CAI does make a difference on your air flow than short ram or stock.

-john

[SlamMan]

Dead subject

[john]

Uhh, what????

[Mario]

I am a bit confused about this now... so what would be the best solution on this? What's the likeliness that a bypass valve will fail? And what would happen if it did?

[LeonZ]

if it fails, it sucks in water into your engine, and it might croak...

[Mario]

Ok - also, how long does it take to disconnect the CAI from the system (like exciv2000 was mentioning) to avoid that?

[taikahn]

Originally posted by Mario
Ok - also, how long does it take to disconnect the CAI from the system (like exciv2000 was mentioning) to avoid that?

and replace it with what? while on the road?

too long.

[CSMsi311]

i can disconnect my short ram intake with one screw. not sure about the cai 'hassle'

just get an icebox