CAI + Water = Water in engine?

[merc123]

I was driving to work today and it was pouring down rain. When I stopped a a red light the RPM started to surge and then die. It would go from 800 RPM to 200, up to 1000 and flip flop around. When I got to going again the car would maintain the RPM then every now and again you would hear the drive line slack catch and it would thud (when you're in 5th gear and punch it and the drive line clunks). Anyway, I pulled up to the closest gas station and checked it out. There was water all over my CAI wheelwell filter, all over where the airbox WOULD have been and drenched the hood mat over the airbox. There's a 90* bend after the filter so I'm hoping gravity kept most of the water out and that it just got on the MAF.

It seemed worse when I was behind other cars and getting their water wash.

There were no CEL's and it ran fine once I stayed away from other cars water wash. Think anything got hurt?


Here's the style. Water "flooded" where the base of the chrome plate is.

 

[TweekedGT]

That's exactly why i didn't get a fenderwell CAI. My buddy tried to drive through a flooded street with his 98 Accord. The cai sucked up a whole crap load of water and blew his motor, must have drowned the hamster.

 

[merc123]

I don't think it would have mattered if it were the fenderwell or a stock airbox with the restrictor removed. The point was that the whole left side where the airbox would be was "flooded" with water. Everything was soaked on just the right side. Water would have gotten in the stock box as well.

 

[PoorYuppie]

The fender well cai on my 99 cobra hasn't ever had any problems in the pouring rain. Some years we only get a month or two without rain in the Northwest, and the car hydroplanes all the time. I drove through some really deep puddles back a few years when everything flooded out here, and never had any problems. It never even studdered. A little steam out from under the car from the exhaust and that's all. I usually try to take it easy just incase water does get sucked in, but I've never had a problem.

 

[merc123]

I kept the RPM's down so it wouldn't suck water up. I figured driving slower and keeping the RPM's low it would dry it out rather than suck the water up.

 

[myponyrocks]

I have a shaker AND a CAI Just avoid puddles, if you're really concerned K&N sells a water screen for the filter for future wetness prevention

 

[merc123]

I think the main question was should I be worried

 

[myponyrocks]

I think the main question was should I be worried

That was answered I offered you a product to prevent further occurances

 

[merc123]

gotcha

 

[BlackenedSVT]

I kept the RPM's down so it wouldn't suck water up. I figured driving slower and keeping the RPM's low it would dry it out rather than suck the water up.

Eh doesn't really make a difference. Ever try to stall an engine out while its at idle by putting your hand over the throttle body? I have... that engine has some hell of a vacuum let me tell you...even at idle.

 

[merc123]

Eh doesn't really make a difference. Ever try to stall an engine out while its at idle by putting your hand over the throttle body? I have... that engine has some hell of a vacuum let me tell you...even at idle.

That's why I'm hoping being there is a 90* bend after the filter that gravity would have helped keep it down.