Driving in the rain with CAI

[mazdaspeedster3]

CAI = Fine in the rain.

CAI vs SRI = ENUFF ALREADY!

Choose your poison, either way, our MS3's arn't 1/4 mile cars anyhow. So no sense trying to get into a pissing contest.

+1...

The Dyno proof is in the forum search. Both add power. You just have to choose what you are comfortable with. I am the ripe age of 38 and 15 years ago was wrenching on VW's. At that time I had an 89 GTI with a Neuspeed from dam CAI. I was living in Oregon, second largest rain fall state and my CAI was in the lower valance. Never heard of Hydro lock then. Only in the last 5 years with the ever growing popularity of modding and CAI's and everyone and their brother being able to fab one or pick one up on ebay do you see this. Any intelligent (not a slam on anyone who has gotten Hydrolock) driver with experience and knowing you CAN get hydrolock will do what it takes to not get it. Watch where you are going and keep it cool when it is wet out! I dodge puddles any how to keep my car clean.

 

[DaleNixon]

I'm pretty iffy on a CAI as there are quite a few roads on my way to work that tend to flood, and you really can't turn around once you get to the low spots. I'm talking about avenues with huge unpassable medians between the opposing lanes. It probably wouldn't be a smart decision to get one for me.

 

[jeff4880]

I was more concerned with setting off a CEL than hydrolock. I figured the filter would have to be submerged to suck any water into the intake. I just wasn't sure how much water was thrown off the front tire that might get through the vents in the front of the inner fender.
I was going to get the Cobb SRI but with there manufacturing problems and the long lead time for them to get there act togather I decided to get a CAI. The power diffrence between the 2 is about the same and I wanted to get something before I had to spend the money on some thing else. I am expecting twinn girls any day now and you never know what could happen then.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

I have the hydro shield from Injen and have put my car up on the ramps and been under it after driving in the rain. The hydro shield was near dry on all but that lil part directly facing those vents. If you are all that worried you can duck tape them and then not worry. I do that in the winter...

 

[TUNGSTENGREYWIDOW]

. I am expecting twinn girls any day now and you never know what could happen then.

Congrats on the twins. Back on topic, if you are scared get the SRI and be done. Argument Over

 

[hyperpasta]

I'm pretty iffy on a CAI as there are quite a few roads on my way to work that tend to flood, and you really can't turn around once you get to the low spots. I'm talking about avenues with huge unpassable medians between the opposing lanes. It probably wouldn't be a smart decision to get one for me.

Think about this.....

If the CAI is the same height or higher than your door rocker panel, would you still want to cross that flooded intersection with SRI in your car? I'm thinking your feet might get wet inside of the car......

CAI is 15 inches off of the ground and the door rocker panel is 9 1/2 off of the ground on my 08 GT speed3 which is stock height. I'd be more concerned about wet feet and wet carpet than a wet filter. I just walked outside to measure things......Hum?

 

[Kain]

I've ran with a cold air intake on cars for several years, many times through torrential storms with no probs. The closest I've come is some water sprinkled on the filter and caused the MAF (on previous car) to hiccup for a second, but that's it. And on the MS3, especially the CP-E CAI, the filter and piping are angled upwards. If you're going through water deep enough to hydrolock that intake, you've got bigger problems.

 

[08cosmic3]

I chose the Cobb sri because I want to be able to return the car to stock easily for dealer visits and can't afford to risk ANY chance of destroying my daily driver. The Cobb also cost much less and is easier to clean. It was an easy chose for me.

 

[Bonafide_Spd3]

man oh man... this thread is going no where now. Don't want to read up on sri vs. cai. It's all about what the owner wants