Mazdaspeed CAI question

[Pondo]

Should i have somekind of special care while washing my car or having it washed?

 

[Derek88]

I work at a full service car wash and run my speed 3 through at least once a week. No problems ever for me.

With washes spraying in the underbody, the water would have to go through the fender liner or the belly pan/splash shield thing in order to even reach the filter. That would probably only happen when submerged.

 

[Pondo]

thanks derek, for the quick answer, i was very concerned about this issue, i've been reading here about lockdowns and such, the CAI came with a 3 page instruction sheet that never mentions this issue.

 

[Sierra117]

A worthless instruction booklet if you ask me...

I think hydrolock is one of those issues that was a big deal early on, but now parts manufacturers design intakes so that, short of dipping the front end into water, you don't have anything to worry about. For a great example, I had a CAI on my BMW. When we had massive flooding in North Texas over the summer, and because of where I had to park my car where I worked, the front end of my car dipped into the water. It was splashing over the air holes in the front bumper where the intake sat. I didn't have a single problem with it at all. From the looks of our cars and where the CAIs sit, we don't have to worry about locking up short of dumping the front end. And at those water levels, hydrolock is going to be the least of your worries.

 

[dkswim]

a friend of mine took his car to it and got water on to the mass air flow sensor that set off the check engine light. i havnt had the problem with mine and i wash mine once a week. but i let mine sitt while i put a coat of wax on. he was using one of those automatic car washes withe engine running so i dont know.

 

[Conso]

im on well water so i hav to take mine to the car wash, it has underspray and takes my car through it while its running, it comes out, and runs fine...so no worries just dont go scuba diving =P

(theres also a plastic lip that extends to cover the front part of the engine bay where the intake sits)

 

[Pondo]

so what do you guys think of buying a bypass valve? too much?

 

[ZooMIN3]

i wouldn't worry about the water man, unless you go into the lake or river bend, you should have no issues.

Its raining outside, and I just drove through some puddles, some were pretty humungous, and nothing happened. I suppose you just have to be careful though, I made sure the right side got the deepest of any puddles and I just aimed the driver side of my car towards the smallest of the watery area, if that makes any sense.

 

[Sierra117]

Someone made a great post about this in another thread. This whole hydrolock thing is bordering on hysteria.

 

[niz55]

Turn off your car when you go threw a auto carwash.. If the carwash has a undrbody spray and it does not warn you or no signs of turing off the motor than you can get some real money from the carwash.. But always turn ur car off. I run 2 carwashes with gas..

 

[Pondo]

What kind of HP increase can i expect with the MS CAI?

 

[2ManyCars]

It's really debatable. Some claim about 20. I definitely noticed a difference when I installed my MS CAI.

 

[Pondo]

Does anyone have numbers?

 

[SwampAss]

I have one.....7!